At Ease in Zion: The False Hope of Religion and Luxury

Immanuel Baptist Richmond

At Ease in Zion: The False Hope of Religion and Luxury

February 22, 2015 • Michael Wilburn

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• What is the Day of the Lord? Consider passages such as Amos 5:18; Joel 2; Isaiah 13:6, 9; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; 2 Thess. 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10.
• What does it mean to worship God? Why did God reject Israel’s worship (Amos 5:21-27)?
• When is "taking it easy” a bad thing (Amos 6:1)? How does a Christian balance leisure time with work, family, and church?
• If you rid your schedule of one small leisure item, what would it be? Replace it with focused time on others and the future.

The Restoration of Israel

April 12, 2015 • Michael Wilburn

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • To what "day" is Amos referring (Amos 9:11, 13)? • What specific words in Amos 9:11-15 refer to restoration? Are the fulfillments figurative or literal? • Since verse 13 speaks of God’s abundant blessings, list ways in God his blessed you abundantly. • Since God preserves a remnant of Israel today, how should Christians value Israel as a people group and as a nation?

The Vision of the Altar

March 29, 2015 • Michael Wilburn

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What is an altar and what does it represent? • How do you want to be perceived? Since no one can hide from God (Amos 9:2-4), how does God perceive you? • Does it comfort or scare you that God sees all things (Amos 9:8)? Why? • Amos 9:8 says, “I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, declares the Lord”. What does that tell you about God’s character?

The Vision of Summer Fruit

March 22, 2015 • Michael Wilburn

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • Do you work well with a deadline? Why or why not? • What advantage is there in Scripture warning of looming judgment? • Read the account of Israel’s dishonest (vs. 4-6). How can you grow in honesty? • Is there a famine for God’s Word today? Support your conclusion with examples.