Living in a Bitter Day

Amos 8:1-12

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In groups of two or three, have each participant complete the following sentence, “My favorite fruit is . . .” [Participants can designate different foods if they have no favorite fruit.]

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read: Amos 8:1-12.

• To catch the word plays at use in this passage, read (at minimum) verses 1-3 in multiple translations. (The NLT and NIV try to note the wordplay using ‘ripe’ instead of ‘summer’ to make the Hebrew wordplay connection between the vision of the fruit and the judgment of the end.)
• How might the vision of the fruit in verses 1 and 2 give a stark contrast to the punishment and judgment that follow?
• What acts are noted as the reasons for God’s judgment? [Robbing the poor, trampling down the needy, cheating the helpless, being dishonest economically, enslaving the poor, and so on.]
• Have you ever been cheated on by a business or businessperson? How did it feel? What did you want to do in response?
• (R) Whom do you see who frequently gets the short end of the stick? What economic forces do you see that take advantage of the less wealthy? What might the church do to help those in our society from getting cheated?
• (R) Why does God care about inequity? [God desires all to be fruitful and experience shalom.]

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

God of Justice, give us the eyes to see the hurting and the poor among us. Give us the hands to work and voice to speak when we see where injustices are committed. May your church be a light to the nations of what righteousness and justice look like in your kingdom. Amen.