They Greatly Feared

They Greatly Feared

Author: Tim Keller May 6, 2026 Duration: 42:58
Jonah runs away for two reasons: fear and hate.  God has told Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn them, but Jonah refuses. He’s afraid to put himself in the midst of his enemies, but he’s also filled with hate toward them. So the book of Jonah addresses in a real way the questions “What do I do about my fear?” and “What do I do about my anger?” Let’s notice three features of the story: 1) the stormy sea shows us who we are, 2) the religious sailors show us the wrong thing to do about it, and 3) the willing substitute shows us the right thing to do about it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 23, 2001. Series: The Church in the City. Scripture: Jonah 1:4-17. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

For over three decades, Tim Keller’s voice has been a guiding presence for countless people navigating the complexities of faith and modern life. This Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life offers a direct line to that wisdom, gathering his most impactful teachings from his time leading Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Each episode feels like sitting in on a thoughtful conversation, where Keller, also the New York Times best-selling author of "The Reason for God," addresses timeless truths with a rare clarity that resonates in an age of skepticism. You’ll hear explorations that go beyond surface-level inspiration, digging into scripture to examine topics like grace, justice, doubt, and love in ways that are both intellectually robust and deeply personal. The podcast doesn’t offer easy answers but instead provides a framework for understanding how ancient Christian thought meaningfully intersects with contemporary challenges in work, relationships, and culture. Whether you are firmly rooted in your faith or wrestling with big questions, these sermons create space for reflection and genuine insight. It’s a collection that serves as both a companion for daily living and a resource for deeper study, embodying the thoughtful ministry Keller is known for. More than just an archive, this ongoing series continues to provide fresh perspective on what it means to live out one’s beliefs with integrity and hope.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life
Podcast Episodes
How To Find the Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:37
This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on October 18, 1998. Series: Jesus – On Finding God. Scripture: Matthew 7:7-14. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site…
The Girl Nobody Wanted [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:41
This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on October 11, 1998. Series: None. Scripture: Genesis 29:15-35. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons…
Should I Not Love That Great City? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:44
In Jonah, the antagonists are the religious, moral people. It’s us. It’s the city-disdaining, city-phobic, religious, moral people. We’re the antagonists, and God is the protagonist. It all comes down to this last questi…
Let Them Give Up Their Violence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
History tells us the Assyrian empire brought cruelty and massacre to a new level. It was a violent empire that slaughtered helpless people. And Jonah’s response to it is anger. He wants them punished. Yet, in the book of…
Those Who Cling… Forfeit the Grace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:32
Jonah’s spirituality was fine for his old world and his old situations. But when he’s faced with a new situation, it just collapses. Then, when he’s in the belly of the fish, Jonah begins to reflect and pray, and as the…
Running From God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:47
Words like sin, sinner, heathen and heretic have been used for centuries to exclude and oppress people. That’s one reason we need the book of Jonah. Jonah gives a concept of sin that can’t be used to oppress people. In f…
Confident in the Advocate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:35
In the old tales, if they were sending people out on a quest, they always gave them special gifts with special powers. That’s what Jesus is doing in John 14—he’s sending his disciples (us) out into the world. The night b…
Confident in Prayer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:23
God sent Jesus into the world to say the things he said and do the things he did — and it got him killed. Now Jesus is sending us into the world, and we should probably expect at least a hard time. In John 14, Jesus give…
Confident in Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
Philip asks Jesus for something I think most of us can identify with. He asks Jesus to actually show them God. And at this, Jesus is exasperated. Philip’s saying, “We believe in God, but it’s hard. So give us just one vi…
Confident in Hope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
Trouble will come. And because we’re going to have trouble, Jesus says he wants to give us something so that our hearts are not troubled by the trouble. John 14 begins and ends with Jesus saying, “I don’t want you to be…