Greetings! Below you will find questions which reference the sermon preached on Sunday, October 19th, 2014 at The Park. This week we studied Chapter 3 of Amos. Have someone in your group read this section of scripture.
Each week new questions are posted to track along with the sermons. Work hard to facilitate discussion. Listen to the hearts around the room and close with prayer.
Intro to Amos:
Amos was from Tekoa, a small town in Judah about 6 miles south of Bethlehem and 11 miles from Jerusalem. He was not a man of the court like Isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. He earned his living from the flock and the sycamore-fig grove. Whether he owned the flocks and groves or only worked as a hired hand is not known. His skill with words and the strikingly broad range of his general knowledge of history and the world preclude his being an ignorant peasant. Though his home was in Judah, he was sent to announce God’s judgment on the northern kingdom (Israel). He probably ministered for the most part at Bethel, Israel’s main religious sanctuary, where the upper echelons of the northern kingdom worshiped.
The book brings his prophecies together in a carefully organized form intended to be read as a unit. It offers few, if any, clues as to the chronological order of his spoken messages—he may have repeated them on many occasions to reach everyone who came to worship. The book is ultimately addressed to all Israel (hence the references to Judah and Jerusalem).
- Think of a time when you were unexpectedly called out for wrong behavior by your parents, boss, spouse, or friends. Share with the group why you felt things were going well up until that point. Then describe how you reacted and then responded.
- Why would God begin by reminding the Israelites that it is them who have been chosen, and therefore they will be punished?
- When Amos talks about God being like a roaring lion, what different types of fear come to mind?
- Why do you think The Church rarely speaks to this side of God?
- What would your response be if this type of prophecy was spoken against your nation or family?
- What would your posture be towards God if he kept hurling questions at you that you were unable to answer?
- The words of The Lord were spoken against the “entire family” of Israel- is this fair? Could some have been innocent of sins the prophesy called out, or was the entire nation at fault? How would you feel hearing these words from God?