Pride leads to failure
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SERMON NOTES:
Amos 3-6
Our pride prevents us from loving God and loving others.
Amos highlighted three ways that pride
manifested itself in Israel:
Israel demanded pleasure at the expense of others.
(3:9-10; 4:1; 6:4-6)
Israel honored themselves instead of God. (4:4-5; 6:1-3, 13)
Israel rejected God’s correction. (4:6-13)
Our pride can manifest itself in similar ways:
We too can demand pleasure.
We too can struggle to honor ourselves instead of God.
We too can reject God’s correction.
study questions:
Amos 6:1-14
Warm-up: How would you define pride? Some say that pride is the root or the source of sin. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
1. Read verses 1-3. What is the attitude of Israel that Amos is describing in verse 1? What does Amos challenge Israel to do in verse 2 (note: Calneh, Hamath and Gath are all great cites that were crushed by their enemies)? Why do you think Amos challenges them to consider these cities? What is the point of the question Amos asks at the end of verse 2 and in verse 3? According to these three verses, why is God punishing Israel? Do you think this is fair? Why or why not?
2. Read verses 4-7. These verses continue to give reasons for God’s judgment of Israel. At the end of verse 6 “ruin of Joseph” is simply talking about the judgment of Israel. According to verses 4-6, for what sins is God judging Israel? List out the sins you see here. Take a minute to compare our American culture to these verses. How is America both similar and different to the Israel described here?
3. Read verses 8-14. What does God “abhor”? Why do you think God hates this so much? What is God’s response in verses 9-11 and 14? How does the question in verse 13 give you a picture of their attitude? Do you ever take credit for something God is doing? How so?
4. So what. Do you ever struggle with any of the sins listed in this chapter about Israel? Why or why not? What do these verses remind us about God? What can you do to be less consumed with yourself (pride) and more consumed with God?