Jonah 1:1-3 [ESV] 1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
Text Notes
• Jonah, Galilean prophet, prophesied @ 750 BC.
• Ninevah was a great city of Assyria in the 8th century BC. it fell in 627 BC.
• God was concerned with the wickedness of this Gentile city.

3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and 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.

Text Notes
• Tarnish was probably the Roman city of Tarssesos on Spain’s Atlantic coast outside of the Strait of Gibraltar
• Jonah’s motive is not given except that he wanted to flee from the Lord.

• Running from God is something people have always done, something that people continue to do today.

21st Century methods to “flee from God”:
• I’m not going to think about it now ”
• It’s ____GOD, _________’s fault, not mine.
• “God wants me to be happy”
• “Who knows?”

LESSONS
• God has called every person to follow Jesus
• God has called every believer to go deeper
• God can run faster than you.

One line prayer: “God, what are you calling me to do?”

Scripture: John 13:1-15

Romans 16 [ESV]

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,
2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Text Note:
• Paul’s ambassador and messenger is a woman named Phoebe who has been a helper to him.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.
11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.
12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Text Notes:
• Paul greets 26 people or groups, 24 by name.
• 5 are common slave names, 2 are prominent
• 9 of 26 are women including leaders
• 5 are Jewish Christians

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-
27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Text Note
• Paul’s benediction recounts that the mystery of the ages has been revealed to all nations that they might become disciples

CLOSING LESSONS:

• The church brings together people of very different types.

• Either we focus on Jesus, or we will focus on our differences
• If we focus on Jesus, we will focus on all the nations of the world.

http://kingsburgcommunitychurch.org/sermons/audio/02 2-20120325.mp3

Scripture: Romans 14:14 through Romans 15:13

http://kingsburgcommunitychurch.org/sermons/audio/20120226AM.mp3

SCRIPTURE:ROMANS 13

Text Notes
• Many interpreters see Paul’s instruction as addressing the immediate question of Jewish national rebellion
• Paul says that we live under governmental authority that derives from God’s authority, at least in matters of public order, justice, and taxation
• Paul does not address a government in opposition to God’s authority.
• Paul reaches that we owe others a debt of love
• Paul’s teachings echoes Jesus’ summary of the “second tablet” of the Law.
• Paul concludes his section on ethical behavior with a sense of urgency
• Paul urges “daylight” behavior.

Lessons from the text:
• We live within a web of duties to others.
• We need a community to be more like Jesus

http://kingsburgcommunitychurch.org/sermons/audio/20120212.mp3