ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY 6

                  GOD AND HIS ACTS

TOPIC: God’s Nature: His Compassion

TEXT: Jonah 3:1-4:2.

AIMS: To

1. recognise God as compassionate, and
2. realise how bruised sinners can receive this healing.

INTRODUCTION: In the last study, we drew attention to God’s Nature as the Judgewho punishes sin severely and as One who heals. He is ever ready to forgive and restore us to Himself whenever we repent of our sins. Believers therefore need a contrite heart to enjoy the mercy of God. He will never fail to punish sin. Isaiah says that judgment is God’s ‘strange act’ (Isaiah 28:21). It means that God has a nature that is more ‘natural’ or ‘usual’ with Him-which is the focus of this study.

STUDY GUIDE

1. From Exod. 34:5-7; Jonah 3:1-10; 4:1-2,
1. Explain the nature of God and what it implies.
2. How did He show compassion to Jonah?
3. How did He show compassion to the people of Nineveh?
4. Jonah received compassion but failed to show it to others. In the light of Matt 5:7 what do you say about this attitude of Jonah?
5. Like God, why must we show compassion and mercy instead of judgement or sacrifice? Matt. 9:13; 5:7; John 13:34; II Peter 3:9
2. Why should Christians not continue sinning and expecting God’s compassion to abound unto them? Rom. 3:8; 6:1.
3. If God is so compassionate, why then is this virtue scarce in God’s Church?II Peter 1:5-8; Luke 10:30-37 How can this deficiencybe dealt with?

CONCLUSION: God is compassionate, but that should not be a license for us to go on sinning. We should be concerned however that whereas God is so compassionate, the contrary trait appears more prevalent in the Church. The truth remains that the more of JESUS we have in our hearts, the more compassion we ought tohave and show.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Are you as compassionate as your LORD? John 13:34.

MEMORY VERSE: John 13:34.