March 29, 2026
Don’t Know What You’ve Got ’Til It’s Gone
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
Has God ever disappointed you with His kindness?
Jonah 1:17 NIV
Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Luke 11:29-30 NIV
As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.”
Jonah entered death and emerged alive 3 days later. Jesus entered death and emerged alive 3 days later.
Old Testament prophecies all point us to Jesus. The question for us: What will we do with the kindness shown to us in Jesus?
Luke 11:32 NIV
“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.”
Jonah 3:10 NIV
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 4:1 NIV
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
Proverbs 25:21-22 NIV
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Jonah 4:2 NIV
He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Like us, Jonah is aware of God’s kindness and wants it for himself and his loved ones, but Jonah does not want everyone to get it.
Jonah 4:3 NIV
“Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
Jonah is more concerned about his own sense of justice than God’s intense love.
Luke 15:20 NIV
“So he got up and went to his father. 'But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.'”
Luke 15:21 NIV
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”
Luke 15:22 NIV
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.”
Luke 15:23-24 NIV
“Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
The kindness of God doesn’t just relent from sending calamity. It restores us to full son-ship.
Luke 15:28 NIV
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.”
Luke 15:29-30 NIV
“But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’”
Jonah 4:4 NIV
But the Lord replied, “Is it right (Jonah) for you to be angry?”
Jonah 4:5 NIV
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
Jonah 4:6 NIV
Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.
Jonah 4:7 NIV
But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.
Jonah 4:8 NIV
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
Jonah 4:9 NIV
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
God wants everyone to accept His kindness!
Luke 15:31-32 NIV
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Jonah 4:10 NIV
But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.”
Jonah 4:11 NIV
“And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Both stories end with a question and with no resolution. The reason is because Jesus is still inviting us into the same question today: Will you join me in what I am doing in the world?
Romans 2:4 NLT
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?