Okay everyone, I am about to deliver – well, actually, repeat – probably the worst sermon in the history of sermons. The good news is, it won’t take long. In the original Hebrew, it’s just five words. And in most English translations, only eight. “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown”. That’s it.
Notice – there is no mention of God. No promises of forgiveness. No words of exhortation. And if this very short sermon that actually feels more like a threat sounds familiar, it’s because we all heard it just a few minutes ago in this morning’s Old Testament lesson from the book of Jonah. It just went by really fast! This worst sermon in the history of sermons, that was preached by maybe the most reluctant preachers in the history of preachers. The most reluctant preacher and, without a doubt, one of the most effective. Because, as a result of his preaching, we are told in the next verse, an entire city-full of heathens believe God. So much so that God changes God’s mind, and doesn’t destroy them. (read more)
