Let me be honest here, I can easily relate to my friend Jonah…maybe a little too much {ahem}. This Online Bible Study hit a little close to home. That’s not always a bad thing, right? Let’s just say the Book of Jonah makes a great examination of conscience.
See, God tells my friend Jonah to do something–granted, something a little uncomfortable and uncool even. God tells Jonah, “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”
As one sometimes does after a hard conversation with the Lord, my boy Jonah runs! And by “run,” he literally runs in the opposite direction of where God tells him to go! But running wasn’t enough. Jonah bought a ticket and hopped on a ship trying to get away from the Lord.
How to Use This Online Bible Study
This Online Bible Study reading, writing, praying, and studying the Book of Jonah is self-contained and self-explanatory. Download and print the Online Bible Study. Once printed, here’s my best suggestion–I’ve started making my own Bible Study Notebook! Here are the supplies I’m using:
A Happy Planner (Big)–the main reason I love a Happy Planner is that I can add pages to it!
Extra Pages for my Happy Planner–for notes, reflections, and doodles
Happy Planner Hole Punch–so I can turn anything into an insert: church bulletins, things I print off the internet, cards, etc.
Frixion Multi-Colored Pens
Sharpie S Note Highlighters
The Book of Jonah Bible Study includes a Daily Scripture Writing Plan, Daily Bible Journaling Reflection Questions, and a couple of “Dig Deeper” Journaling Reflection pages. Each Online Bible Study, this one included is intended to be a monthly study, meaning they contain 30 days worth of reading, writing, praying, and studying.
Our Online Bible Study Community enjoyed our time spent together in the Book of Jonah. Although we’ve already studied the Book of Jonah, we start a new study each month–topical or a book of the Bible. We would love for you to join us!
Why Do I Need an Online Bible Study Community?
You need an Online Bible Study Community because it’s easy to skim over the hard parts, the uncomfortable parts of reading Scripture. “So, um Jonah runs? Whoa…um who would do such a thing?” {Insert nervous laughter and darting eyes} It’s easy for us to gloss over a particularly convicting story in the Bible as just that, a story.
But in a community of women who love the Lord and not only want to grow in closer friendship with Him but want to walk alongside others who are striving for a closer friendship with God…it’s not so easy to “get away.” What’s the saying? “You can run but you can’t hide.”
Let’s quickly talk about where we hide. I mean it’s not like many, if any of us have ever hopped a ship in the opposite direction the Lord clearly told us to go, right? But what about the Dollar Spot at Target? The drive-through at Starbucks? The ridiculously easy motion of scrolling up on our phone?
But in an Online Bible Study Community, it’s might not be that easy to “run.” At some point, as the sailors did on the storm-tossed ship with Jonah, someone might start asking questions. Where are you? Has anyone heard from you? They might send you a message asking if you’re ok.
Another benefit of an Online Bible Study Community is perspective. Chris and I were talking the other day about how we each come to and interpret things from our own personal history, understanding, and perspective. I might be wrong…or at least not all the way right. It’s helpful to see and hear something from someone else’s viewpoint, yes, even if I might disagree.
How Does an Online Bible Study Community Work?
Our Online Bible Study Community meets at least once a week in a live Zoom Bible Study. We literally read, write, pray, and study the Scriptures together in a lovely community. We are spread from coast to coast and time zone to time zone. Sometimes this might mean someone has to miss the live Zoom but they can always catch the replay–unless I record it without sound which may or may not have happened recently {ahem}. We also have a weekly prayer thread in our private Facebook group.
I have to wonder if things might have gone a little differently for my friend Jonah if he would have had someone with him to live and work for the Lord? I mean obviously, the Lord’s plan was for him to go it alone, but I can’t help but think of the New Testament where the apostles are sent out in groups of two or more. There is strength in numbers and community.
Can I Join at Any Time and Cancel at Any Time?
Sure can! Also, when you join our Online Bible Study Community, you get access to all of our past Online Bible Studies kept in our private Facebook Files. You also have access to the past live Bible Study recordings and Facebook live videos shared in our group.
I’ve recently updated a couple of the other Online Bible Studies:
1&2 Timothy–Shop and Post
Philippians–Shop and Post
Psalm 119–Shop and Post
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