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Amos 1-2:3 Bible Study
1) Opening Song and Prayer (5 mins)
2) How our studies of Amos Studies will proceed: (2 mins)
a. Worship in prayer and song
b. Introduction time together as a whole group
c. Split into smaller groups for discussion of the passage
d. Reconvene in larger group for wrap-up
e. Split back into small groups for final thoughts and prayer
3) Introduction of Inductive Bible Study (8 mins)
a. Background to the Book
i) Type of biblical literature
ii) Historical setting of the book-we’ll look at this in a moment
b. Observation-Looking carefully at the passage for what the writer
wants us to see, some ways to do so:
i) Repetitions
ii) Contrasts
iii) Comparisons
iv) Cause & Effect
c. Interpretation or discerning the central meaning of the passage
d. Application-Following the Lord
e. Formulation-How does this further help me understand what Scripture
says about the main pt. of the passage
f. Why do inductive Bible study?
i) Because we are sinners who, in the words of Martin Luther, like
to stand over Scripture and tell God what it means instead of
sit beneath it and have it read, judge, and correct our hearts
and minds. This means of studying Scripture best minimizes this
propensity. It forces us to look carefully and humbly under the
Holy Spirit’s guidance for the meaning of the passage.
ii) Because it best leads us toward true, biblical spirituality.
Martin Luther described people who read and understand their
Bibles as those who must do three things:
1) Oratio-(Latin for prayer) They must be a people who respond with
heartfelt utterances, quietly in their hearts & together with
other Christians. This happens through prayer and singing
primarily.
2) Meditatio-(Latin for meditation) They must be a people who
struggle to engage their minds in studying Scripture. Wrestling
with its meaning, turning it over again and again, utilizing
prayer as the Spirit given means of receiving insight.
3) Tentatio-(Latin for temptation) They must be a people who resist
the temptation to “look into Scripture as a mirror and then
forget what they’ve seen.” In other words, we must resist the
temptation to not obey, submit, or commit to God’s truth. A
very real danger for our culture hooked on feelings and emotion
alone.
4) Inductive Bible best connects these three facets of spirituality-
the heart, the mind, & the will.
4) Overview of Amos-20 mins.
a. Start by squeezing out of first 7 lines of manuscript what we can
learn about the background of Amos. Have students take a minute to
look it over and then ask questions:
i) What do we learn about the person giving this prophetic word?
1) Amos-shepherd (some disagreement abt. his wealth), fm. Tekoa
(where is this on the map? Nearby Jerusalem in Judah
ii) What can we learn about state of God’s people from this passage?
1) Separate nations-note two kings. What does this say about their
state of unity?
2) Prior to major ecological disaster
iii) How is God described in 1.1-7 of Amos? What imagery is used to
describe God’s actions?
1) God is roaring lion-like
2) Frm. Zion-another term for Jerusalem
3) He speaks
iv) What does the imagery represent?
1) roaring is an attacking action, preparing for pouncing]
v) Who is affected by God’s anger?
1) The heights and the depths of God’s people-i.e. everyone
b. Other significant things we should know regarding Amos. Walk
through overview sheet.
5) Break up into small groups 35 mins.
a. Individual study of this section. Group leader should assign one of
the six nations to each student. 10 mins. Ask each student to
describe the answers to the following questions.
i) Who is the judgment against?
ii) Who does the oppressor assault?
iii) What does the oppressor do to those they oppress?
iv) What is the relationship between the oppressor and the
oppressed?
b. Reconvene as a small group and talk about the following:
i) Summarize the pattern of each of the judgments. What is the
form of each judgement? His description of nation’s guilt,
punishment-especially against leaders and centers of power
ii) Categorize the types of sins that these nations have enacted
against others.
1) What can you tell from the passage about their motivations for
committing these evils? Various reasons-financial and political
greed, unquenched hostility, etc.
2) What can be further learned about their sins from whom the
enacted them against? Note that they were neighboring
countries, related to them, some they had treaties with-they
were agreement breakers who couldn’t be trusted.
iii) How does God promise to judge each of these nations? Attacking
and destroying their centers of power
1) Why does God punish them in this manner? These are the command
centers from which sinful decisions are made and carried out.
iv) Why do you think Amos begins his prophecy with God’s judgment on
the pagan nations surrounding Israel?
6) Together as an entire group: 15 mins.
a. Why does God bring judgement on Israel’s neighbors, many of whom did
these evil actions against Israel? How can God hold them
accountable [see Romans 1:18-20].
b. What sort of comfort and challenge should we gain from the knowledge
that God will judge all sin?
7) Back in small groups: 15 mins.
a. What hinders you from having the God’s mind towards evil in the
world?
b. Spend some time praying for God’s justice to be brought about in
areas suffering from war, in the business world, in the treatment of
the poor, and other areas the Lord has laid on your heart today.———————————-
Songs
#5 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
#15 “O God of Every Nation”
Let Your Glory Fall
Final Thoughts
Books to consider reading
Song in closing
June 25, 2002
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