The International Sunday school Lesson, KJV Commentary, Outline

May 21

Lesson 12 (KJV)

Forgiving Love

Devotional Reading: Acts 11:11–18

Background Scripture: Jonah 3; Nahum 1–3

Jonah 3

1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Photo: Mike Watson Images / moodboard / Thinkstock

Key Verse

God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

—Jonah 3:10

God Loves Us

Unit 3: God’s Pervasive and Sustaining Love

Lessons 10–13

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Describe the reactions of the people and king of Nineveh to Jonah’s message.

2. Explain God’s reaction to the Ninevites’ repentance.

3. Make a list of the actions and attitudes of repentance that he or she will model in the week ahead.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Limited-Time Offer

B. Lesson Background

I. Repeating the Commission (Jonah 3:1–4)

A. Mission Stated (vv. 1, 2)

B. Mission Begins (vv. 3, 4)

II. Reactions to the Message (Jonah 3:5–9)

A. By the People (v. 5)

B. By the King (vv. 6–9)

Preacher to King and Commoner

III. Response by God (Jonah 3:10)

Burn … or Turn?

Conclusion

A. The Need to Be Forgiven

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Assyria	Uh-sear-ee-uh.
Assyrian	Uh-sear-e-un.
Damascus	Duh-mass-kus.
Gathhepher	Gath-hee-fer.
Jeroboam	Jair-uh-boe-um.
Jonah	Jo-nuh.
Nineveh	Nin-uh-vuh.
Ninevites	Nin-uh-vites.
Samaria	Suh-mare-ee-uh.
Sennacherib	Sen-nack-er-ib.

What Do You Think? How would you respond to a fellow Christian who says, “God is calling me to be a missionary to the great city of ”? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ If he or she asks for your counsel ■ If he or she does not ask for your counsel ____________________________ What Do You Think? How do we respond to the charge of “being judgmental” when we try to communicate the difficult message of God’s judgment? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ To fellow Christians ■ To unbelievers ____________________________ ____________________________ What Do You Think? What are some specific ways that leaders can encourage others to repent? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Regarding what to say ■ Regarding personal transparency ■ Regarding personal example ■ Other ____________________________ What Do You Think? What are some godly ways to respond after suffering violence at the hands of another? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Concerning requirements for forgiveness ■ In how we desire the judicial system to treat the perpetrator ■ In how we pray ■ Other ____________________________ What Do You Think? When was a time God granted you another chance? How did you grow spiritually from that experience? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Concerning a family situation ■ Concerning a work/school situation ■ Concerning a sin is known only to you and God ■ Other ____________________________ What Do You Think? What are some positive and negative aspects of the various ways that believers attempt to “mark” themselves as Christians? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Regarding Christianized bumper stickers ■ Regarding Christianized clothing accessories ■ By keeping a Bible prominently visible at work ■ Other ____________________________ ____________________________ What Do You Think? What should others see in us that demonstrates we believe Jesus may return at any time? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ In how we conduct relationships ■ In what we value ■ By the topics of our casual conversation ■ Other ____________________________ What Do You Think? Which specific Scriptures help you most to remain faithful and not give up? Why? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Scriptures that promise ■ Scriptures that comfort ■ Scriptures that encourage ■ Scriptures that warn ■ Other ____________________________ Krause, Mark S., James B. North, and Ronald G. Davis. “Living Waters.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2016–2017. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson, Jim Eichenberger, and Margaret K. Williams. Vol. 64. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2016. 103. Print.