JONAH
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
STORY IN FOCUS:
Jonah
MEMORY VERSE
We encourage families to make scripture
memorization a priority in their faith journey!
Consider implementing an incentive program
as a family to encourage your children in their
memorization journey. This can be as simple as
a sticker chart or even include prizes or special
family activity rewards.
“For my Father’s will is that everyone
who looks to the Son and believes in
him shall have eternal life, and I will
raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:40 - NIV
A GREAT BIG
THANK YOU!
There was a huge response to our last
request for volunteers. Thank you Zion for
continuing to serve our children!
Through your help we have been able to
fill over 100 volunteer positions just since
September!! That’s outstanding service.
We will be recruiting volunteers for our
final 2 rotations in the weeks to come and
then it will be time for a summer break.
FEB 22 - MAR 15
THY WILL
What do we mean when we pray
for God’s Will to come in the Lord’s
Prayer? Exploring the story of Jonah
will help us to explore this theme.
We hope that in this rotation kids will
be able to:
•Retell the story and know where in
the Bible it is found
•Explain how the story teaches us
about God’s Will
•Discuss themes of redemption,
healing, hope, forgiveness, etc. as
key elements in God’s will
•Discuss attitudes towards God’s will
as demonstrated in the story and as
it relates to our own lives
•Discuss how we can be a part
of God’s plan and how His plan
provides hope
PRESCHOOL
Our preschoolers are going to be
learning a handful of gospel stories
and focusing on the topic of WHO IS
JESUS.
On the last week they will get to take
a little “field trip” to one of the bigger
kid classrooms to hear the story of
Jonah and even go inside of a big
fish.
WHERE AM I GOING ?
PRESCHOOL
FEB 22
9:30
K - GR 1 BOYS
K - GR 1 GIRLS
GRADE 2-3
GRADE 4-6
STORY KICK-OFF AND PRAYER STATIONS
(Preschool children will head to the art studio for second half)
FEB 22
11:30
@ Thou Art
Studio
MAR 1
9:30
@ Thou Art
Studio
MAR 1
11:30
Games @ Bible Times Square
Fishermans.
Net
Loaves &
Fishes
Loaves & Fishes
Drama @
Palestine
Productions
Story @ Bible
Times Square
COMMUNION SUNDAY
ALL AGES JOIN THEIR FAMILY FOR THE CHURCH SERVICE.
Story @ Bible
Times Square
Drama
@ Palestine
Productions
Games @
Youth Room
Thou Art
Studio
Story @ Bible Times Square
Thou Art
Studio
Fishermans.
Net
Drama @
Palestine
Productions
Loaves &
Fishes
Games @
Youth Room
MAR 8
9:30
@ Soul Station
MAR 8
11:30
@ Loaves &
FIshes
Fishermans.
Net
MAR 15
9:30
@ Loaves &
FIshes
MAR 15
11:30
Visit Bible
Times Square
for a Story in
the Whale!
Thou Art Studio
Drama@
Palestine
Productions
Fishermans.
Net
CURRENT VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE
Preschool Class @ 9:30
Brittany Strauss
Story @ Bible Times Square
Marla Cameron & Andrea Anderst
Preschool Buddy @ 9:30
Melanie Roth
Kinder - Gr 1 Boys Buddy – 11:30
Jaclyn Hotz
Preschool Class @ 11:30
Rachel Reynolds & Andrea Anderst
Gr 4-6 Buddy – 11:30
Feb 22 & March 15: Jennifer Winters
March 8: Grace Werner
Preschool Buddy @ 11:30
Dorothy Mack, Emily Weston, Sara Werner
Fishermans.Net
Rena Bruins
Thou Art Studio
Deb Werner
Loaves & Fishes Cooking Company
Heather Unger
Games
Jessica Holder (K-1 Boys: Marla Cameron)
Drama @ Palestine Productions
Grade 2-6: Darren Neimen
Kinder - Grade 1: Mike Christensen
Hall Monitor – 9:30
Miranda Lee
Hall Monitor – 11:30
Lucy Adamson
Prayer Stations
Grace Werner
Alyssa Blanchett
Marla Cameron
Darin Bruins
Mike Christensen
Andrea Anderst
SPOILER ALERT!!
OVERVIEW OF
WORKSHOPS AND
OBJECTIVES:
Throughout an entire rotation children learn through a
variety of learning styles, repetition and varying story
viewpoints. The entire rotation is designed to increase
memory retention, dig deep into scripture and inspire
a long term faith journey. To get the best view of the
overall teaching objectives, we’ve broken them down by
workshop for you to see.
GAMES
Kids will be playing several games that help
lead conversations that reflect on the story of
Jonah.
Computers @ Fishermans.Net
Children learn the entire story of Jonah
through an interactive comic style computer
program. This program has great illustrations,
is guaranteed to grab the attention of all ages,
includes some fun games and interesting
teaching points.
Cooking @ Loaves & Fishes
Students will create a tasty jelly turnover as they
learn discuss the story and learn how Jonah
had to turnover to a new way of thinking as he
discovered God’s will.
Drama
Students will create freeze-frame tableaux
scenes that tell the story of Jonah and reflect
on their own response to God’s will in their own
life.
Thou Art Studio
Children will use watercolour paints to illustrate
the story of Jonah. Illustrations will be painted
on paper cut out as large fish scales and will
be pieced together to create one large fish
displaying the whale of a tale. They’ll also hear
the story through the eyes of the big fish!
Story in the “Big Fish”
Students will experience the story first hand as
they go “on scene” and set sail for Tarshish, cast
lots, enter a raging storm and get swallowed
by an (inflatable) whale. Inside the whale
they’ll have the chance to contemplate how
God want’s to save our world just as he saved
Ninevah.
FOOD ALERT!!
Listed below are the foods that will appear
during this rotation. If your child has allergies,
sensitivities or restrictions, it is the parent’s
responsibility to provide an alternative food
option. If you have any further concerns
please talk with Andrea or Marla at least one
week prior to the session of concern.
Loaves & Fishes Cooking
Co.
• Pillsbury pre-made cookie dough
• Flour
• Jam
• Powdered Sugar
Whale Story
• Seaweed (just to taste)
• Sardines (to smell)
• Goldfish Crackers
Preschool Lesson
• Candy Fish
BIBLE BACKGROUND
BIBLE READING
Before reading any of the resources below, begin your study time with reading the book of Jonah in its
entirety - it is only 4 chapters long. As you read, consider how God displays His will.
Background Information
The book of Jonah is one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament. The book of Jonah has been
traditionally believed to be written by the prophet himself perhaps during the same time as I and II Kings or
perhaps after the exile.
A Brief History
The reigns of King David and Solomon, from 931-722 B.C. were the glory days of Israel. But toward the end
of Solomon’s reign, things started to unravel. Solomon’s massive building projects created huge tax burdens
on the populace. Bureaucracy grew, as did the people’s discontent. After Solomon’s death, the kingdom was
divided and two nations were formed – Judah to the south with the capital of Jerusalem and Israel to the
north with Samaria as its capital. Then a series of northern and southern kings reigned.
Israel – Northern Kingdom
Jeroboam, the first King of Israel (northern kingdom) set up a rival religious system, including multiple
worship centers and even statues of golden calves upon whose back the invisible God supposedly rode.
They developed their own priestly system and feasts. As a result of this departure from God’s commands,
many of the godly people in the northern kingdom left and headed to Judah. Each subsequent northern
king departed further and further from the worship procedures of the united kingdom. In fact, the Bible
records that not a single northern king was a good king – they all “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”
The primary failure of the kings and the people was idol worship, primarily of Baal (male) and Asherah
(female). The Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. and the people were deported.
Judah – Southern Kingdom
Judah fared better than Israel, although ultimately their fate was similar. A series of kings ruled over Judah.
Some were good, but many were apostate. All of the kings came from the line of David. The most evil of
the kings was Manasseh who adopted the pagan practice of child sacrifice to the god Molech. (Manasseh is
believed to be the king who had Isaiah killed.) Judah survived 135 years after Israel fell, but eventually fell to
the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
Prophets
Prophets are spokespeople for God. They serve as “God’s mouth” to speak God’s word to the people, to
be God’s messenger. The Hebrew word in the text is nabi -- one who speaks for another. During times
of apostasy, God raised up prophets to bring his Word to the people and call them back to repentance.
Prophets retained their own personalities, communicating God’s message in their own unique and
individual ways. How did prophets hear the voice of the Lord? The Bible records four ways through which
God communicates with his prophets:
1. External voice
2. Internal voice
3. Ability to see specific realities not apparent to others
4. Visions
No matter the source of the prophet’s communication, it was recognized as the “word of the Lord.”
Upon entering the Promised Land, God promised that he would raise up prophets to speak for him. The
people were to listen to and obey these messengers God sent. But how would the people know if the
prophet was truly from God? God gave them several key points of discernment:
1. Prophets would come from among their own people – not foreigners.
2. Prophets would speak in the “name of the Lord.”
3. Prophets would predict events that came true (prophecy is not just foretelling of the future, however it was an important way to discern a true prophet – if what they said came true then they could be trusted. Prophets often foretold a near future event along with a faraway future event – if the near future event came true, they could be trusted about the far future event).
4. Signs and wonders were not the true test of a prophet.
5. A prophet’s words must always agree with what God’s Word teaches.
Most prophets took the “word of the Lord” to the kings in an attempt to convict them of their wrong ways
and lead them back to the correct path. Sometimes they were successful, at other times the situation
became confrontational. Throughout Israel’s history, we find a repeating pattern – a falling away from
faithfulness, judgment, repentance and return to faith.
Israel during the time of Jonah
Jonah, whose name means dove, was a prophet from Galilee, son of Amittai (2 Kings14:25). He lived during
the reign of Jeroboam II (793 – 753 B.C.). Assyria dominated the world at that time. Ninevah was the capital
of Assyria, located on the banks of the Tigris River. It was a great city and highly fortified. (The walls of
Ninevah were so deep that three chariots could ride side by side on the top of the walls!) The Assyrians were
noted for their engineering feats, their mighty and aggressive military and their harsh and cruel treatment
of their enemies. Jeroboam II was a powerful king who took advantage of the political situation at the time
and the multiple conflicts between Assyria and Israel’s neighbors. Jeroboam II restored the original borders
of the Northern Kingdom during his reign. Jonah prophesied about these events and perhaps because of
this positive message, Jonah was a popular prophet. This was the golden age of the Northern Kingdom. But
Jeroboam II did not follow God’s ways and the people developed a sense of complacency and superiority
over their pagan neighbors. They gloated over their victories and their favored status with God. They looked
forward to the time when God would destroy the surrounding wicked nations, leaving Israel to bask in God’s
light. This was the national attitude when the word of the Lord came to Jonah.
God calls Jonah; Jonah disobeys.
Forty years before the Assyrians destroyed the Northern Kingdom, Jonah heard the word of the Lord.
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach his word there. God had seen the evil ways and wickedness
of the Assyrian nation. God wanted them to be in relationship with him. Now Jonah was willing to take
God’s message to his own people, but when it meant going to the chief enemies of his people, that was
another story entirely. Jonah left and traveled to the seaport Joppa (modern day Jaffa) and bought a ticket
to Tarshish – in the exact opposite direction of Nineveh! In Old Testament times, people believed that a
god was confined to the territory in which the god’s worshipers lived. So, when Jonah hopped on board
a ship heading far away from Israel, he hoped to escape God’s reach. But Jonah soon learned that God is
not confined by earthly territory. We cannot hide from God. God pursues us wherever we may go. A huge
storm blew up threatening the lives of everyone on board the ship. The sailors cast lots and discovered that
Jonah was the source of their trouble. Jonah confessed that he was running away from his God-given task.
The sea grew rougher and rougher. Jonah told the sailors to throw him overboard, but they resisted, instead
trying to row to shore. But the sea was too rough. Finally the sailors cried out to God asking for mercy and
forgiveness. Then they threw Jonah overboard. And the sea became calm. Meanwhile, Jonah was swallowed
by a great fish where he stayed for three days and three nights.
Now much attention has been focused on the problem of Jonah. Is it a true story? Did it really happen as
described? What fish is large enough to hold a man? How could he survive for that length of time inside a
fish? Many interpreters think the story of Jonah is simply an allegory or parable. Jesus himself referred to
the story of Jonah at least two times in his ministry. He contrasted Jonah’s stay in the belly of the fish with
his own death and burial in the tomb and ultimately with his resurrection. Jesus’ statements assume the
historicity of the story. And there are descriptions of survivors who have been swallowed by whales or large
fish who are forever scarred by gastric juices. Certainly the God who raised Jesus from the dead is capable of
keeping Jonah alive inside a fish. But regardless, the message of Jonah is true!
Jonah submits and completes his mission
Sometimes the book of Jonah is called the “Gospel of the Second Chance.” While inside the belly of the great
fish, Jonah calls out to God in a thankful prayer. “When I was in trouble, I called out to you. And you answered
me. When I had almost drowned, I called out for help. And you listened to my cry… And I will sing a song of
thanks. I will do what I have promised. Lord, you are the one who saves.” (Jonah 2:1, 9) And God had the fish
spit (or vomit) Jonah out onto dry land.
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah for a second time, “Go to Nineveh and announce the message I
give you.” This time Jonah obeyed. He went to Nineveh and preached that God would destroy that great
city in forty days. And amazingly, the Ninevites listened and believed! They responded to Jonah’s message
by fasting and wearing sackcloth and ashes as a sign of humility and repentance. Even the king took off his
royal robes and dressed in sackcloth! He ordered everyone to stop their wickedness, turn to God and pray
for mercy. These outward signs reflected an inward change and a hope for God’s mercy. This is what true
repentance means. Repentance is not simply mouthing the words, “I’m sorry.” Rather repentance means
making a true turnaround in behavior, a turning away from sin and a whole-hearted turn toward God.
God heard the repentant cries of the Ninevites and he had compassion on them. He didn’t destroy
them. Now we might think that Jonah would rejoice over the success of his mission. Not so! Instead,
Jonah was angry! He told God that this is exactly why he didn’t want to go to Nineveh. He knew God was
compassionate, tender and kind, slow to anger and full of love! He knew that God didn’t really want to
destroy the Ninevites. Here we see the true condition of Jonah’s heart. He obeyed God outwardly, but his
heart still wasn’t in it. In his heart he still resented the enemies of his people. He secretly hoped that they
wouldn’t listen to his message so that God would destroy them! After all, it isn’t fair! How can God allow
a happy ending for these mean and wicked people? In fact, because of his prejudice and hatred of the
Assyrians, Jonah would rather die than see this ending.
Jonah’s motives are contrasted with God’s motives
God then taught Jonah a final lesson. As he sat pouting outside the city, in the hot sun, God sent a vine to
bring him shelter. But then, less than a day later, a worm ate the vine and it dried up. Jonah sat sweltering in
the blistering heat, crying out to God once again to let him die in his anger and frustration over everything
that had happened. It wasn’t fair that good things should happen to this undeserving people. It wasn’t fair
that Jonah, who obeyed God, was now left sitting in the heat without shade. God then explained that if
Jonah can care so much about a simple plant that he had nothing to do with growing, then surely he can
understand how much God cares for the people in Nineveh, the people he created and loves. God is the
one who made the vine. God is the one who created the people of Nineveh. God cares about everyone.
God desires that all of creation should return to him, be restored and blessed. God used a pagan nation and
Israel’s greatest enemy to teach a powerful lesson about the right way to respond to God’s message. God
teaches Jonah and us that our hearts should be set on God himself, not on the gifts that God provides.
Lessons from Jonah
This little story will provide many opportunities for discussion! What does God speak to us about His
will through this story? Maybe some of the things below can help guide you in your thoughts and
conversations.
• God wants all people to know Him, be saved by Him and be in relationship with Him.
• God wants us to obey. In what ways are we like Jonah? How often do we secretly wish evil on our
enemies? Do we really want God to forgive them? Do we believe that we deserve special treatment
from God because we feel we are “better” or more deserving than others?
• God wants more than our obedience. He wants us to become like him, to have a heart of
compassion and love toward others – even those we don’t like, or who don’t like us.
• God wants to offer us forgiveness and second chances.
• God’s plans are bigger than our plans!
• God wants us to go into the world and tell others the good news of Jesus.
SOURCES: IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, Walton, Matthews and Chavalas, Intervarsity Press, 2000; Richard’s
Complete Bible Dictionary, Lawrence O. Richards, Word Bible Publishers, 2002; Bible Teacher’s Commentary, Lawrence O.
Richards, Cook Communications, 2002; An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books, David Howard Jr., Moody Press,
1993; Disciple: Remember Who You Are Study Manual: The Prophets, Abingdon Press, 1996; Who’s Who in the Bible, Comay and
Brownrigg, Bonanza Books, 1980; New Dictionary of Theology, Ferguson and Wright, Intervarsity Press, 1988, State Street Church
Sunday School, www.rotation.org; Silverdale UMC, 2003, www.rotation.org; Twelve Prophetic Voices: Major Messages from the
Minor Prophets, Mariao DiGangi, Victor Books, 1989; New Invitation Bible Studies, Summer 1990, 1993, 1997, Abingdon Press; Bible
Zone #8, Abingdon Press, 1997.