Sermon Audio- AMOS: In Defense of God's Anger

This is the FIRST in a series of four sermons on four Minor Prophets. This one is a sermon on the Prophet Amos (In Defense of God's Wrath.)

You can listen to the sermon by CLICKING HERE.

Here is a brief introduction to Amos the Man...

Amos was a simple farmer turned prophet of God. He was from the South [Judah], but he spoke to the North [Israel] in 750BC. Amos was a contemporary of Hosea. Israel at the time was high on prosperity and 'security', but low on obedience and faith in God. And Amos was not afraid to point this out. So the ruling elite didn't like him much. He was like a potato farmer from Idaho challenging the elites in Washington DC.

Amos’ word was simply that God is a Lion [1:2] roaring against all sin. God has a strong and settled anger at sin, and wants Israel to know it. God has set a day when he will judge Israel. Here was the problem: Most Israelites thought that 'The Day of the Lord' was going to be a day of vindication. But Amos pointed out that it was to be a day of punishment [5:18-20]. That day initially came for Israel in 722BC when Assyrian army came to pay a visit...

Now, that is a shock to the complacent heart.

One thing that Amos does for us is this: You cannot take God for granted. You cannot take his mercy for granted. God is good, but he will not be mocked with faint praise and idol worship.

In this sermon, I suggest 5 methods of getting 'around' the anger of God! Or at least, 5 ways Israel tried. 5 ways that don't work.

FOR YOUR PREPARATION:

Read Amos 1:1-3:2

• Why is God angry?
• Who is he angry at?
• The book was written to Isreal, but he mentions the sins of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammonites, Moab, and Judah before he even gets to Israel. Why do you think that the Prophet does this?

Then Read Amos 5:21-24

• What does God think of their religious efforts?
• What do you think is the problem here?

Then Amos 8:11-15

• Does God remain angry forever? (The last word is one of the first positive things said in Amos!)
• How does God deal with his own anger? (Meditate on Christ's work on the Cross)

Can we take God's Kindness for granted?

• Read 1 Corinthians 10:11-12.
• Read Romans 2:4-5.

You download the outline as PDF document by clicking HERE.

Again, you can listen to the sermon by CLICKING HERE.

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Pic on Flickr by DonBaird.