Reverend Mark Bates (MTW): Living on Mission (the book of Jonah)

Rev. Mark Bates from Mission To The World (MTW) examines the book of Jonah to address the tension between human desires for justice and the reality of God's mercy. He argues that Jonah's anger stems from a failure to recognize his own sin and dependence on grace, contrasting his reluctance with the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. By understanding that all people are sinners in need of unmerited favor, believers are freed from judgmental attitudes and called to share the gospel with a passion that mirrors God's heart for the lost. Rev. Bates concludes with an urgent appeal for the church to pray for missionaries, train the next generation for global outreach, and support the growing underground churches in regions like Iran, recognizing that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.