Encountering the Old Testament, 4th Edition

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Chapter

32. Hosea, Joel, and Amos: A Call for Repentance and a Promise for Blessing

If you were to prepare a sermon on the book of Hosea, what would be your main emphasis? Why?
How much can we as Christians learn from the history of the church?
What was the purpose for the plague of Joel 1 being a plague of locusts rather than another type of plague?
What was Amos’s purpose in speaking against the eight nations?
How are the prophesies against Israel in Amos 3–6 appropriate for the Christian community today?
Why do you think Amos closed his book with a message of hope?

Ask the class to find examples of the three themes of Hosea from the book of Hosea. Then ask them to find similarities with contemporary Christianity. Class time allowed: 15 minutes.
Divide the class into six groups. Ask the groups to identify significant factors in the account in Amos (assign one factor to each group) and then have them find examples in the Christian church today. Conclude with a feedback session in which all six groups participate. Class time allowed: 25 minutes.