How often in our lives do we ask for something or say something just placate another person?

How often do people go to church just because supposed and then go through the motions?

What is our society and world like right now?
Problem economy
War
Moral problems

What do we do when our world seems overwhelming?
Worry
Put our trust in earthly leaders to fix it all
Withdraw
Call on God?

Purpose of Writing: Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the Judean village of Tekoa when God calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. Amos' mission was directed to his neighbor to the north, Israel. His messages of impending doom and captivity for the nation because of her sins were largely unpopular and unheeded, however, because not since the days of Solomon have times been so good in Israel. Amos' ministry takes place while Jeroboam II reigns over Israel, and Uzziah reigns over Judah

Brief Summary: Amos can see that beneath Israel's external prosperity and power, internally the nation is corrupt to the core. The sins for which Amos chastens the people are extensive: neglect of God's Word, idolatry, pagan worship, greed, corrupted leadership and oppression of the poor. Amos begins by pronouncing a judgment upon all the surrounding nations, then upon his own nation of Judah, and finally the harshest judgment is given to Israel. His visions from God reveal the same emphatic message: judgment is near. The book ends with God's promise to Amos of future restoration of the remnant.


Israel, when things went wrong, would call on God and do their rites of worship, but there was a problem-They were going through the motions like magic. Vss. 18-24

God’s response to them was things are going to get worse when you do not truly trust or worship Him.

When the answers from society do not work we then turn to God:
12 ways to fix anything
The best book for this or that
Internet
My neighbor
Drugs or alcohol
Find yourself


To deal with the problems of this life we also come to God with false worship or magical worship:
If I just pray
If I just go to church
If I am good
If I do a lot at church
If I go to communion


We then have the same problems that the Jews did have, we won’t find what we are looking for:
Better days ahead
Comfort
Guidance
Help
Joy

When come to the Lord with our hearts truly toward Him and trusting in Him things may not physically change, but our lives in response to the struggles changes.

God calls us to true worship.
True worship is that we believe and confess and not just run the motions. Hosea 6:6

Who are we truly worshipping:
The true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are worshipping our God who sacrificed His own Son Jesus Christ for us on the cross.
Jesus took the punishment for our sins, our sins of insincerity, lack of trust, false worship.
We have forgiveness for those sins.
In our worship we say thank you to God for His grace to us.

When we worship our God we not only give praise to Him, but we also hear and take in His Word and the gifts of Baptism and Lord’s Supper.

We are given ways to face and deal with the problems of this world:
Wisdom
Comfort
Strength
Mercy
Sometimes changes in our lives
We can face the disorder of this world with the order of God’s grace and wisdom