That's Not Fair!

Who, Me?

By Rev. David Bonnema , February 04, 2024

9:30am

Prelude - “10,000 Reasons” - Bettcher - Handbells

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Opening Song - “This is Amazing Grace” - Makenzie Loudermilt

Time of Greeting

Children’s Message - Patti Quinn

Song - “Holy Water”

Reflection and Video - Rev. Dana Seiler

Song - “Testify”

Sermon - “That’s Not Fair!”

God decides to save all of Nineveh. This is Jonah’s surprising reaction: But this was very to Jonah, and he became angry. —Jonah 4:1

Jonah is angry because God is merciful. Jonah is mad at God’s character. Jonah wanted to be the judge.

God responds with a question: And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be ?” —Jonah 4:4

God creates an elaborate object lesson to illustrate how ludicrous it is for Jonah to be upset at the death of a bush but not at the death of the Ninevites.

The Book of Jonah concludes with an open-ended question: Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the , for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about , that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” —Jonah 4:10-11

Meditate on this statement this week: “The more conscious I am of the work God has yet to do in me, the less critical I am of what God has yet to do in you.”

Offering and Prayer

Communion - “Just as I Am” - Moklebust

Closing Song - “House of the Lord”

Benediction


11:00am

Prelude - “10,000 Reasons” - Bettcher - Unity Handbells

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Call to Worship - Rev. Dana Seiler

  • Leader: Who are our neighbors?
  • People: The righteous and the evil, the just and the wicked.
  • Leader: Who are our neighbors?
  • People: The rich and the poor, the weak and the strong.
  • Leader: Is anyone else our neighbor?
  • People: The great and the small, the arrogant and the humble.
  • Leader: Remembering that all are our neighbors;
  • People: May we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Hymn - “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” - #263

Prayer of Confession
We think we know so much, O God, and with our meager knowledge we presume to judge others. We arrogantly announce our own righteousness, shutting others out because of our faulty judgments against them. We wrongly believe that their sins are so great that redemption is impossible. Help us to truly open our hearts to Your mercy and grace. Remind us again of Your great love and presence in our lives. Forgive us our foolishness and our stubbornness. Create in us new spirits, filled with Your love, offering peace and hope to all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Passing of the Peace

Reflection and Video

Anthem - “Just as I Am?” - Moklebust

Sermon - “That’s Not Fair!” - Rev. David Bonnema

God decides to save all of Nineveh. This is Jonah’s surprising reaction: But this was very to Jonah, and he became angry. —Jonah 4:1

Jonah is angry because God is merciful. Jonah is mad at God’s character. Jonah wanted to be the judge.

God responds with a question: And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be ?” —Jonah 4:4

God creates an elaborate object lesson to illustrate how ludicrous it is for Jonah to be upset at the death of a bush but not at the death of the Ninevites.

The Book of Jonah concludes with an open-ended question: Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the , for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about , that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” —Jonah 4:10-11

Meditate on this statement this week: “The more conscious I am of the work God has yet to do in me, the less critical I am of what God has yet to do in you.”

Anthem “How Can I Keep from Singing” - Tomlin Unity Choir

Offering

Doxology

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Affirmation of Faith - The Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Closing Hymn - “Lamb of God” - #2113

Benediction

Postlude “Rejoice, the Lord is King with Sinfonia by Handel” - arr. McKechnie