Jonah Week 3: Unexpected Redemption

Hello there! 

This week we continued our sermon series study of the book of Jonah. (If you were absent, click here to watch the sermon back--you won’t want to miss it!) 

In 2025, we want to focus in on finding purpose. Lent is a season of self-examination and our need for God’s redemption. The story of Jonah invites us to consider God’s mission to redeem all of creation, and what hinders us from participating in that mission.

Jonah is a tough book to read sometimes. It can be a little like holding up a mirror of our own flaws. Particularly in this season of Lent, we want to encourage you to not only engage with this message on Sundays, but to take it with you throughout the week. With that in mind, here are some resources we’ve curated for you based on the Scripture passage we read and the message from Sunday. 

17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord,

    and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,

    and you listened to my cry.

3 You hurled me into the depths,

    into the very heart of the seas,

    and the currents swirled about me;

all your waves and breakers

    swept over me.

4 I said, ‘I have been banished

    from your sight;

yet I will look again

    toward your holy temple.’

5 The engulfing waters threatened me,[b]

    the deep surrounded me;

    seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;

    the earth beneath barred me in forever.

But you, Lord my God,

    brought my life up from the pit.

7 “When my life was ebbing away,

    I remembered you, Lord,

and my prayer rose to you,

    to your holy temple.

8 “Those who cling to worthless idols

    turn away from God’s love for them.

9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,

    will sacrifice to you.

What I have vowed I will make good.

    I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Bible Project video: If you want a brief overview of these verses, check out this video from our friends over at the Bible Project! 

Tim Mackie archives: For a deeper dive, watch this video from the archives to hear what Tim Mackie have to say on this excerpt! 

Finally, here are some questions that you can use in your personal study to reflect on, whether in journaling, prayer, or conversation. 

Sometimes, when it seems like God is staying silent, it is in fact an invitation to silence and communion with Him. 

How can you invite God into your routine this week through silence and reflection?

What do you need to let yourself wrestle with? 

What unexpected redemption have you experienced in your life? 

Know that you are deeply loved and called to share that love with others. We hope to see you next week as we continue to learn and grow alongside you! 

Grace and Peace, 

Community Cup staff