Sermon Notes & Questions 10-01-2023
October 1, 2023

Minor Prophets (Part 4): Amos

Amos’s Calling (Amos 1:1, 7:14-15)

God’s Indictments Against The Nations (Amos 1:3-2:5)
- War crimes, slavery, harboring rage
- Underlying Principle: It is morally wrong to treat people as things to be used.

God’s Indictments Against Israel
- Exploiting the poor, prostitution, denying justice to the poor (Amos 2:6-8)
- Living in decadence (Amos 6:4-6, 4:1)
- Hypocritical worship (Amos 8:4-6, 5:21-24)

God’s Judgment (Amos 2:13, 4:12-13)

God’s Plea: Seek the Lord and Live! (Amos 5:14-15, 5:4)

Application: Start with compassion, move to action

The Lord will restore His people (Amos 9:11-12, Acts 15:12-18)

Jesus Christ came to suffer oppression to save us (Matthew 25:31-40)

TAG Questions

  1. What is something the Lord taught you through the sermon?

  2. How does it apply to your life?

Small Group Discussion Questions

  1. As you reflect on Sunday’s sermon, what one principle or insight stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful, or difficult to grasp?
  2. Pastor Josh talked about how the underlying principle being violated in Amos 1 & 2 is that both the surrounding nations and Israel were treating people as things to be used, not souls to be loved. Reflect on where you see that principle being violated today.
  3. Where do you see that principle being violated in society at large?
  4. Where do you see that principle being violated in your own life?
  5. Read Psalm 68:5 and James 1:27. What do we learn about God in these verses and what it means to follow Him? Why is this important?
  6. Pastor Josh talked about how the Israelites had found loopholes to oppress the poor, live decadent lifestyles, and have hypocritical worship, and so perhaps they had convinced themselves that they weren’t technically doing anything wrong. In what ways might we also be convincing ourselves that we aren’t sinning against God, when in fact we are? In what areas of our lives might we be defensive or dismissive about considering where we might be sinning?
  7. As you reflect on the sermon and our conversation today, what next steps might God want you to take? How can we pray for each other and help each other to follow through?