1. BY: MARC IBRAHIM ST. MARY’S COPTIC CHURCH, OTTAWA ANGELS’ SERVICE – GRADE 6 Jonah The Prophet

2. Introduction What is the name of the upcoming fast/feast? What are we celebrating starting tomorrow? Who was Jonah? What happened to him?

3. Jonah and the people of Nineveh (Key Points) Jonah disobeyed the Lord when he was asked to go to Nineveh: He took the next ship to Tarshish. Jonah got punished: God sent out a great wind → The mariners got scared. Jonah confessed that it was because of him and he got thrown into the sea He got swallowed by a huge fish, He prayed and stayed in the fish’s belly for 3 days and 3 nights.

4. Jonah and the people of Nineveh (Continued) Jonah listens to God and goes to Nineveh to warn them → In 40 days, the city of Nineveh will be destroyed. The people repent and God decides to relent them form the disaster → Jonah was not happy. Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. God prepared a plant for him to provide him shade for his head. God prepared a worm also in order to teach him a lesson.

5. Questions In your opinion, why do we celebrate Jonah’s fast prior to The Great Lent? Jonah stayed in the fish’s belly for how many days? What does this represent? Why was Jonah displeased when he saw that God relented from destroying Nineveh? What was God’s lesson exactly? What can we get from this lesson?

6. Practical Applications – Key points of Lesson The Importance of Repentance:  The people of Nineveh repented from their evil ways and fasted HOPING that God would relent from their punishment. Jonah’s lesson → God has a plan (He makes the decisions, not us. We should not complain, etc.) Hope:  The Ninevites after hearing the news did not panic. They fasted hoping that God changes His mind.  No matter how difficult times may be, we should always hope that things will get better. Hope is what drives us (a better, eternal life). God is merciful, loving, and fair.

7. Verse of the Day: Joel 2:12 What can we get from the verse? Keep in mind: God knows our hearts → “TRUE” repentance will save us.