Jonah was willing to die so his shipmates might live. When that storm ceased after throwing Jonah into the waves, the Gentile mariners prayed to Jonah's God. They may be his first converts. Is it possible for someone to survive in a great fish for three days and nights?

The storm raged and threatened to tear the ship apart. They cast lots to see who was responsible. The lot fell on Jonah. We cannot hide from God. We cannot flee from God. His love will persistently pursue us and correct us. It may seem like a final judgment, but it is the beginning of restoration.

Jonah is a real character mentioned in 1 Kings. The circumstances surrounding his attempt to flee from God's calling have a lot to teach us about our human nature. It is full of warnings for the modern Christian. This book is full of contrasts and similarities with the life of Christ.

Paul ends his second letter to the Corinthians with a stern warning that they would not like to see God exercise discipline through him, and he would not like it either. His hope is that they be restored, all of them, even those false teachers. He ends the letter with five imperative commands and a unique benediction.

In the passage for this week, we read of Paul giving a stern warning about not wanting to have to discipline the Corinthian believers. He is warning them to repent so they do not have to see the Paul as a disciplinarian and face God's judgment. Paul had exercised this authority and knew how painful it was for all involved. The passage ends with him challenging them to examine their hearts to see if they are in the faith. It is something we should do regularly.

Paul tells the Corinthians that the founding of the church included signs and wonders. We do not have a report of what those miracles consisted of. The sermon examines the reasons for signs and wonders, when they are first mentioned in Scripture, and the reason we rarely have them in western culture today.

Our passage for this week sums up Paul's message throughout the letter and redefines for us what real strength is. "When I am weak, then I am strong!" That is because God's power is made perfect in our weakness. Recognizing we are weak causes us to depend on the strength of the Almighty!

While on vacation, I had a very vivid dream. A man looked into my eyes and said in a manner that was matter of fact, "You need to be strong, courageous, and endure." This sermon is a look into Scripture to see that same message and instruction as to how that can be possible in our lives.

Paul continues his defense by sharing how much he has suffered for the cause of Christ. He lists many things he had endured including being beaten with rods, scourged five times and even stoned. Many things on his list are not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. The heart of a true pastor is to do the will of God to advance the gospel no matter the cost. May God give us that kind of heart.

Paul mocks the false teachers by calling them super-apostles. They deem themselves to be so special that they treat the Corinthian believers harshly and make demands on them. Paul contrasts his sacrificial behavior and generosity with their greed and egos. This message warns us how to spot these false-teachers in sheep's clothing and what to do about them. It also promises us we will be rewarded for what we do, and they will be paid back for their greed and deception.