Family Worship (Oct 05)

Have you ever played hide and seek? Maybe you found a great hiding spot under a bed or behind the couch. You felt safe and thought, “They’ll never find me here!” But eventually, the seeker always finds you. No matter how well you hide, you can’t stay hidden forever.
That’s kind of like Jonah’s story. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people about Him. But Jonah didn’t want to, so he tried to run away from God. He even got on a boat going the opposite direction! But God found Jonah. He sent a storm, a big fish, and even a plant to show Jonah that you can’t run from God’s love.
The truth is, sometimes we try to hide from God too. But God’s love always finds us, even when we’re afraid or disobedient.

Jonah 4:10–11 (NIV)
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh?
2. What does this story show us about God’s love for people—even people we don’t like?
3. How can we share God’s love with others this week?

Activity: “Runaway Tag”
Choose one person to be Jonah and another to be “God’s Love.” Everyone else is part of Nineveh. Jonah tries to run away and hide, but “God’s Love” has to tag Jonah. Once Jonah is tagged, he has to go back and share “good news” by giving high-fives to the Ninevites.
Talk about it afterward: Jonah couldn’t escape God’s love, and neither can we. Instead of running, we can share His love with others.

Prayer
Dear Father, thank You that we cannot run away from Your love. Just like You cared for the people of Nineveh, You care for the people in our city, our school, and our family. Help us to love others, even when it’s hard. Teach us to share Your good news with everyone, because Your mercy is big enough for all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Work

New City Catechism
40. What should we pray?
The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

Memory Verse
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.