Announcement of Judgment—Amos 1:1–2:16
Topics: Anger, Forsake, God, History, Idolatry, Injustice, Judgment, Law, Oppressed, People, Prophecy, Punishment, Sex, Sin, Slavery
Open It
1. What line of work would you like to be doing three years from now?
2. *If you had the opportunity to work in the criminal justice system, in what position would you be most effective?
Explore It
1. When did Amos, the shepherd, reveal his visions? (1:1)
2. What was the theme of Amos’s message? (1:2)
3. What was the pronouncement of doom against Damascus? (1:3–5)
4. What would become of the Philistines because of their enslavement of entire communities? (1:6–8)
5. How would Tyre be punished for her sins? (1:9–10)
6. What was the judgment against Edom? (1:11–12)
7. How would God deal with the terrible cruelty of Ammon? (1:13–15)
8. How would God deal with Moab? (2:1–3)
9. What was the ruling against Judah? (2:4–5)
10. *How had Israel sinned? (2:6–8)
11. *How would God deal with Israel’s sins? (2:6–16)
12. How had God dealt with His people in the past? (2:9–12)
13. *Who would be affected by God’s severe punishment? (2:13–16)
Get It
1. What advantage was there in God choosing Amos, a shepherd and a farmer, to deliver such a harsh prophetic message to His people?
2. How do you think Amos felt about presenting God’s message to the northern kingdom of Israel?
3. When have you felt unqualified for ministry that you have been called to do?
4. *If you were to speak out against social injustice, what would compel people to listen to you?
5. How might a wealthy Christian church today compare with affluent Israel in Amos’s day?
6. *What types of social and religious corruption do you see in Christian circles?
7. How has the church grown hard and callous in their dealings with others?
8. What level of responsibility do you feel toward the homeless and needy?
9. In what ways do we turn a deaf ear to God’s Word?
Apply It
1. *Starting today, what practical steps can you take toward letting the Holy Spirit soften your heart toward the Lord and bring renewal to your spiritual life?
2. How can you help a child or an adult this week caught in an unfortunate set of circumstances?
Reasons for Judgment—Amos 3:1–6:14
Topics: Accusation, Comfortable, Compromise, Desires, Family, God, Greed, Hardheartedness, Hypocrisy, Idolatry, Injustice, Judgment, Materialism, Mourning, Oppressed, People, Poor, Possessions, Pride, Prophecy, Sacrifice, Sin, Society, Sovereignty, Suffering, Wealth
Open It
1. What one family relationship would you consider very unique and rewarding?
2. *If suddenly you inherited a lot of money, what would you do with it?
3. When do you feel most content and secure?
Explore It
1. Why did God speak out against Israel? (3:1–2)
2. Why was Israel’s punishment inevitable? (3:3–8)
3. *What were the injustices of Israel? (3:9–10)
4. What catastrophes did Amos unfold? (3:11–15)
5. Why did Amos speak against Samaria’s upper-class women? (4:1–3)
6. How were the Israelites guilty of religious hypocrisy? (4:4–5)
7. What was Israel’s persistent attitude toward God? (4:6–13)
8. What lament did Amos summon the people to hear? (5:1–3, 16–20, 27)
9. How was repentance possible? (5:4–6, 14–15, 23–24)
10. *What were the Israelites accused of? (5:7, 10–13, 21–22, 25–26)
11. What was Amos’s portrayal of God? (5:8–9)
12. *What did Amos say to those who enjoyed affluence and comfortable living? (6:1–7)
13. How did Amos describe the complete devastation of Israel? (6:8–14)
Get It
1. How do family members help make you feel exceptional?
2. If your behavior were troubling to others, which family member would do the best job of discussing it with you?
3. *In what ways do you think you need to be less attached to money, things, material comforts, and status?
4. *What is the prevailing attitude in your church toward money, possessions, and status?
5. How does your church treat the poor and needy?
6. If Amos visited your congregation, what examples of religious hypocrisy might he point out?
7. Why, like Israel, does the church today need to seek the Lord?
8. What is wrong with being a complacent Christian?
9. How might your sense of security and well-being be off base?
10. In what ways should we fear the Lord’s judgment?
Apply It
1. What is one step you can take to become a more obedient, humble, and dependent child of God?
2. *How can you share some of your resources with those who are needy or oppressed?
Visions of Judgment—Amos 7:1–9:15
Topics: Accusation, Conflict, Conversation, Death, Forgiveness, God, Mourning, Peace, People, Prophecy, Punishment, Renewal, Repentance, Restoration, Silence, Sin, War
Open It
1. What interesting experience or anecdote can you tell about one or more of the following: insects, fire, a plumb line?
2. If you had to tell a friend some bad news, how would you choose to do it?
3. *If you were in the business of fixing things, what kinds of things would you be interested in repairing or restoring?
Explore It
1. *What three visions did the Lord reveal to Amos? (7:1–9)
2. What were the meanings of the visions to Amos? (7:1–9)
3. Why did Amos appeal to the Lord? (7:1–9)
4. How did Amaziah oppose Amos? (7:10–13)
5. How did Amos defend his call to prophesy? (7:14–15)
6. What word did the Lord have for the priest? (7:16–17)
7. What was the horror of Amos’s fourth vision? (8:1–3)
8. Why would there be unprecedented mourning in the land? (8:4–10)
9. What would characterize God’s silence toward Israel? (8:11–14)
10. *What did Amos see in his fifth and final vision? (9:1–10)
11. *How did Amos describe the restoration after judgment? (9:11–15)
Get It
1. Who, in your view, speaks out for the Lord in our society?
2. From your perspective, which group or nation today needs an extra measure of the Lord’s mercy and grace?
3. What does the term “Sovereign Lord” mean?
4. When have you felt that God was giving you the silent treatment?
5. How do you see your church being affected by hearing God’s Word?
6. If God judged the church today, what practices, characteristics, or teachings would He get rid of?
7. *How can you pray for your community?
8. *In what ways does your church need renewal?
Apply It
1. *When can you meet with a group of Christians to pray for forgiveness of sins and an outpouring of God’s grace and mercy on your church community?
2. In what areas of your life do you want to ask the Holy Spirit to refresh or restore you?
3. With whom can you pray for a renewal of commitment to God? When?
Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. Am 1:1–9:15.