LESSON #27: Amos, a prophet of God (Week ending 07/04/10

AMOS

"BACKGROUND:

God called Amos, from the southern kingdom, to head north with a message of exhortation and judgment for Israel. As a southerner, Amos was not very welcome in the north, yet he stood his ground, knowing that God had called him.

Amos would have been a contemporary of Hosea, another prophet to the northern kingdom."

"PURPOSE

To call Israel to repent of:

• outward actions such as violence, social injustice, and idolatry

• inward attitudes such as pride and heartless worship

Amid his denunciations, Amos proclaimed the coming messianic age."

"UNIQUE FEATURES

• Amos is the only OT prophet called from one part of the divided kingdom to prophecy in the other part.

• Perhaps more than any other OT prophet, Amos shows that an effective minister of God does not need any prescribed level of education or social status; he or she needs only a call from God."^[1]

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1:1-3:15: Coming Judgments

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Damascus?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Gaza?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Tyre?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Edom?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Ammon?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Moab?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Judah?

Ø Why did God pass judgment on Israel?

Ø Does any of this have application for us? If so, what?

4:1-5:17: Condemnation; Lament; Call to Repentance

Ø How did God try to get His people's attention?

Ø Did their actions demonstrate that they heard Him?

Ø Is God's patience and long suffering inexhaustible?

Ø Is there application for us?

5:18-9:10: Warnings Against Israel

Ø Why did God pronounce "woes" against Israel?

Ø He despised three things that were prevalent in Israel (5:18-614), what are they?

Ø Does He despise those things today?

Ø When Amos prayed and cried out to the Lord, "He relented". What does it mean that the Lord relented?

Ø Was Israel's sin individual or national?

9:11-15: The Restoration of Israel

Ø God saves a remnant to rebuild His people. From which group of Israel does this remnant come?

Ø Why is it that there is always a remnant?

Ø Will God ever break His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

Ø Application for us?

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^[1]Willmington, H. L. (1997). Willmington's Bible handbook (461). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

LESSON #26 (Week ending 06/27/10)

ACTS 21:37-28:31

21:37-22:29: Paul's Address to the Crowd in Jerusalem

• What are the basic parts of Paul's testimony to the crowd?
• How can we incorporate these into our own testimony?
• Why did the Lord use such dramatic measures to get Paul's attention and conversion?
• What part of his testimony caused the crowd to react negatively?

22:30-23:11: Paul Before the Sanhedrin

• Did Paul demonstrate a sin (flesh) nature while in front of the Sanhedrin? What was his response to being confronted by his outburst?
• How did Paul divide the Sanhedrin? What do you think of his tactics?
• Did the Lord desire to use Paul's testimony? How about yours?

23:12-35: The Plot to Kill Paul

• What were some of the Jews so intent on killing Paul? Application for today?
• For how long had the conspirators bound themselves to not eating or drinking?
• How did God protect Paul? Application for us?

24:1-26:32: The Trials

• Trial before Felix:
  • What were the indictments against Paul? Were they accurate?
  • How did Paul defend himself against the accusations?
  • Did Paul get another opportunity to witness to Felix? What was Felix's response?
  • Did Felix release Paul? How ling was Paul in prison when Felix left office?

• Trial before Festus:
  • Why did the chief priests want Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem?
  • Did Paul respond to Festus as he did to Felix? Application for us?
  • How did God use the circumstances in which Paul found himself to accomplish His purposes?

• Trial before King Agrippa:
  • Did Paul "water down" his testimony before the King?
  • How did the King respond to Paul's testimony? Did the King feel Paul was guilty?
  • Note Paul's response to the King in verse 29, application for us?

• Why did God take Paul before so many rulers?

27:1-28:10: A Round About Way to Rome

• How did God use the storm and shipwreck to further His purposes? Application for us?
• Some today hold to a "health, wealth, prosperity" gospel. How do you think Paul would have responded to that kind of teaching?
• Notice throughout Paul's life that God did not keep him from experiencing problems, but He carried Paul through the problems and used him in the problems to minister to others.
• Is there application for us in Paul's experiences?

28:11-31: Finally at Rome

• How long did it take Paul to get to Rome?
• Why did God want Paul in Rome?
• How was he received by the believers there?
• For how long did he teach in Rome?
• What was his message to all who would listen?

Application?

LESSON # 25 (Week ending 06/20/10)

ACTS 18:18-21:36

18:18-21:36 Paul's Second Missionary Journey Continues

Ø 18:18-28: Priscilla and Aquila

ü As Paul traveled sharing the Gospel, how did he "multiply" his efforts at reaching people? Application for us?

ü Notice the method that Pricilla and Aquila used to witness to Apollos. What can we learn from their example?

ü What is the difference between the baptism of John that Apollos was teaching and "the way of God" that Pricilla and Aquila shared with Apollos?

Ø 19:1-41: Ministry in Ephesus

ü What are the differences between the two baptisms that Paul describes?

ü Did there come a time in his ministry at Ephesus when Paul quit trying to persuade the doubters? Application for us?

ü Because God gifted Paul with the ability to perform sign miracles, does that mean that God still gifts people in the same way today?

ü Did the formula "in Jesus' name" work for others who tried to duplicate the miracles that Paul was doing?

ü Why was there such an outpouring of hate toward the new Christian church in Ephesus?

Ø 20:1-12: Ministry in Macedonia and Greece

ü It was during this missionary time in Macedonia and Greece that many believe is when Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (Rom. 15:23-16:2).

ü On which day of the week did the people come together to break bread and to hear Paul? This is the first mention of the new church meeting on Sunday.

ü How long did Paul speak to the gathered people?

ü Sleeping in church is not something new.

Ø 20:13-38: A Farewell Address

ü Did Paul shirk from his ministry responsibilities because of the prison time and hardships that faced him in Jerusalem?

ü What was Paul's fear for the new church in Ephesus? Is that still a problem today?

ü The church at Ephesus grieved the fact that Paul was leaving? Why was it important for this church that Paul moves on? Application of today?

Ø 21:1-26: Back to Jerusalem

ü In light of the prophecies concerning what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem, was he wrong and going against the will of God to persist in his desire to return to Jerusalem?

ü What was Paul's argument for continuing on in spite of the impending troubles in Jerusalem?

ü Is it possible to be side tracked from God's perfect will by the concerns of people who love us and want the best for us?

ü After Paul shared his testimony about all that God was doing he learned that many of the Jews were upset with him and his teachings. Why were they so upset with Paul?

ü What did Paul do to try to placate those who were upset with him?

Ø 21:27-36: Arrested in Jerusalem

ü Did Paul's attempt to placate those upset with him succeed?

ü Were the charges brought against Paul accurate? Who else had previously faced trumped up charges? Should we expect anything less?

ü Why was the reaction against Paul so violent? Application for us?