Vertical Church Teaching

Title: Wrestling With Grace
Text: Jonah 4:1–11
Big Idea: It’s possible to obey God outwardly but still resist Him inwardly. The real fight is often between our heart and His grace.

I. Jonah’s Outrage at Mercy

After Nineveh repents and God spares them, Jonah is furious.

“Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?” (v. 2)

Jonah obeyed God—but resented Him for being too gracious.

He quotes Exodus 34:6 back to God: “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger…” but says it like it’s a bad thing.

Key tension: Jonah didn’t mind grace when it saved him—he hated it when it saved them.

II. The Jonah Inside All of Us

This chapter exposes something in all of us:

We want justice for others but mercy for ourselves.

We’re often more concerned with being right than being righteous.

God’s question in verse 4 hits home:

“Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah never answers. He sits down and watches the city—hoping for judgment.

III. The Object Lesson with the Plant

God causes a plant to grow up and shade Jonah (v. 6)

Then God appoints a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah is angry again (v. 7–9)

God uses the plant to reveal Jonah’s self-centeredness:

He’s more upset about a plant than about people.

More concerned with comfort than with compassion.

IV. The Final Confrontation

God’s last question is the heart of the book:

“Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh…?” (v. 11)

The book ends without closure—because the real story is your response.

The uncomfortable truth: God’s grace often offends our sense of fairness.

Final Challenge:
Where in your life do you want grace for yourself, but judgment for others?
Are you angry about God’s compassion toward people you don’t like?
If the book of Jonah is a mirror—what is it reflecting in you?

Title: God’s Not Done
Text: Jonah 3:1–10
Big Idea: You can’t out-sin the mercy of God—and you’re never too far gone for a second chance.

I. A God of Second Chances

After rebellion, a storm, and three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah gets another shot:

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)

Jonah’s rescue wasn’t random—it was redemption.

God didn’t discard Jonah—He restored him.

Titus 3:5 – God saves not because of our goodness, but because of His mercy.

Examples of God’s Second Chances:

Adam & Eve, Moses, David, Rahab, Zacchaeus, Peter, Thomas.

Each one messed up—but God still had a purpose for them.

If He did it for them, He’ll do it for you.

II. Jonah’s Second Chance

“Get up and go…” (Jonah 3:2) – yalak qum (ל ְֵ֥ך ק֛ ּום) = Go now. Immediately. Today.

This is not just instruction—it’s urgency.

God’s mercy doesn’t just forgive—it re-commissions.

Jonah 3:3-4

Jonah obeys. He enters Nineveh, declares God’s message.

He doesn’t sugarcoat the warning—“40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”

III. The Power of Repentance

Shockingly, the people listen. “The Ninevites believed God.” (Jonah 3:5)

From the greatest to the least—even the king—there’s deep, public repentance.

Sackcloth and dust were cultural signs of humility and brokenness.

To repent is to change your mind so deeply, it changes your life.

IV. God's Compassion Responds to Repentance

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented…” (Jonah 3:10)

This wasn’t about performance—it was about surrender.

Isaiah 30:18 – “The Lord longs to be gracious to you…”

God didn’t have to forgive Nineveh—but that’s who He is.

Title: Waiting on God
Text: Jonah 1:17 – 2:10
Big Idea: While you’re waiting, God is working—especially on your heart.

I. Jonah’s Descent & Desperation

Jonah ends up in the belly of a great fish—not by accident, but by divine appointment.

He’s completely out of control, trapped in a place of darkness and regret.

“Sometimes what we call punishment, God calls provision.”

God’s mercy shows up in unlikely packages—like a fish that saves Jonah from drowning.

II. God's Provision vs. Our Preference

Big Idea 1: God gives us what we need, not what we want.

The fish wasn’t punishment—it was provision to preserve Jonah for his purpose.

Psalm 115:3 reminds us: “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.”

Sometimes, what pleases Him is to give us a second chance.

III. Prayer in Distress

Big Idea 2: Prayer is our response to distress.

Jonah doesn’t pray until he’s desperate. But when he does, God hears him.

James 5:13 – “Is anyone in trouble? Let them pray.”

When we feel trapped, powerless, or broken, prayer is not our last resort—it’s our lifeline.

IV. Praying God’s Word

Big Idea 3: When you don’t know what to pray, pray His Word.

Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2 is full of direct parallels to the Psalms.

He was trained in God’s Word—and in his darkest moment, that’s what surfaced.

The Holy Spirit cannot remind us of what we haven’t hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

Jesus modeled this in His wilderness temptation (Luke 4).

V. From Distress to Breakthrough

Jonah’s circumstances didn’t change immediately—but his heart did.

He moves from despair to gratitude and praise, even before being delivered.

Jonah 2:10 – “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

VI. While You’re Waiting, God is Working

Big Idea 4: Waiting is not passive—it’s active.

God often uses seasons of delay to refine our hearts.

You may not have the character yet for what you’re asking for.

The waiting is not wasted—God is shaping you for what’s next.

God’s Plans Are Wrecking Mine
Text: Jonah 1:1–17
Big Idea: When you run from God, you don’t just delay your purpose—you invite a storm. But even then, His grace finds you.

I. The Setup: A Clear Command, a Defiant Run

God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah heads to Tarshish—the opposite direction.

This is not confusion. It’s defiance.

“If you want to run from God, the devil will always offer you a ride.”

Jonah rationalizes sin, something we all do: our minds make excuses for what our spirits know is wrong.

II. Downward Spiral of Disobedience

Jonah’s journey is literally and spiritually descending:

He goes down to Joppa (1:3)

Down into the ship (1:5)

Down into the sea (2:3)

Sin always takes us downward.

Delayed obedience is still disobedience. True maturity shortens the gap between hearing God’s Word and obeying it.

III. Storms Have a Purpose

God sends a storm—not to destroy Jonah, but to redirect him.

While the sailors panic, Jonah sleeps—numbed by rebellion.

Jonah confesses who he is (1:9), but he still refuses to repent.

Eventually, he tells the crew to throw him overboard. Only then does the sea grow calm.

IV. The Wake-Up Call: Sin Affects Others

Jonah’s disobedience nearly kills an entire boat of people.

Our rebellion never just affects us—it impacts everyone around us.

But even in this moment, God is working. The sailors end up worshiping the true God.

V. God’s Mercy in a Fish-Shaped Package

Jonah doesn’t drown. God provides a fish.

This wasn’t punishment—it was preservation.

Sometimes, what feels like rock bottom is actually the start of mercy.

Title: You Can’t Outrun God
Text: Jonah 1:1–3
Big Idea: Jonah’s story isn’t just about a fish—it’s about a faithful God chasing a rebellious heart.

I. The Book No One Expected — A Prophet Who Refuses to Prophesy

Jonah is the only prophetic book centered on the prophet's disobedience, not his message.

He receives a clear word from God… and immediately runs in the opposite direction.

Jonah is raw, emotional, and deeply human. He’s not the hero—we’re not meant to “be like Jonah.”

Tension: What do you do when God’s Word leads you somewhere you don’t want to go?

II. Jonah Isn’t Just a Story — It’s a Mirror

Jonah’s actions reflect our own struggles with obedience, resentment, and control.

He obeys—eventually—but his heart is not aligned with God’s.

Even after a city-wide revival, Jonah is angry. He doesn’t want them to be forgiven.

This book confronts the reader with key questions:

What if God’s grace makes you uncomfortable?

What if His calling disrupts your comfort?

Is it possible to do the will of God without the heart of God?

III. Themes That Will Challenge Us (Series-Wide)

God’s mercy is scandalous – He loves people we’d rather avoid.

Obedience isn’t about convenience – Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

God relentlessly pursues us – Not with wrath, but with grace.

Emotional health matters – You can’t separate spiritual maturity from emotional honesty.

The journey of Jonah challenges the inner life, not just outer behavior.

Final Takeaway:
You may run—but God pursues.
Not with punishment, but with mercy.
Not to crush you, but to restore you.
The question isn’t “Will God speak?”
It’s: Will you run, or will you respond?

Guest: Noelle Stanley
Feature: My Story Matters from Vertical Church
Originally Shared: During worship on June 22, 2025

Growing up in a Southern Baptist family in Gluckstadt, MS

Sudden loss of her mother in 2018

Becoming a parental figure to her younger siblings at 23

The struggle with control, pride, and surrender

Finding refuge in friends, faith, and the local church

Discovering Vertical Church and joining The Table women’s ministry

Learning to let others in and accept help

Living out obedience through service and community

“If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”
“You’re not all your family needs—and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.”
“The work you do should never be your identity. I’m a Christian first.”
“They didn’t care about the ugliness that got me there. They just cared about helping me heal.”

Title: Practicing the Way — Living Out Your Calling
Main Texts: Ephesians 2:8–10; Matthew 3:16–17; Acts 9; Romans 1:1; Colossians 3:23–24
Big Idea: You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Your identity is rooted in Christ, your calling flows from that identity, and your assignments are how you live it out.

Key Points:

Identity: Who You Are

Your identity is not based on your performance, people’s opinions, or what you have.

It is anchored in the grace of God—“By grace you have been saved… not by works.” (Eph 2:8–10)

You are God’s poiēma—His workmanship, His masterpiece, His new creation.

You are not what you do—you are who God says you are: beloved, child, disciple.

Jesus’ Identity Before Ministry

Before Jesus did anything public, the Father declared: “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”

Our identity is not achieved—it’s received.

Everything Jesus did flowed from who He already was. The same is true for us.

Calling: Your Why

Your calling is how you carry your identity into the world.

It is shaped by your story—your pain, your passions, your personality.

Calling is not a job title—it’s a theme that shows up wherever you go.

You are called to embody and express the love of Jesus in every sphere of life.

The Apostle Paul is a powerful example: God didn’t erase who Paul was—He redeemed it and used it for His mission.

Assignment: Your Where and What

Assignment is the current way your calling is being expressed.

Assignments change—calling does not.

Paul was a church planter and a tentmaker. In every season, he lived out his calling—even when the setting changed.

What seems small or unspiritual might actually be sacred in God’s plan.

What About You?

Are you neglecting your current assignment because it seems beneath you?

Are you bitter that your role doesn’t look like your dream?

God might be using this “ordinary” assignment to prepare you for something eternal.

Colossians 3:23–24 reminds us: Whatever you do… do it for the Lord.

Final Challenge:
Step into your identity. Clarify your calling. Embrace your assignment.
And if you’re unsure where to start—just start serving. God already has good works prepared for you. Your job is simply to walk in them.

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Simplicity & Generosity
Main Texts: 1 Timothy 6:6–10; Luke 12:15; Mark 4:18–19; Matthew 19:23–24; Luke 11:39, 41
Big Idea: Greed is one of the most deceitful sins—it quietly damages our hearts and distorts our desires. The antidote is the practice of simplicity and generosity.

Key Points:

The Deceitfulness of Greed

Greed is rarely confessed. It’s easy to justify, often hidden beneath surface sins.

Paul warns: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Greed traps us in the endless cycle of “more, more, more”, which never satisfies.

How Culture Feeds Greed

We live in an era of surveillance capitalism—algorithms constantly fuel discontent and desire.

Marketing sells feelings, not products: status, security, confidence, adventure.

The American Dream is built on the myth of more: “If I just had a little more, then I’d be happy.”

But in reality, the more we get, the more empty we often feel.

Jesus’ Warnings About Wealth

Luke 12:15 — “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.”

Mark 4:18–19 — Wealth is not evil, but it’s deceitful. It chokes out spiritual life.

Matthew 19:23–24 — Jesus warned that wealth can make it very difficult to enter the kingdom.

Greed is a heart issue—not about income level, but about attachment and priority.

Money Isn’t Bad, but the Love of It Is

Wealth itself can be used for great good.

But when money becomes the goal, it corrupts our motives and relationships.

Pride, anxiety, contempt for others all increase when wealth becomes identity (TED Talk: Does Money Make You Mean?).

The Antidote: Simplicity and Generosity

Simplicity isn’t about poverty; it’s about intentionality.

Luke 11:41 — “Be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”

Generosity cleanses the heart by reminding us that we already have enough—and that life is found in giving, not hoarding.

Personal Story of Radical Generosity

The story of a family who gave sacrificially to meet tangible needs after a time of personal family crisis.

True generosity leaves a legacy—not just in stuff, but in lives transformed.

Final Challenge:
The kingdom of God runs counter to the myth of more. Live simply. Give generously. Find contentment—not in what you accumulate, but in what you release.

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Sabbath & Rest
Main Texts: Genesis 1:1, 31; Genesis 2:1–3; Mark 2:23–28
Big Idea: True rest isn’t just about taking time off—it’s about transforming both how we work and how we rest by aligning with God’s rhythm for life.

Key Points:

God’s Rhythm of Creation

Genesis 1:1 — God worked.

Genesis 2:1–3 — And then God rested—not because He was tired, but because He was satisfied.

Rest is holy. The very first thing God called “holy” was time, not a place or person.

If God rests, who are we to think rest is for the weak or lazy? It’s a part of the divine pattern.

We Live in a Hustle Culture

In today’s culture, busy is worn as a badge of honor.

But endless busyness produces burnout, anxiety, and disconnection from self, others, and God.

A connected soul, a family at peace—these are far more impressive than flashy schedules or name brands.

Rest Is More Than Time Off

Many think “I just need a vacation”—but no amount of time off will heal you if you don’t change how you spend your time on.

Sabbath is an intentional rhythm of work and rest:

Work like God works.

Rest like God rests.

Two Modern Enemies of Rest

Burnout

Some are addicted to hustle and performance.

Jobs, money, and accolades become identity. This is a recipe for collapse.

Others are addicted to mindless “breaks” that actually exhaust them—social media, screens, shallow entertainment.

Constant screen time keeps the body in fight-or-flight, blocking true rest and recovery.

How do you get your dopamine? If the answer is screens and noise, you aren’t truly resting.

The Sabbath Was Made for You

Mark 2:27 — “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees overcomplicated the Sabbath. Our culture ignores it entirely.

The solution is neither legalism nor neglect—it’s joyful practice.

Sabbath should be a gift, not a guilt trip.

Practical Invitation

Sabbath isn’t about strict rules—start simple:

Shut down the phone.

Disconnect from “work” for a full day.

Engage in life-giving relationships, hobbies, meals, and worship.

Practice what it looks like for your soul to say: God is enough. I can stop.

Final Challenge:
Fasting trains us to say “no.” Sabbath trains us to say “enough.”
Start where you are. You won’t master rest overnight—but embracing Sabbath as a rhythm will realign your heart with God’s design for your life.

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Prayer
Main Text: Luke 11:1–4
Big Idea: Prayer is the doorway to life with God—not just something we do, but a relationship we enter.

Key Points:

Prayer Misunderstood

For many, prayer feels distant, boring, ineffective, or frustrating.

It often becomes a last resort—like grabbing the steering wheel once we’re already in the ditch.

But Jesus shows us that prayer is the very entry point to life with God. It’s not optional; it’s vital.

Jesus' Example

Luke's Gospel shows Jesus frequently withdrawing to pray (Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:28).

The disciples watched His vibrant relationship with the Father and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

They didn’t ask Him to teach them how to preach, lead, or heal. They wanted His prayer life—because they saw it was the foundation of His power.

Four Things Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Luke 11:1–4)

1. God Is Our Father (Abba)

Jesus uses intimate, unheard-of language for God: Abba—a deeply personal, affectionate term.

God is not a dictator or vending machine—He’s a good Father.

Some of us need to spend more time healing our image of God before we can freely talk to Him.

The word “heaven” doesn’t mean distant outer space—it can also mean the air, the atmosphere.

God is as near as your next breath. His name, YHWH, even sounds like breathing: inhale Yah, exhale Weh.

You are never praying into silence—God surrounds and sustains you.

“Hallowed be Your name” means we approach God with awe and joy, not just a grocery list of needs.

Tim Keller calls this “a wondrous sense of His beauty.”

We often treat prayer like pain management—but it’s actually about delight in His presence.

“Your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Bible is filled with stories where prayer changes outcomes: Hannah’s child, Elijah’s rain, Hezekiah’s extended life, Peter’s release.

Prayer doesn’t just align us with God’s will—it often invites God to act in ways He’s waiting for us to ask.

The Goal Isn’t to Master Prayer—It’s to Be Mastered by God

Don’t strive to be a prayer expert. Strive to be present.

Make it consistent, habitual, personal. Pick a time. Pick a place.

Prayer isn’t a spiritual luxury—it’s spiritual oxygen.

Final Challenge:
Draw near to God—and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Let prayer become as normal as brushing your teeth or breathing in air. It’s not performance—it’s presence.