BIBLE EXPLORE / OLD TESTAMENT / JONAH

Jonah

Jonah is the central character in the Book of Jonah, where God asks Jonah to travel to Nineveh, and warn its residents of God's wrath. Instead, Jonah heads in the other direction - to Tarshish. Caught in a storm, he orders the ship's crew to cast him overboard, whereupon he is swallowed by a giant fish. Three days later, after Jonah agrees to go to Nineveh, the fish vomits him out onto the shore. Jonah successfully convinces the entire city of Nineveh to repent, but waits outside the city in expectation of its destruction. God shields Jonah from the sun with a plant, but later sends a worm to cause it to wither, and when Jonah complains of the bitter heat, God rebukes him.

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Activities

• Paper Plate whale craft
• Messy Church activities, including a 'in the belly of the whale' activity using jelly in a bucket. Hide a mini figure of jonah in the bottom and let children find it! 
• Peg Whale (Out Upon the Waters)
• Balloon Whale (Wesley an Kids)
• Whale Tent (Hands on Bible Teacher)
• Spew Jonah Whale Popper (BIble Belt Balabusta)
• Origami Whale  (Bible Belt Balabusta)
• Jonah and the whale story using balloons ​

Jesus and Jonah

What does the story of Jonah have to do with Jesus? In this passage from Matthew 12, Jesus compares how his life will reflect the life of Jonah. 

Media

​Jonah goes to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-5,10)

The story of Jonah

It may feel like you're just getting a snapshot of Jonah in this lectionary reading - we are! The next part of this story only appears in after Pentecost, so you might like to think of how you can tell this story in a way that gives the children the whole picture, rather than just a snapshot.

Silly Scripture Song

Activities

Jonah is most well known for the story of being swallowed by a giant fish, so here are some popular craft activities that focus on this theme

• Paper Plate whale craft
• Messy Church activities, including a 'in the belly of the whale' activity using jelly in a bucket. Hide a mini figure of jonah in the bottom and let children find it! 
• Peg Whale (Out Upon the Waters)
• Balloon Whale (Wesley an Kids)
• Whale Tent (Hands on Bible Teacher)
• Spew Jonah Whale Popper (BIble Belt Balabusta)
• Origami Whale  (Bible Belt Balabusta)
• Jonah and the whale story using balloons ​

Following GOd

In the gospel story today, we heard about how Jesus called some of his disciples, and how they stepped out in faith to follow him. This isn't quite the story of Jonah, who hears God calling him to go to Nineveh, but goes in the opposite direction. 
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Jonah 1 and 2 tells the story of Jonah heading in the wrong direction, and his adventures in the belly of a whale. Here we pick up the story in Chapter 3, a Jonah heads to Nineveh and the Nineties change their hearts. 

Jesus and Jonah

What does the story of Jonah have to do with Jesus? In this passage from Matthew 12, Jesus compares how his life will reflect the life of Jonah. 

Media

Overview

Here are some resources for leaders, who are looking for context and background information to share about the book of Jonah

BibleProject Overview: Jonah

BibleProject: Jonah Overview poster, free download here