The story of Jonah is about so much more than a great, man-eating fish. This short Old Testament book is actually a powerful drama about God’s power, patience, and relentless grace—showing how God works out his purposes and how nothing can thwart his determination to save. Jonah's story is ultimately the story of Jesus and all believers as they learn to trust God and submit to his revealed word.
In this 10-week Bible study for women, Lydia Brownback explores Jonah verse by verse to help believers understand God’s overarching providence, the nature of true repentance, and the wondrous grace of God. Written for individuals or groups, each lesson helps women understand the themes of compassion, mercy, patience, and sovereignty, ultimately encouraging Christians to reject personal comforts and trust God through every circumstance.
128 pages.
The Timing of Jonah
Introduction: Getting into Jonah
Reading Plan
Week 1: Privileged Prophet (Jonah 1:1–3)
Week 2: Going Down! (Jonah 1:4–6)
Week 3: Life or Death (Jonah 1:7–16)
Week 4: Three Days and Three Nights (Jonah 1:17)
Week 5: Down in the Depths (Jonah 2:1–6)
Week 6: A Reoriented Heart (Jonah 2:7–9)
Week 7: Preach It, Jonah! (Jonah 3:1–5a)
Week 8: Sackcloth and Ashes (Jonah 3:5–10)
Week 9: Grace for Backsliders (Jonah 4:1–4)
Week 10: A Plant, a Worm, and a Hot East Wind (Jonah 4:5–11)
Helpful Resources for Studying Jonah
Notes
“The brilliant and beautiful mix of sound teaching, helpful charts, lists, sidebars, and appealing graphics—as well as insightful questions that get the reader into the text of Scripture—make these studies that women will want to invest time in and will look back on as time well spent.”
Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even Better than Eden
“My daughter and I love using Flourish Bible Studies for our morning devotions. Lydia Brownback’s faithful probing of biblical texts; insightful questions; invitations to engage in personal applications using additional biblical texts and historical contexts; and commitment to upholding the whole counsel of God as it bears on living life as a godly woman has drawn us closer to the Lord and to his word. Brownback never sidesteps hard questions or hard providences, but neither does she appeal to discourses of victimhood or therapy, which are painfully common in the genre of women’s Bible studies. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. My daughter and I look forward to working through this whole series together!”
Rosaria Butterfield, Former Professor of English, Syracuse University; author, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age
“As a women’s ministry leader, I am excited about the development of the Flourish Bible Study series, which will not only prayerfully equip women to increase in biblical literacy but also come alongside them to build a systematic and comprehensive framework to become lifelong students of the word of God. This series provides visually engaging studies with accessible content that will not only strengthen the believer but the church as well.”
Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America; coauthor, Transformed
“Lydia Brownback is an experienced Bible teacher who has dedicated her life to ministry roles that help women (and men) grow in Christ. With a wealth of biblical, historical, and theological content, her Flourish Bible studies are ideal for groups and individuals that are serious about the in-depth study of the word of God.”
Phil and Lisa Ryken, President, Wheaton College; and his wife, Lisa