Amos is particularly important as one of the first of the prophetic writers, coming after the ministry of Elijah & Elisha.

James singles out the message of "the Tabernacle of David" (Amos 9:11) to prove from Scripture the inclusion of Gentiles in the church without them becoming Jews.

I do not believe in a future millennium, after the return of Christ. I believe that the present, Gospel age is the period when the Old Testament prophecies to Israel are fulfilled in the church, which is made up of Jew and Gentile who are one in Christ. My concern is always to understand Scripture in its context, and to compare Scripture with other Scripture to get a consistent understanding & teaching.

Sermon 1 - 24 August 1996 JUDGEMENT IS COMING

Amos 1 & 2, 2 Kings 13:23, 14:23-29

Sermon 2 - 20 Oct 1996 PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD (1)

Amos 3 & 4

I want to consider the longsuffering of God with the wicked & how we can use the time of God's patience to prepare to meet our God.

Worship & sacrifice cannot deal with sin when the worshipper continues in sin.

Bethel means "House of God"; the place where Abraham offered sacrifices, where Jacob saw the ladder to heaven; where Samuel judged Israel; & where Jeroboam I set up one of his golden calves to lead Israel into idolatry (the other was in the north, in Dan). Bethel, the House of God had become Beth Aven, the House of wickedness.

Sermon 3 - November 3 1996 PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD (2)

Amos 4:12-5:25, 1 Corinthians:10:1-5, 14-22, Acts 7:35-43

I want us to use this time together to prepare our hearts to meet our God. To meet Him around His table & eat bread & drink wine together in remembrance of Him.

Sermon 4 - 8 December 1996 THE DAY OF THE LORD

Amos 5:18-27, 6:1-8, Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 4:18-21

The great day of the LORD is the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns in glory to raise & judge the living & the dead, & bring about a New Heaven & a New Earth.

However there are many occasions in Scripture when God acts to vindicate His people & to punish the wicked. The Passover, & the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt is the supreme example.

When God gave His prophets their warning message, there were three great days which can be considered as the day of the Lord. The Captivity, the Crucifixion, the Second Coming.

Sermon 5 - 19 January 1997 THE WORD OF GOD

Amos 6:1-7, 12-14, 7:1-17, 8:11-12, Psalm 2

The Word of God runs through the prophecy of Amos like a plumb line. It sets a standard by which both Israel & the gentile nations are judged.

Sermon 6 - 2 February 1997 RIPE FOR JUDGEMENT

Exodus 24:1-12, Amos 8

Famine of hearing the Word of God

Sermon 7 - March 9 1997 THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID

Jeremiah 16:19-21, Amos 9 (read tabernacle for tent), Acts 15:1-21,

Christians, Jew & Gentile together, have a glorious hope of spending eternity with God & our Saviour Jesus Christ in a perfect New Heaven & New Earth.

The chapter before us is the basis for our acceptance as Gentiles into the church, without submitting to circumcision & all the details of the Law of Moses. We learn from the way this prophecy is interpreted in Acts 15 how Old Testament prophecy is to be interpreted.

Sermon 8 - April 13 1997 I WILL SHAKE THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

Amos 9, Luke 22:31-34, (Haggai 2:1-9, Hebrews 12:18-29)

Amos 9:9 "I will shake the house of Israel of corn is shaken in a sieve"

A sieve is used for separation. This chapter is a chapter of separations. It begins with total judgement from which there is no escape. It concludes with the glorious & complete & eternal restoration of Israel. In the process the people of God are shaken.

Sermon 9 - May 4 1997 GOD OF WONDERS - THE GOD WHO PARDONS

Isaiah 55:1-9, Amos 9:11-15, Psalm 61:1-4, Micah 7:15-20

Amos ends his prophecy with such a promise. Micah ends his prophecy by writing of a God who pardons sin & keeps His promises to Abraham. The gospel call is not an invitation which we are free to accept whenever we wish. It is a command to come to God, turn, hear, seek. NOW.

Ian Day, 49, Crosslands Ave, Norwood Green, Southall, Middlesex, UB2 5RA. U.K.