When we treat a good thing as the ultimate thing, it becomes an idol for us. Jonah put national interests ahead of Kingdom interests, so when God’s merciful agenda didn’t lean toward the judgment he wanted, Jonah’s lack of priorities was on full display. It is important to put our loves in the right order so that we treat God as our ultimate priority.

It is easy for us to write off people we think are beyond saving, especially if we are tempted to think they don’t even deserve the opportunity. Jonah wrestled with these feelings toward Nineveh. Who would ever imagine they would respond to a message from God? You never can know just how God might lead someone to repent.

Even after a traumatic experience that forced him to rethink his life from rock bottom, Jonah still needed help to see the world as God does. God’s healing and guidance are not a one time experience, but a continual part of our walk with God, through which he helps us to grow.

It is easy to get caught up in our higher thinking about God, even to the point that we become detached from the world we live in. Jonah’s story reminds us that any faith that is of real value is faith that is of public value.

This week, Mark begins a new series on Jonah and the mysterious mercy that God shows not only in this story, but in our lives.

In the final sermon of the God With Us series, Mark explains that the proof God is with and within us is shown in how we love other people.

There are situations in life that drive us to ask, “God, where are you?” It is easy to trust God when we sense his presence, but when we don’t, it is easy to walk away. But in every situation, God is faithful. Even when we struggle to uphold our commitment to God, God is unwavering in his loving commitment to us.

Throughout human history, even when we have avoided God, God has always been in loving pursuit of us. The largest moves of God in history have resulted in God being nearer to us, the culmination of which will mean we are with him, knowing him as fully as he knows us. This is the first part of the series God With Us.

In the final message in the God is Greater series, Mark lays out why we should honor one another above ourselves.

In our study of humility, we talked about the importance of holding on to your complaints and criticism, knowing that it is better to keep silent than to use your words to harm. But a meaningful engagement with life requires that we both speak and listen. Mark shares “Four Things You Should Say” that every Christian needs to speak into our life, to the people around us.