Session 4 Amos 9:5-15

THE RESTORATION (AMOS 9:11-15)

words of hope that follow God’s shaking.

11 In that day I will restore the fallen shelter of David:
I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that bear my name —
this is the declaration of the LORD;
he will do this.

13 Look, the days are coming — this is the LORD’s declaration —
when the plowman will overtake the reaper
and the one who treads grapes, the sower of seed.
The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it.
14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel.
They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities,
plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce.
15 I will plant them on their land,
and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them.
The LORD your God has spoken.

FOCUS:

Write the prefix Re on the board or a large sheet of paper.

Ask

• how Re impacts the meaning of words.
• This prefix typically means “again” or “back.”
• Lead the group to locate the words in verses 11-15
• that begin with “re” and provide hope.

Point out that hope is evident when a new opportunity is provided.

DISCUSS:

• What does this passage reveal about God’s redemptive plan?
• How does the promise of God redeeming a remnant of believers from nations of sinners
  affect relationships with others who may still be a part of that “sinful nation”? (p. 39)

HIGHLIGHT:

Call attention to the statement:
God would replant His people in their own land
with a fruitfulness that could never be taken away.
They would never again be thwarted or supplanted
from their place in God’s story of redemptive history,
as Messiah would usher in a period of spiritual peace and prosperity
that could never be equaled (p.43).
Solicit responses to the highlighted statement.

ASK:

• How does the promise of God’s future blessing motivate believers to endure God’s discipline? (p.39)

TRANSITION:

Amos’s prophecy ends in a promise of hope for the future.
We can be thankful that our hope
now rests in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

CHALLENGE

REVIEW:

Read the summary statement:
God offers hope to those who return to Him in repentance.
Discuss examples that support this statement from each of the three session points:
The Introduction, The Shaking, The Restoration.

HIGHLIGHT:

Distribute Pack Item 8 (Handout: Memory Verses Bookmark)
to anyone in the group who hasn’t received a copy.
Direct attention to the memory verse for the session, Amos 5:15.
Read it together as a summary of the expectations of God proclaimed by Amos.

REFLECT:

Lead the group to share their response to the question set
under Apply the Text (p. 39):
Discuss the role your group plays in sharing the hope of salvation to all the nations. What actions should your group take to more effectively call all people to turn to God in repentance? Affirm ideas that point to praying for others. Direct the group to jot down any names that come to mind in the margin of their book.

PRAY:

Guide a time of silent prayer
for the specific people identified as in need of a Savior.
Pray that the group will support each other in sharing the hope
and forgiveness found in Christ with others.

AFTER THE SESSION

Reinforce the study by praying specifically for opportunities to offer hope to others through your own faith in Christ. Tell the group about someone for whom you are praying and how you plan to share the gospel with him or her.