amos 5

Amos warns the people about the Day of the Lord, a time of mourning and darkness. God despises their worship because they sacrifice to other gods. 

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We're looking forward to the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Our Old Testament Scripture is from the prophet Amos, chapter 5, verses 18 through 24, read by Kierce Matson. 

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In this passage, Amos shows Israel that their religious activity was meaningless when disconnected from God. The Bible teaches us that worship and justice go hand-in-hand; Amos helps us see that God calls us to continue our worship throughout the thread of our lives, not just on Sunday morning.

Sin permeates not just individuals, but full corporate humanity. Listen as Amos sheds light on how sin corrupted the hearts of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Preached on Sunday the 3rd of September, 2023.

Amos 5:18-27:
Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
    Why would you have the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, and not light,
    as if a man fled from a lion,
    and a bear met him,
or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
    and a serpent bit him.
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?

“I hate, I despise your feasts,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
    I will not look upon them.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
But let justice roll down like waters,
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

“Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

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The greatest grudge match for followers of Jesus becomes how to understand their means of expressing faith.  Is Christianity a religion, or a relationship?  What is the difference between them, and what does Scripture say about them?  Chris' answer is probably obvious- he seems to preach about this topic every second sermon.  But in the end: are religion and relationship really combatants?  Or is Christianity a tag team between them?  To find out... LET'S GET READY TO PODCAST!!!