Hey HMC Youth!  

The passage for this week is Jonah 4:5-11, take some time to read it and connect with God.  

As Jonah sat east of Nineveh waiting to see what would become of the city, I imagine he felt a sense of self-righteousness.  Sure Jonah messed up once in a while, but he tried, and ultimately he knew and trusted God.  He also knew the Ninevites, and that their true nature would once again show.  Then, God in His perfection would have to being judgement on their wickedness.  

As we enjoy the comforts of God’s blessings or “shade plants” in our lives, we can be tempted to look at the hard-to-love people in our lives with judgment, waiting for God to give them what they deserve.  If we become more concerned with the comfort of our life over the eternal salvation of others we may not like, we have misunderstood God’s love.  Jonah waited and watched from outside the city, probably not wanting to get caught up in God’s judgement of the Ninvevites.  Contrast that with Jesus, who came to us while we were sinners just like the Ninevites.  Jesus didn’t deliver the message of what we should and shouldn’t do and take off.  He invested himself into our lives, and guided us on the way.  And when we failed to measure up to God’s standard, rather than duck out of the way, Jesus took the full punishment and wrath of God for us.

As we come to the end of our Jonah study, let’s think about how we can show our enemies God’s love.  Instead of telling our enemies what we stand against in relation to them, let’s tell them what we stand for so we can point them towards salvation.

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!

Hey HMC Youth!  

The passage for this week is Jonah 4:1-4, take some time to read it and connect with God.  

When God spares the Ninevites from destruction Jonah is very upset.  It seems like an odd reaction, since one would think God’s kingdom being built up and love being displayed would be a cause for great celebration.  What we actually read is that Jonah is so upset that he thinks he would rather die than live with the knowledge that his enemies have been offered grace and forgiveness!

Before we condemn Jonah for his ridiculous behaviour however, we should pause and realize that his situation is probably just an extreme example of something we all struggle with in our own hearts.  Why are we so ready to accept God’s grace and forgiveness for the mistakes we make again and again, yet are so ready to point an accusing finger and condemn others who are also imperfect?  Maybe someone else being pushed down gives us the illusion of being raised up a little?  Let’s reflect on the truth that our status and worth comes not from anything we could ever do, rather from our loving God and creator, king of the universe! 

As you read and reflect, here are some questions for you to think about.  We will explore them more at youth group on Friday night

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!

Hey HMC Youth!  

We hope you are having a fantastic start to your week! It was so great to see you last Friday, and we are looking forward to youth group again this Friday.

The passage for this week is Jonah 3:1-5, take some time to read it and connect with God.  

This week we are studying Jonah 3:1-5.  Having just experienced his own need for God’s grace, Jonah is finally prepared to go and deliver a message of grace to others.  What is holding us back from sharing God’s love and message of salvation with others?  Jonah sacrificed and suffered a great deal before he realized his faith was not fully in God.  Is our faith sometimes misplaced in things in our life that seem most stable and comfortable rather than God?  Are you prepared to step out in faith beyond the familiar and safe, to bring a message of love and salvation to those who need it most?  Jonah delivered what seems like a pretty unconvincing message after a pitiful show of faith in God, yet God opened the hearts of the Ninevites to receive the message.  Be encouraged, we are just the kind of messengers that God can use!

As you read and reflect, here’s some questions for you to think about.  We will explore them more at youth group on Friday night

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!

Hey HMC Youth!

Hope you had a great Easter! We are having Youth Group this Friday on zoom as usual.  

The passage for this week is Jonah 1:17-2:10, take some time to read it and connect with God. 

As Jonah was being thrown off the ship into the raging sea, I imagine that death felt like the most probable outcome.  The situation is grim as Jonah hopelessly sinks into the deep, dark water. Jonah is out of strength and out of options, and as that reality settles in, he remembers God and cries out.  Doesn’t it seem like we are often completely backed into a corner and out of other options before we finally surrender to God?  But then, just like Jonah in the fish, God is faithful to provide a space for us, safe but not always comfortable, where we can repent and renew our trust in God.  When things don’t go as we plan, can we recognize that maybe “our plan” isn’t God’s plan, and that the lack of action is actually a safe place that God is providing so we can seek Him?

As you read and reflect, here’s some questions for you to think about.  We will explore them more at youth group on Friday night.

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!

Hey HMC Youth!  

The passage for this week is Jonah 1:7-16, take some time to read it and connect with God. 

Imagine being on the ship with Jonah as the situation turns from frightening to hopeless. The professional sailors have done everything in their power to save the ship from being destroyed and nothing works. The storm grows more and more violent, to the point that the sailors are made aware of a universal force much stronger than anything they know. As soon as the sailors are made aware of this incredible force they submit to it, ready to make a deal or do whatever it takes to save their own lives. But Jonah knows exactly who this great force is. Jonah ran from God, and now realizes that turning away from the God of life is the same as turning towards death. It is now obvious as Jonah faces death that comfort in this worldly life is much less important that security in eternal life. The decision isn’t too hard anymore; continue running from God and face death and eternal separation form God, or surrender, facing possible death, but falling into the arms of a loving and all powerful God.

As soon as the unbelieving sailors recognized this powerful storm was the work of God, they were ready to surrender. Compare that with how long it takes Jonah to reach the point of surrender even though he knew very well the power of God. It seems like Jonah had grown numb and took for granted the great power of God. Can we relate to growing numb to the greatness and power of God in our lives? 

As you read and reflect, here’s some questions for you to think about.  We will explore them more at youth group on Friday night.

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!

Hello HMC Youth!  

We hope you are having a fantastic start to your week! It was so great to see you last Friday, and we are looking forward to youth group again this Friday.

The passage for this week is Jonah 1:4-6, take some time to read it and connect with God.  

This week we see just how committed Jonah is to running from God, and also how committed God is to pursuing His people At first it seems crazy… how could Jonah possibly sleep through a storm so severe that the ship was about to break into pieces? Imagine the creaking, cracking and groaning of that big old wooden ship, and the violent crashing of cargo inside the ship as the waves thrashed the ship around. But pause the story and consider the storm going on inside of Jonah. Anger, bitterness, confusion and hurt swirled in Jonah’s mind. The God that Jonah loved and trusted had asked him to do something that was totally unreasonable to him and it wasn’t fair! Now he was running from the friend he trusted and nothing made sense anymore. Why did any of it really matter? Like Jonah, do we ever get so caught up in the storm going on inside of us that we become oblivious to the storm happening around us, and forget our ability and responsibility to do something about it? Storms are certainly happening in our society, do we need to wait for the unbelieving captain of the ship to come shake us awake to take action?     

As you read and reflect, here’s some questions for you to think about. We will explore them more at youth group on Friday night

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!

Hello HMC Youth!  

We hope you are enjoying the sunshine and warm weather this week!  Friday night will be the official start of our 8 week study on the book of Jonah.  

The passage for this week is Jonah 1:1-3, take some time to read it and connect with God. 

 Imagine what Jonah, a prophet of God might have felt. Maybe he had ideas of how God would use him to teach, lead and rebuke his chosen people, the Israelites, who were more than a little stubborn and rebellious.  But when God spoke, rather than a message of rebuke to His chosen people, God told Jonah to go deliver this message to the evil Assyrians. Why was God trying to spare the evil Assyrians of Nineveh, the enemy of the Israelites? Was God giving up on His chosen people?

As you read and reflect, here’s some questions for you to think about.  We will explore them more at youth group on Friday night

1.    After reading the text, what thoughts or details jump out at you right away?
2.    Spend a bit of time praying about and reflecting on the text.  What is God bringing to your attention?
3.    How does this passage apply to your life?

See you Friday!