Pacific Church

Psalms 1:1a NIV 1a Blessed is the one who… The Happy Person is Described by: What He/She Declines Psalms 

1:1 NIV 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers 

Psalms 1:1 NIV 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take… 

Psalms 1:1 NIV 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, The Happy Person is Described by: What He/She Declines What He/She Delights In 

Psalms 1:1-2 NIV 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Psalms 1:2b NIV 2b who meditates on his law day and night. The Happy person is described by: What He/She Declines What He/She Delights in What He/She Depicts 

Psalms 1:3 NIV 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 

Questions: 

1. How can declining to follow wicked people and sinful ways make you a happier (or more blessed) person? 

2. What do you truly delight in? Why does this matter? What habits can you adopt to help you delight in God's Word? 

3. What fruit do you think your life produces? Do you want different fruit? If so, what? What will you do to start the process of producing something different?

Jonah 3:10 NIV 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. 

Jonah 4:1-11 NIV 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing 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. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Jonah had gone 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. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 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.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 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?” 

Jonah 3:10 NIV 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. 

1. God’s Interruptions are Divine Invitations 

Jonah 4:1a 1a But to Jonah this seemed very wrong… 

2 Kings 14:25 NIV 25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. 

2. God’s Grace is For Every Race 

3. God’s Providence is not based on my Preference 

Jonah 4:9-11 NIV 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 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?” 

Questions: 

1. Has the Lord been nudging you toward something that currently seems more like an inconvenience or interruption? What is your plan or strategy to begin to see it as an invitation from God? 

2. Why does it matter to understand that God’s grace is just as much for all others as it is for you? How might that change the way you view other people? 

3. Have you been angry with the Lord recently? Have you talked with him about your anger? Why or why not?

Jonah 1:11-12 NASB 1995 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”— for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 

Jonah 1:15-16 NASB 1995 15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 

Jonah 1:17 NASB 1995 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. 

1. The SWALLOWING was to SAVE.

2. The RESTRICTION was to RESTORE. 

Jonah 2:1-9 NASB 1995 1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. 3 “For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. 4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ 5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. 6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. 7 “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. 8 “Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness, 9 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.” 

3. The PURGING was to PROVIDE. 

Jonah 2:10 NASB 10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. 

1 Peter 4:12-13; 19 ESV 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

Jonah 3:1-3a NASB 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” 3a So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. 

1. The SWALLOWING was to SAVE 

2. The RESTRICTION was to RESTORE 

3. The PURGING was to PROVIDE

Jonah 2:1-10 NIV 

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 

2 He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help and you listened to my cry. 

3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 

4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ 

5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 

6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. 

7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 

8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. 

9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” 

10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah // Our Story
 

Jonah 1:1a NIV

1a The word of the Lord ….

Jonah 1:1 NIV 

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai …

Jonah’s Name

Ephesians 5:8 NIV

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Colossians 3:12 NIV

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Jonah 1:1-2 NASB1995

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

Jonah 1:3-16 NASB1995

3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 4 The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.

5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. 6 So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

7 Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”

9 He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm [f]for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.

12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.

14 Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.” 15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

___

Jonah 1:14-16 NASB1995

14 Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.” 15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

What and Why is Juneteenth Celebrated? 

Hosea 4:6 NIV 6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. 

John 8:31-36 NIV 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

John 10:10 NIV 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Identity // Navigating Seasons - Floats & Flowers

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 NIV

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 NIV

13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Floats

Flowers

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV 

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Genesis 8:22 NIV

22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

Questions

1. How can understanding that “no season lasts forever” help you in both good times and bad?

2. How can this idea of floating help shape your view of friendships?

3. How can understanding the rhythms of growing fruit in the natural help us have proper perspective of the Lord growing spiritual fruit in and through us?

Identity // Pentecost

Acts 2:1a NIV   

1a When the day of Pentecost came…

Matthew 5:17 NIV

17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Passover

1 Corinthians 5:7b NIV   

7b For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed…

Passover fulfilled is SALVATION.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV    

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Tabernacles

Tabernacle means temporary home.

2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT     

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

____

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV     

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-3 NIV 

1 When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Hebrews 10:11-12;14-18 NIV    

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Questions

1. What was Passover and how did Jesus fulfill it?

2. What was the Feast of Tabernacles and how is that an image of us today?

3. What is Pentecost and why does it matter to us as Believers?

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14a NIV

14a If my people, who are called by my name,

2 Chronicles 7:14a CJB

14a If my people, who bear my name…

James 1:22-24 NLT

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

2 Chronicles 7:14a NIV

14a If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves …

1. We are to HUMBLE OURSELVES.

Proverbs 11:1-2 NLT

1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. 2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Humility - n. a modest or low view of one's own importance.

Humility isn’t thinking less OF yourself.. it’s thinking less ABOUT yourself.

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Galatians 6:2 NIV

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3 Areas That I See the Enemy Use to Keep Us from Humbling Ourselves:

    Denial - When we deny that humility is our calling.

    Deflection - When we want to talk about anything else but what requires us to be humble.

    Discomfort - When it doesn’t feel good to humble ourselves.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14;24b-26 NIV

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 24b But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Lament - n. a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.

2 Chronicles 7:14a NIV

14a If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face...

2. We are to PRAY while SEEKING HIS FACE.

John 4:3-4 NIV   

3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria.

Matthew 12:18 NIV

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

Matthew 12:21 NIV

21 In his name the nations will put their hope.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV 

14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

3. We are to TURN FROM WICKED WAYS.

Ephesians 5:6-11 NIV

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Questions

1. How does remembering who we are supposed to be reflecting (and representing) remind us to be doers of the Word and not just hearers?

2. What does it look like to humble yourself? What might be something that would keep you from readily doing that?

3. What does it mean to pray while seeking God’s face? How is this different from just praying?

Identity // How We See Others

Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Luke 10:25-29 NIV

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

1. Keep Your Eyes Open to Opportunities

Luke 10:30-31 NIV

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

2. Keep People the Point

Luke 10:32 NIV

32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

3. Keep Giving God’s Grace

Luke 10:33-37 NIV

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Questions:

1. Have there been ways you have blocked yourself off from hearing or seeing opportunities from the Lord? What is one habit you can adopt to help stay open to everything the Lord might have for you?

2. JF mentioned the phrase “keep the main thing the main thing.” How can you know what the main thing is in your life? What checks do you have in place to keep the main things what you desire them to be?

3. What does it mean to be gracious to others? How does remembering God’s grace toward you help in that process?