Romans | Jonah
This year, from Fall 2025 through Spring 2026, we will study two remarkable books of the Bible that remain as relevant today as the day they were written.
Romans covers many basics of the Christian life, like our nature, how to know Christ personally, how to live as a Christian, and much more.
Jonah gives insight into God’s mission through the prophet being sent to Nineveh. It was one of the greatest cities of the world, situated on the east bank of the Tigris, 400 miles from the Mediterranean. It was the capital of Assyria. The stronghold of the city was thirty miles long and ten miles wide. It was marvelous in apperance.
This study is ideal for those new to studying God’s Word or for those who have been walking with Christ for a long time. It’s more than time well spent in God’s life-giving words. It is also time well spent with others who want more from life than the world can offer.
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
We don’t know who founded the church at Rome, but during the twenty-eight intervening years since the Day of Pentecost, many Christians from all parts of the east had migrated to Rome – some were even the apostle Paul’s own converts.
Paul was eager to visit this church and had sent them this letter from Corinth, from the home of Gaius, a wealthy Corinthian Christian, while he was on his third missionary journey. It was written in the fourth year of Nero, then Emperor of Rome.
Biblical scholars agree that the Epistle (letter) to the Romans was written by Paul the Apostle to explain that salvation is offered through the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ and that Christ is our righteousness.
The Book of Jonah
Jonah was probably a disciple of the great Elisha and succeeded him as a prophet. Most people relate to Jonah as being swallowed by a whale (scripture only says it was a great fish). It is an important book, but many stumble over how big the fish would need to be to swallow Jonah and for him to live inside of it for three days.
God is in this book. He is taking care of His prophet. God is working.
It challenges our faith. Is the story of Jonah mere naturalism or supernaturalism? Right here we stand or fall. In addition to the great fish swallowing Jonah, there is the occurrence of such a large heathen city as Nineveh being converted by an obscure foreign missionary in a few days. Imagine the city of New York repenting and turning to God within one week after hearing one message.
This is a rich story of obstinacy, obedience, and faith. Jesus points to Jonah the prophet as the sign given to the scribes and Pharisees who asked Jesus to see a sign from Him in Matthew 12:38-41.
Why Study the Scriptures?
Studying the Bible gives insight into human nature, world problems, and human suffering. But beyond that, and more importantly, it reveals the way to encounter God personally and walk with Him. It is the story of salvation: the story of your redemption through Jesus Christ; the story of life, of peace, and of eternity. The message of the Bible is the message of Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). One of the greatest needs of the Church today is to return to the Word of God as the only real authority we have and to study the scriptures prayerfully depending on the Holy Spirit. When we read God’s Word, we fill our hearts with His words, and God is speaking to us.