Don't Miss The Message

St. Charles | Scott Grossenbacher
June 28, 2026

Jonah 1:17

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17 (ESV)

* We Often Focus On…

1. The DETAILS rather than the DESIGNER.

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” Jonah 1:17a (ESV)

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” John 5:39-40 (ESV)

“Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power… always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5a, 7 (ESV)

“Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” Romans 1:25 (ESV)

* We Often Focus On…

2. The PAIN rather than the PURPOSE.

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” Jonah 1:17a (ESV)

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” Hebrews 12:11 (ESV)

“If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” Psalms 139:8 (ESV)

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)

* We Often Focus On…

3. The SIGN rather than the SAVIOR.

“And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17b (ESV)

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried…” Jonah 2:2 (ESV)

“You brought up my life from the pit…” Jonah 2:6 (ESV)

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Matthew 12:38-41(ESV)