Big Idea: When our hearts don’t break for what breaks God’s heart, we drift from His mission—even while obeying Him. “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” “But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.” Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" “I do,” he said. "I am angry enough to die." But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” Jonah 4:1-11 (NIV) • Jesus Is The Greater Jonah "O Jerusalem, … how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matthew 23:37 (NIV) "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah… The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.” Matthew 12:39-41 What Breaks My Heart? 1. Do I Care About The Eternity Of Others? “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV) • If eternity matters to God, it must matter to us 2. Am I Allowing Distractions To Dull My Compassion? “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.” For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” Luke 18:31-33 (NASB) “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” "I tell you," he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:38-40 (NIV) (look up Zechariah 9:9,10) 3. With Whom Is God Calling Me To Share My Faith? For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? Romans 10:13-14 (NLT2) Who will you invite to Easter services? Next Right Steps: This week, I will: Invite at least one person to one of our Easter services (9:15 AM or 11:00 AM) Pray intentionally for people to encounter Jesus this Easter Sign Up for Growth Classes Membership SHAPE – Spiritual Gifts TALK IT OVER Big Idea: When our hearts don’t break for what breaks God’s heart, we drift from His mission—even while obeying Him. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Welcome & Opening Prayer (2–3 minutes) Invite someone to open in prayer, asking God to align our hearts with His and prepare us for the season ahead. Icebreaker – “What Bothers You?” (5 minutes) Jonah was deeply upset—just not about what God cared most about. What are some things that easily frustrate or upset you in everyday life? ➡ Transition: Jonah’s story challenges us to ask what truly moves our hearts. Read the Scripture (Jonah 4:1–11) Have someone read the passage aloud. Observation Question: Q.1 What stands out to you about Jonah’s emotions and God’s response? Group Discussion (20–25 minutes) Jonah’s Heart vs. God’s Heart Q2. Jonah obeyed God outwardly but resisted Him inwardly. Why do you think it’s possible to do the right thing while having the wrong heart? Q3. Jonah cared deeply about the plant but not the people of Nineveh. What does this reveal about his priorities? ➡ Reflection: We often grieve temporary comfort more than eternal loss. What Breaks God’s Heart Read Matthew 9:36–38 Q4. How does Jesus respond emotionally when He sees the crowds? Q5. What do you think it means to see people as “harassed and helpless” today? ➡ Compassion isn’t pity—it’s love that moves toward action. Distractions and Compassion Read Luke 9:51 and Luke 18:31–33 Q6. Jesus stayed focused on His mission even knowing suffering was ahead. What distractions most commonly dull our compassion or silence our witness? Q7. How can comfort, busyness, or fear slowly shift our focus away from God’s heart? From Compassion to Action Read Romans 10:14 Q8. Why does sharing our faith often deepen our own understanding of God’s grace? Q9. Who might God already be placing on your heart as Easter approaches? Personal Reflection (5–7 minutes) Quiet reflection, then share if comfortable: Q10. What currently breaks my heart the most? Q11. Where might God be inviting me to care more deeply about the eternity of others? Application & Commitment (5 minutes) As we head toward Easter, I will: Pray intentionally for people who need Jesus Invite at least one person to an Easter service Ask God to realign my heart with His compassion Pray together: “Lord, shape our hearts to look like Yours. Break what needs breaking, soften what has grown hard, and use us to point others to the hope found in Jesus. Prepare hearts—ours and theirs—for Easter. Amen.”