Devoted - Book of Jonah | Week 2
Icebreakers (CHOOSE ONE)
Option A: "The Worst Directions Ever"
Prompt: Share a quick story of a time you got completely lost because of bad GPS directions, a wrong sign, or refusing to ask for help. What was the funniest or most frustrating part of the detour?
Option B: "Two Truths and a Detour"
Prompt: Share three short statements about places you’ve traveled or trips you’ve taken—two true, one made up. Group members guess which trip never actually happened!
Week 2 video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08g1AEnbgdg
Warm-Up Questions (Light & Easy - CHOOSE ONE)
Leader Note: Use these quick, surface-level questions to get everyone comfortable talking before moving forward.
Plans vs. Reality
Are you the kind of person who plans every detail of a trip, or do you prefer to go with the flow and see what happens?
What’s one small thing that completely threw off your plan this past week?
Convenience & Comfort
When you have a busy or stressful week, what is your go-to "easy button" or comfort option (e.g., ordering takeaway, watching a favorite show, taking a long nap)?
How easy is it for you to pick the convenient choice over the right choice in everyday life?
Bridge Question
Leader Note: This question bridges our light chat about daily choices with the Bible story of Jonah, helping us think about how we respond when God's plans clash with our own.
Listening to the Signal
When you feel like God is prompting you to do something (or stop doing something), how do you usually recognize that prompt?
Is your first instinct usually to step forward right away, hesitate and ask for more proof, or hope the feeling just goes away?
Deeper Discussion Questions
1. A Wrong Turn
Main Idea: Reflecting on how easy it is to take a wrong turn or ignore guidance.
Leader Starter: Tell us about a time you ignored directions, missed an exit, or took a “shortcut” that actually made the trip much longer. What happened?
Follow-up / Deeper: Looking back, why did you choose that path instead of staying on the main road?
Group Connection: How does taking a physical detour compare to when we try to take a shortcut in our faith or life choices?
2. The Ship Going Your Way
Main Idea: Realizing that an open door or convenient circumstance doesn't automatically mean it's God's direction. Jonah found a ship heading to Tarshish, but it was leading him away from God.
Leader Starter: Have you ever experienced a situation where an opportunity seemed super easy or convenient, but deep down you knew it wasn't what God wanted for you?
Follow-up / Deeper: Is there something God has asked you to do—or a boundary He's asked you to set—that you’ve delayed, avoided, or tried to explain away?
Application Prompt: What kinds of "ships" (distractions, excuses, comfortable relationships, or appealing opportunities) make it easiest for us to keep running from what we know we should do?
3. Owning Your Part
Main Idea: Moving from shifting blame to taking personal ownership, just as Jonah finally acknowledged his role in the storm.
Leader Starter: Jonah eventually stopped hiding and admitted, "I know that it is my fault". Why do you think it’s usually so hard for us to say those words out loud?
Follow-up / Deeper: Could any part of a current stressor or difficulty in your life be connected to a personal choice, attitude, or pattern that God is asking you to address?
Application Prompt: Even if you feel like you are 95% in the right during a conflict or situation, what might be the 5% that God is asking you to take ownership of today?
Closing Prayer Idea
Leader Tip: Ask the group if anyone would like prayer for the courage to step off a "ship" they've been riding on, or for grace to own their part in a difficult situation. Close by thanking God for His patience and constant grace when we wander.