You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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Kids, love for you to come up here on the stairs with me this morning.
We're going to talk a little bit more about God's love.
I don't know if you all know which story we're talking about this morning.
But this might be a hint.
Jonah.
Oh, more excitement than that.
Jonah.
Jonah, that's right.
Eleven years ago, I preached on the book of Jonah for several weeks.
Do you all remember that?
Yeah?
You don't remember that?
All of them remember that.
That's an orca.
It may be.
We're not really sure exactly what kind of fish it was, are we?
This is Hanaj, okay?
This is my friend Hanaj.
That's Jonah spelled backwards, okay?
You think about that.
Yes.
And he helped us learn back then that Jonah wasn't really about Jonah.
The story of Jonah wasn't even about the fish that swallowed Jonah.
The story of Jonah is really about God, okay?
It's about God's love for us, what we were just singing about.
Now, does getting swallowed by a fish sound like love to you?
It doesn't really seem like that, does it?
But this is very important to Hanaj, okay?
He was helping God out.
He was actually helping God rescue Jonah, okay?
He wasn't doing something mean to Jonah.
He was helping God rescue Jonah.
Why did God have to rescue Jonah?
Because he was swallowed.
Okay, even before that, why did God need to send the whale?
Did God tell Jonah to go somewhere?
And which way did Jonah go?
He ran the other way, didn't he?
When God told him to go somewhere and he went, have you ever run the other way?
When like maybe your parents have told you to clean your room or eat broccoli or be nice
to a kid who's mean to you?
Have you ever run the other way?
We all have, haven't we?
And when, when we run away from God, we really need to be rescued, don't we?
When we're running away from God.
This reminded me, I was talking with Hanaj this week about another animal.
Do you know this book?
No.
Has anybody ever seen this book?
It's called The Runaway Bunny.
If you've never read it before, I'm going to tell you what happens and I'll show you some
of the pictures.
Some of you have read this one before, okay?
And I'll show you the pictures of the big book.
But this, there's this little bunny and he decides that he wants to run away from his
mother.
He tries becoming all sorts of different things to get away from her, like a rock.
He tries becoming a boat.
He tries becoming a little boy.
All things that a little bunny is not supposed to be, right?
Who does that sound like?
Does that sound like Jonah to you?
Well, here's the best part of this story.
I'll show you the pictures.
No matter what he does, his mother always comes to find him.
So when he becomes a rock on a mountain, she becomes a mountain climber and climbs up to
find him on the mountainside.
And then when he becomes a boat, his mother becomes the wind and blows him right back to her.
And then he becomes a little boy.
And she becomes a mother and catches him in her arms and hugs him.
That's how the story goes.
No matter what he does, the mother bunny always finds him and always loves him.
You know, that's what Jonah's story is about too.
We're going to talk about it this morning.
And what you're going to see is no matter how Jonah runs away, and he does it some different
ways, God never stops loving Jonah, does he?
God even sends a whale to rescue Jonah because he loves him so much to keep him from drowning
in the sea.
Even when we disobey and run away from God, do you think he stops loving us?
He doesn't, does he?
Never stops.
And Hanaj reminds us that even if God has to send a whale, even if God has to send his own
son, Jesus, to die, he will never stop loving us.
We remember that?
Let's pray for just a minute, and then you can go back to your seats.
Jesus, we're so thankful that no matter what we do, you come after us and you don't stop
loving us.
Would you teach us that this morning?
Would these kids know more of your love today?
Would you make us people who so are grateful for how you love us, that we love others that
way?
Teach us now as we look at your word, in Jesus' name, amen.
All right, you can go back to your seats, or some of you are going to kids' worship with
Miss Afton right back there.
Hey, Aaliyah, will you hold on to Hanaj for me during the sermon?
Make sure he doesn't get out of control, okay?
I have that exact whale, but a smaller one.
Oh, you got a smaller one?
It's a good one.
Thank you.
We are skipping forward about a hundred years this morning as we've been walking through
the Old Testament and God's stories and what he's doing.
We're moving all the way from the prophet Elijah, who's calling God's people back from
idols into relationship with the one true God, to the prophet Jonah, serving in the rebellious
kingdom of Israel in the eighth century BC.
And he's calling God's people back to him again.
Like all of the prophets, this is what they do.
God sends them to say, come back, come back.
You're running away.
You've forgotten who you are and who I am.
But this time, God sends Jonah to another kingdom, to the Assyrian kingdom, to their capital, Nineveh.
He sends them to Nineveh to call them to repentance from their evil ways.
And Jonah famously says, no, to God.
This is how it starts.
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh,
that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare and went on board
to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
You get the point, don't you?
Away from the presence of the Lord.
We'll see later, Jonah didn't want these enemies of Israel to repent, to experience the mercy
and forgiveness of God.
Jonah wanted to get away from God's command, yes, but even more from God's presence altogether.
He didn't want to be around him anymore, so he runs away.
But it's not just ancient prophets or modern kids who run away from God, is it?
You know, you don't have to board a ship and sail the opposite direction God sends you in order
to run away from him.
Many, of course, run away from God in just licentious living, living however they want,
not how God wants.
Living for self, not for others.
No care about anything else, just whatever feels good.
But, you know, closer to a parallel with Jonah's running away, you can run away from God even
by running into church.
Where I'm going to look and feel religious, but I won't have to deal with God personally.
I can just kind of be there and look the part.
Sometimes we fool even ourselves, don't we?
Or we can run away from God in our relationships.
I think if you're in a relationship like this, where you're refusing to forgive a family member,
where you're refusing to reconcile with a friend who has hurt you,
where you're refusing to love an enemy, yeah, that's so old-fashioned.
That's not how we do it anymore.
We just argue online, and we just, if we don't agree with them, we don't like them.
Love your enemy, that's so out of date.
Well, we may go to church on Sunday and celebrate and sing about God's heart full of mercy.
I need that for me, right?
He forgives my sins.
But then we refuse to consider whether our hearts have the same shape as his Monday through Saturday,
or whether there's perhaps unforgiveness still lurking there.
It's imprisoning us in anger.
It shows up like that.
It shows up as bitterness sometimes.
Because that's what happens in our hearts, the book of Jonah is written to God's people.
It's written to really do two things.
First, to show us God's heart.
What's he like?
How does his heart beat?
What does he love?
And to help us run, as it were, a heart cath on ourselves.
Does my heart beat like God's?
Have I been so overwhelmed by his mercy that I've personally begun to share it?
Or am I actually living distant from God, focused only on myself, freezing out others?
Commentator Colin Smith writes,
Jonah is about the disturbing possibility that having pledged our life to God,
we could end up spending much of that life avoiding the God we set out to serve.
You may have already discovered this strange contradiction that lies at the heart of all Christian experience.
While loving Christ, you find yourself turning from him.
While trusting Christ, you often battle fear and anxiety.
While serving Christ, you sometimes struggle with disappointment about certain events in your life.
You are not alone.
So did Jonah.
Okay, we're going to start with God's heart.
Jonah, prophet Jonah, show us God's heart.
What do we learn about him?
Just look through this story at all the people God's mercy chases after.
In the first chapter, God, of course, has to chase after his runaway prophet.
But while so doing, we see his mercy to some sailors.
These sailors were pagans with a variety of gods, we find out.
Even these sailors seem to reflect God's heart more than Jonah.
They are more concerned about the welfare of this prophet they've never met than he is about theirs.
They try hard not to throw him overboard, don't they?
They row hard, but to no avail.
And so even when they do have to throw Jonah over, they cry out to Yahweh, to Jonah's God.
Please don't hold it against us.
Verse 14.
They called out to Yahweh,
O Yahweh, let us not perish for this man's life,
and lay not on us innocent blood.
For you, O Yahweh, have done as it pleased you.
So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea,
and the sea ceased from its raging.
Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly,
and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows.
How do they respond?
When the storms calmed down,
they worship,
sacrifices,
vows to the one true God.
I mean, here these men were,
just minding their own business,
just sailing to Tarshish again,
got to do some business,
make a little money,
living their lives with no consideration
of the one true God.
God.
And all of a sudden,
God's mercy boards their boat
through this prophet.
This is what happens, by the way,
people of God,
wherever He sends you.
Even when you're not in a good place with Him,
He's using you.
His mercy's flowing.
His mercy just starts sloshing
over the sides of their boat,
so to speak, doesn't it?
God really does love to rescue people,
doesn't He?
In spite of us, sometimes.
Remember, we keep seeing through this big story
in the Old Testament
how God is restoring people
to relationship with Him
because that's what He made them for,
and His love is so big.
Even when you think He's just going after Nineveh,
He's got sailors He's going to save along the way.
The sailors' lives are changed forever.
But God is specifically pursuing
His runaway prophet, isn't He?
This is the fish part.
This is the part you know.
End of the chapter, verse 17.
And the Lord appointed a great fish
to swallow up Jonah.
And Jonah was in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
I think most of us hear the story of Jonah
and assume that getting eaten by a fish
is punishment for his runaway disobedience.
That seems to make sense, right?
And they are certainly connected.
But the storm that God sends
because He controls all of creation,
and then the fish that He sovereignly directs
to swallow Jonah
aren't so much painful punishment
to get back at Jonah,
but painful providence
to get Jonah back,
to bring him home.
God's discipline in our lives,
it's often painful.
But those hardships are crafted by Him
to track down our runaway hearts,
to remind us of our absolute dependence upon Him.
You can't go anywhere, Jonah.
What were you thinking?
God's coming to get you back.
Jonah actually sees this.
That's one of the reasons
we know it's what's happening.
In fact, Jonah has the clearest vision
that he gets in the whole story.
When?
When he's in the belly of a whale.
Something about difficult circumstances,
isn't there?
It helps us see more clearly.
Have you had that happen in your life?
Oh, it's reminding me
what really matters.
Who's really in charge and in control?
Where's life really found?
Oh, I'm starting to see it.
I'd lost sight of it.
And it's these hard things
that come into my life
that God uses
to show me that.
How far
will this crazy,
merciful God go
to make sure
that just one of His chosen people
sees and shares His heart?
I mean, we've seen God
do all sorts of things
to rescue
in all sorts of situations.
Bringing Israel out of Egypt
through the Red Sea.
That was amazing.
Gentile Rahab
in Jericho.
Little David
before the giant Goliath.
God keeps rescuing,
bringing people
into relationship with Him.
But we've never seen
someone rescued
with a whale
until now.
God can use
anything.
And He does.
Doesn't He?
I've talked to some of you
lately.
I know He
uses shutdowns
to slow us down.
To call our hearts
back to Himself.
He uses illness
to remind us
of dependence on Him.
Of how every breath
we have comes from Him.
To call our hearts back.
to remind us
that we need
His people
around us.
He uses even death.
The great enemy
that He hates.
But He uses it
to give us
a clear vision
of eternity.
Doesn't He?
The relative brevity
of life here
where we so often
try to find meaning
and purpose
and hope.
And He reminds us
there's only one
secure place
to find hope.
What a great mercy.
Even when it hurts
as it does.
See Jonah cries out
from the depths
of despair.
You've never been
in the belly
of a fish
but can you imagine
it's not an encouraging
place to be.
He's as low
as he could go
and watch what happens
with Jonah's prayer.
Chapter 2 verse 7.
When my life
was fainting away
barely, barely alive
I remembered the Lord
and my prayer
came to you
into your holy temple.
What he's saying
through this prayer
is that from the furthest
possible distance
from God
Jonah's been intentionally
going there hasn't he?
Running away.
Jonah's prayer does what?
It walks right
into the throne room
of God
into the holy
throne room
of God
in His holy
presence.
Y'all prayer
is amazing.
No matter how far
you've gone
this doesn't happen
because Jonah
is good.
He's not.
He hasn't been.
This is because
Jonah is God's
and God is good.
And so when he cries
out from the worst
place, the furthest
possible place away
his prayer comes
into the presence
of God.
That's what happens
when you pray.
Jonah realizes
for himself
as that happens
salvation
belongs
to the Lord.
It is Yahweh's
to bestow
on anyone
even the most
desperate,
even the most
undeserving.
Salvation
is something
Jonah realizes
I am desperate
to receive
because I don't
own it.
I don't have
it on my own.
And as he realizes
that the great fish
which has saved
Jonah physically
and it seems
possibly spiritually
restored him
releases him
back to the land
at God's command.
hand.
So this time
Jonah decides
to obey.
He doesn't really
want, I mean
as helpful as
the belly
of the whale
was, once
was enough.
I'll go to
Nineveh
chapter 3
verse 3
So Jonah arose
and went
to Nineveh
this time
according to
the word
of the Lord.
Now Nineveh
was an exceedingly
great city
three days journey
in breadth.
Jonah began
to go in the city
going just
a day's journey
and he called out
yet 40 days
and Nineveh
shall be overthrown.
That ought to
convert him, right?
And the people
of Nineveh
believed God.
They called
for a fast
and put on
sackcloth
from the greatest
of them
to the least
of them.
Nineveh
the capital city
of the Assyrian
empire
full of people
but full
of wickedness.
They were famous
for that.
They were
ignoring God.
You can count
on it.
This is exactly
the kind of people
Jonah couldn't
stand.
Those people
who ignore
God.
There's a lot
of irony there.
He wasn't
interested in
seeing them
receive forgiveness,
get mercy.
But somebody
was.
Who was?
God was.
Remember for God
the recipients
of his mercy
are not winners
of awards
for good performance.
They are humble
repenters.
That's what happens
throughout Nineveh
from the king
to all the people.
It's humble
repentance.
They're desperate.
And God responds
well with mercy.
Verse 10
When God saw
what they did
how they turned
from their evil way
God relented
of the disaster
that he had said
he would do to them
and he did not do it.
I hope that's a reminder
to all of us
this is not just
for some
crazy Nineveh
out there
in Iraq
somewhere
hundreds of years ago.
This is about
the nature
of relationship
with God.
Your relationship
with God
should feature
repentance.
Maybe that's not
a real popular word
but repentance
regularly
specifically
desperately
it's not a
one time thing
that happens
in your life
and then you
move on
you don't need
to repent anymore.
No
to speak of
Martin Luther
on this
nearly
Reformation Day
he said
the whole
lifestyle
of a Christian
should be
one
of repentance.
That's what it
means
that relationship
with God
comes by grace
alone
through faith
alone
in Christ
alone
that it's not
about your
performance
it's about
your repentance
your dependence
upon him
we never
get over
our need
for Jesus
and so we
regularly
what do I mean
by that
I mean like
more than
once a week
when we do it
together in church
and that is a
great time
to remember
how you talk
to God
all the time
but more often
than the 60
seconds that Derek
gave us this
morning of silence
in that prayer
to say
come up
with a sin
tell God
something you
need him for
that should be
every day
and through the day
we live in
dependence upon
him like that
tell God
specific reasons
in our hearts
and lives
for which we
need him
that's repentance
okay
if you need
a short definition
it is turning
from self
sufficiency
to Jesus
sufficiency
I'm not enough
God
I need you
Jesus is what
I need
repentance
is what Jesus
was talking
to God's people
in his generation
about
when he referenced
the sign
of Jonah
the crowds
were increasing
and Jesus
began to say
this generation
is an evil
generation
it seeks
for a sign
but no sign
will be given
to it
except the sign
of Jonah
for as Jonah
became a sign
to the people
of Nineveh
so will the
son of man
be to this
generation
it's one of a
couple places
where Jesus
speaks of the
sign of Jonah
and there's a lot
of discussion
of what he's
talking about
but what's
really clear
here is that
it's Jonah
himself
who became
a sign
to the people
of Nineveh
Jonah didn't
perform a sign
he himself
was the sign
so what
was Jonah
a sign
of
might seem
kind of hard
to understand
the point
Matthew's account
helps us a little
as he talks
about the sign
of Jonah
involving
being in
the belly
of the whale
the sign
of Jonah
his personal
life story
what did it
show them
it showed
the Ninevites
their need
for repentance
and rescue
didn't it
it showed
them that
running
from Yahweh
was serious
and dangerous
no other
gods who
when you run
the other way
you end up
in the belly
of a whale
and also
what
had they ever
met anybody
who'd spent
three days
and nights
in a whale
it was a sign
that there was
hope for life
even at the
very doors
of death
that they could
repent and cry
out and he
would hear
them
it was amazing
I don't know
if they'd seen
him vomited
up or they'd
heard it from
somebody who
did
but this Jonah
who was surely
going to die
all of a sudden
here he is
standing before
us
even with
judgment looming
in 40 days
perhaps there's
hope in turning
to God
perhaps he would
spare them
as he spared
Jonah
and he did
God's heart
is like that
he's so eager
to forgive
he's so full
of mercy
already here
in Jonah's
day
for even
the worst
sinners in
the world
who repents
y'all how much
more so is that
true
now
that Jesus
the one
greater
than Jonah
has
come
he is
here
he has
not only
come
he has not
only gone
to this earth
and to things
like a whale
he has
gone to
death
and risen
conquering
sin
and death
once and for
all
how eager
should we
be to
repent
to that
kind of
life-giving
God
how eager
should we
be to
call others
to repent
and find
mercy
with this
God
well Jonah
gets to do it
he leads a
revival in
Nineveh
it's pretty
amazing
right
if you're
a prophet
what could
be better
than this
preacher
of the
year
Jonah
and that's
the end
of the story
most of us
think
right
let's end
on a
high
note
celebration
repentance
forgiveness
everyone's
happy
certainly
well
except
one guy
chapter 4
gets at
the heart
of the book
it shows
God's
merciful
heart
even more
beautifully
than so far
because it
turns out
that God
is still
chasing
runaway
Jonah
in fact
he's a
harder
case
than some
pagan
sailors
or some
wicked
gentiles
God's
own
prophet
the one
who sits
in synagogue
more than
any of the rest
of them
he's the
hard case
but don't
miss this
the fact that
there's a
chapter 4
if God
cared
only about
the big
show
the big
party
saving
Nineveh
and he was
just using
Jonah to do
something really
cool
then the
story ends
in chapter
3
that's where
it happens
but even
after Jonah
has done
great things
for God
God is
not through
with him
he wants
his heart
doesn't he
did you
hear that
long time
church
leader
generous
giver
passionate
evangelist
God has
a chapter
4
where he
cares more
about who
you are
in your
relationship
with him
than he
does about
what you've
done
in your
religion
for him
he does
in your
life
he cares
more about
your relationship
with him
than he
does about
what you've
done
for him
he won't
settle for
your long
record of
religious
performance
he's coming
even today
perhaps
through this
word
for your
heart
Jonah's
heart
is once
again
in God's
crosshairs
God has
just saved
thousands
but he's
not overlooking
the one
is he
the one
who is
angry
it
displeased
Jonah
exceedingly
he was
angry
and then
here's what
he says
oh Lord
is this
not what
I said
when I
was yet
in my
country
I knew
what you
were going
to do
that's
why I
made haste
to flee
to Tarshish
I knew
that you
were a
gracious
God
and merciful
slow
to anger
abounding
in steadfast
love
and relenting
from disaster
what a
beautiful
statement
of God's
character
that's a
biblical
statement
isn't it
Jonah
has read
his Bible
he's a
prophet
Jonah's
theology
is strong
Jonah
knew
God
was going
to forgive
Nineveh
and it
made him
angry
so God
says
Jonah
do you
do well
to be
angry
do you
see how
God's
giving Jonah
gently
a spiritual
heart
calf
it's a
model
for you
to use
on yourself
if you'd
like
this morning
should you
be angry
at the
blessing
in the
life
of the
one
who
hurt
you
should
you
remain
callous
in
unforgiveness
should
you
care
more
about
your
own
temporal
life
than
others
eternal
life
then in
pursuit
of
Jonah's
heart
God
sends
a
plant
to
grow
up
and
give
Jonah
shade
while
he
sits
under
the
Middle
Eastern
sun
overlooking
Nineveh
and then
he sends
a worm
to take
it away
and Jonah
is guess
what
angry
again
and God
uses this
not to
make fun
of him
God's
after his
heart
God asks
Jonah
do you
do well
to be
angry
and Jonah
says
what
yes
I
do
but God
says
this is the
end of the
story
you
you pity
the plant
for which
you did
not labor
nor did
you make
it grow
which came
into being
in a night
and perished
in a night
now he's
going to
contrast
that
should
not I
pity
Nineveh
that great
city
which God
has labored
for
which he
has created
which he
has called
into being
in which
there are
more than
120,000
persons
made in
his image
who do
not know
their right
hand
from their
left
and their
wickedness
and also
much
cattle
look at
my heart
God says
there are
people there
they're lost
they're confused
they're hopeless
Jonah these
are the kinds
of people
I love
the people
like you
Jonah
who care
more about
a plant
than about
people
who care
more about
shade
than souls
I want
you
Jonah
to share
my heart
for them
and we
don't get
to hear
how Jonah
responds
I think
probably
because in
God's
merciful
pursuit
of Jonah's
heart
he's actually
after even
more
than that
because this
story
is in the
word of
God
it's written
for God's
people
Israel
right
this is
their
prophet
reflecting
their heart
he's sharing
his own
story with
them
so that
they are
pressed
to answer
the questions
do you
do well
to be
angry
are you
being the
light to
the nations
that I
called you
to be
as my
special
people
have you
left
your first
love
forgotten
the merciful
heart
of God
to forgive
it's a
chance
for him
to say
look
Israel
how long
and wide
and high
and deep
is the
love
of God
the God
who goes
to such
great lengths
for Jonah
doesn't stop
with a storm
and a whale
and a plant
and a worm
he sends
his son
for runaway
prophets
for all
his people
so that we
today
can know
that there
is hope
for us
even if
our spiritual
heart
cath
is not
going well
this morning
even if
you are
sure
that you're
failing
the exam
because you
are seeing
the one
who passed
it
who came
full
of grace
and truth
who forgave
even his
enemies
who killed
him
who perfectly
shared the
heart of God
overflowing
with mercy
all the way
to the cross
see it's our
God
the hero
of all of
these stories
he's a
God who
rescues
and restores
specifically
here
a God
who runs
after
runaways
of all sorts
the pagans
and the
prophets
the godless
and the
godly
no matter
how you're
running away
he wants you
to know
this morning
what the
runaway
bunny learned
that no
matter what
you may
become
no matter
where you
think you
may go
to find
life
no matter
how you'll
need to
reinvent
yourself
life will
always be
where he
catches you
in his
arms
and hugs
you
shucks
said the
little bunny
I guess
I might
just as well
stay where
I am
and be
your
little
bunny
and when
you start
to realize
that
let's put
it in
better
terms
for us
when
you start
to realize
there's
life
in his
love
for me
it's
where my
joy
is found
it's
where my
purpose
is found
it's
where my
hope
is found
that starts
to change
your heart
it
then sends
you
you will
go anywhere
at all
you'll go
to anyone
at all
to tell
them about
the home
where life
is found
won't you
to show
them the
forgiveness
that you've
received
to point
them to
the God
who runs
faster
after
runaways
that's what
will happen
in your
life
years ago
a friend
of mine
was at
the beach
with his
family
and as
they were
down near
the water
he realized
he'd forgotten
something
and went
back to
his car
to drive
off and get
it while
his family
stayed at
the beach
unbeknownst
to him
his
three-year-old
son decided
he wanted
to go
with dad
and so
he began
running
towards
the highway
the child's
mother noticed
started yelling
after him
to come
back
but this
was a fast
three-year-old
who was at
his fastest
when
when running
away from
a parent
you've
experienced
that
he sped
up
speeding
toward the
highway
and the
speeding
vehicles
there
the boy
got right
near
certain
harm
but
thankfully
as fast
as he
could run
his mom
ran
faster
she understood
the danger
that he
failed to
appreciate
she rushed
after him
she ran
barefoot
across the
rocky ground
leading up
to the
highway
caused
herself
no small
pain
to wrap
her arms
around her
son
and keep
him alive
and so
has your
savior
done for
you
because
he delights
to forgive
because
he is
rich
in mercy
because
of the
great
love
with which
he loves
you
love
that
couldn't
be
contained
by
skies
or
oceans
love
that
overflowed
from his
heart
as he
gave
his
very
life
in order
to preserve
yours
so
what
he was
explaining
to his
disciples
the night
that he
was
betrayed
the night
before
the cross
when he
took bread
and broke
it
and he
gave it
to them
as I'm
ministering
in his
name
give this
bread
to you
and he
said
take
eat
this is
my
body
given
for you
do this
in remembrance
of me
and in the
same way
he took
the cup
and said
this cup
is the
new
covenant
in my
blood
shed
for many
for the
forgiveness
of sins
drink
from it
all of
you
for as
often
as you
eat
this
bread
and drink
this
cup
you
proclaim
the
Lord's
death
until
he
comes
if
you
are a
runaway
who
has
repented
who
repents
even
today
of looking
for life
anywhere
apart
from
God
who's
a
baptized
member
of
any
church
that
preaches
Jesus
as the
savior
of
sinners
then
come
and
eat
with
us
and
with
him
if
you're
not
sure
what
to
believe
about
Jesus
or
if
you're
sure
that
you
don't
believe
in
Jesus
I've
actually
got
good
news
for
you
he
is
even
more
merciful
and
loving
than
you
can
imagine
even
more
merciful
and
loving
than
any
of
his
people
that
you've
met
if
you
meet
him
his
love
for
you
his
death
on
the
cross
means
that
you
can
run
back
to
him
right
now
without
having
to
get
yourself
cleaned
up
first
without
having
to
make
up
for
your
past
performance
you
can
just
run
back
to
him
don't
come
to
these
elements
this
morning
that are
a sign
that point
to him
when you
can actually
let them
point you
to his
boundless
love
for people
like us
the kind
of love
that those
of us
who know
him
and believe
in him
need
and are
called
to share
see his
love
trust his
love
come and
meet him
let me pray
Jesus
we ask
that
you
would
overwhelm
every
single
one
of us
with
your
love
your
mercy
your
kindness
your
grace
we
come
easily
being
able
to
name
our
sin
there's
so
many
examples
and
yet
you
tell us
where
sin
increases
your
grace
increases
all
the
more
you
know
it's
no
match
for
you
and
you've
come
to
be
with
us
and
remind
us
that
no
matter
where
we
go
you'll
always
scoop
us
up
in
your
arms
and
love
us
and
so
as
we
take
bread
and
wine
would
you
use
them
for
something
so
much
deeper
in
our
hearts
that
we
might
trust
you
and
run
back
to
you
even
today
we
ask
it
in
your
name
amen
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more
information
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us
online
at
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