"Grace and Judgement" Sunday 5th July 2026

Speaker: Steve Kirk-Smith

5th July 2026

Scriptures from: Jonah

A message from Steve Kirk-Smith called "Grace and Judgement", based around Jonah 1 to 4 and other Bible verses.

During the time of King Solomon and his son Rehoboam, there a split in Israel's kingdom. In this account, God commanded Jonah to travel to Nineveh, the capital of the brutal Assyrian Empire, located in modern-day Northern Iraq. Assyria was Israel's archenemy. Nineveh was full of people known for their cruelty.

In chapter 1, when Jonah tried to escape from God on the ship, the sailors all followed God as a result of throwing Jonah overboard and the storm immediately calming down.

While Jonah was in the giant fish, he prayed passionately to God - see Jonah 2:1-9. Jonah couldn't escape from God on the boat or in the fish, deep in the sea!! God is everywhere, all the time. Jesus taught us that we can pray anywhere, any time. God made the fish vomit Jonah out onto dry land – saving him. It is then at the beginning of Jonah chapter 3, that Jonah then follows God’s command to take God’s message to Nineveh.

A miracle occurs!! When Jonah speaks out and shares God's warning, the whole of Nineveh change their ways, going into mourning for their behaviour and attitudes. When the Ninevites repent, Jonah gets really angry because he knows how brutal and evil they have been. Jonah seemed to forget that God saved him from drowning, and didn't punish him for disobeying God!!

Sometimes, hope comes from hopelessness. Sometimes, blessings come from what appears to be a curse.