Love for God and Country | Evening Worship, Pastor Curt Walters, July 6, 2025

“LOVE FOR GOD AND COUNTRY”

A sermon outline based on Jonah 1-4

First, Messiah and Hillcrest CRC’s, July 6, 2025, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Why did Jonah refuse to go to Nineveh? (Jonah 1:3, 4:2)

2. He loved his country more than God. (2 Kings 14:25, Jonah 1:3, 4:1-3)

3. Patriotism can be an idol. 

4. Jonah felt morally superior to the Ninevites. (Psalm 14:1-3)

5. The Pharisees were self-righteous. (John 5:39-40, Matthew 23:16-28)

6. God is eager to show mercy to all people. (Exodus 32: 14, Jonah 1:1-2, 15-16, 2:9, 3:2, 4:2,11, Ezekiel 33:11)

Next steps...

• Think about how your love of country might affect how you view people from other countries (and religions) and how it might keep you from praying for them, loving them and witnessing to them.
• Pay attention to whenever you feel morally superior to someone because it may be an indication that you put your faith in your own righteousness more than you do the righteousness of Jesus.
• Thank the Lord for His great love and compassion for sinners!  Praise Him for sending His one and only Son to pay for the sins of everyone who repents and believes.