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Preschool track
Overview of Hosea
This book contains the teachings of Hosea, a prophet who spoke to the northern kingdom of Israel.
Long before Hosea began to speak, God taught God's people that their most important duty was to worship God. Serving other gods would bring terrible pain God said, "If you do, in fact, forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, serving and bowing down to them, I swear to you right now that you will be completely destroyed" (Deut 8:19).
God's people didn't listen to that warning. They stopped loving God. They prayed to other gods - Asherah, Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech. The people were unfaithful. But God still loved them and had compassion for them.
The prophet Hosea continued to love his wife Gomer even after she left him. Even though people quit caring about God, God never quit caring about people. Hosea shows that God loves us even when we don't love God!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Long before Hosea began to speak, God taught God's people that their most important duty was to worship God. Serving other gods would bring terrible pain God said, "If you do, in fact, forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, serving and bowing down to them, I swear to you right now that you will be completely destroyed" (Deut 8:19).
God's people didn't listen to that warning. They stopped loving God. They prayed to other gods - Asherah, Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech. The people were unfaithful. But God still loved them and had compassion for them.
The prophet Hosea continued to love his wife Gomer even after she left him. Even though people quit caring about God, God never quit caring about people. Hosea shows that God loves us even when we don't love God!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Overview of Joel
The book of Joel begins with terrible news. The land has been attacked by locusts (flying insects similar to grasshoppers). A swarm of locusts could easily eat an entire field of crops in a few minutes. God's people could do nothing to stop countless swarms that covered the land of Israel and devoured their harvest. With no food left to eat, the people soon faced terrible hunger.
The prophet Joel said that the locust attack was a sign that the people hadn't followed God. The people were surprised by the disaster, but Joel told them that they should ask God for help. He said, "Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive" (Joel 2:13).
As you read this book, you will come across important words later quoted in the New Testament. In Romans 10:13 Pail repeated Joel 2:32: "Everyone who calls on the Lord's name will be saved." And in Acts 2 Peter talked about Joel 2:28, God's promise to pour out God's spirit. The book of Joel shows that God is full of compassion and always ready to forgive!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The prophet Joel said that the locust attack was a sign that the people hadn't followed God. The people were surprised by the disaster, but Joel told them that they should ask God for help. He said, "Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive" (Joel 2:13).
As you read this book, you will come across important words later quoted in the New Testament. In Romans 10:13 Pail repeated Joel 2:32: "Everyone who calls on the Lord's name will be saved." And in Acts 2 Peter talked about Joel 2:28, God's promise to pour out God's spirit. The book of Joel shows that God is full of compassion and always ready to forgive!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Overview of Amos
The prophet Amos watched God's people grow more and more wealthy. But Amos saw that some people were getting rich by taking advantage of the poor. They cheated people who had very little and didn't act to stop their suffering.
Amos challenged religious and political leaders. He said, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). The leaders were angry when they heard his words.
The prophet Amos preached to the southern kingdom of Judah and to many neighboring nations. But he spoke his toughest words to citizens of the northern kingdom, Israel. Amos shared five visions of the nation's punishment.
The end of this book looks ahead to a time when God will one day rebuild God's people (Amos 9:11-15). But the main message of Amos is that God pays attention to how we treat people who don't have money or food or a place to live. Showing true kindness to people who suffer is more important than any religious activity we might do. The book of Amos reminds us to seek justice and to care for others.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Amos challenged religious and political leaders. He said, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). The leaders were angry when they heard his words.
The prophet Amos preached to the southern kingdom of Judah and to many neighboring nations. But he spoke his toughest words to citizens of the northern kingdom, Israel. Amos shared five visions of the nation's punishment.
The end of this book looks ahead to a time when God will one day rebuild God's people (Amos 9:11-15). But the main message of Amos is that God pays attention to how we treat people who don't have money or food or a place to live. Showing true kindness to people who suffer is more important than any religious activity we might do. The book of Amos reminds us to seek justice and to care for others.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Bible Readings
Telling the Truth (Amos 1:1; 4:13; 5:14-15; 7:12) Reading
Have you ever seen someone treated unfairly at school? On the playground? This story is about God's prophet Amos. He wanted people to look around and see what was going on. He told them hard things that were true. But the people didn't want to hear them.
Amos grew up in a small village in Judah. He and his family were farmers. Every day they took care of their fields and their animals.
"God makes the mountains, creates the wind, cares about each of us, and helps the sun to rise in the morning," Amos said. Perhaps he was remembering his early mornings taking care of the farm with his family. Amos believed deeply that God was good and fair.
When people weren't treated fairly, Amos got angry. He did not like it that some people had so much while others had so little. When he saw bad things happening, he shouted to the people in Israel, "You rich people are making the poor people feel like dirt. You think you are fancy and better than everyone else. Stop wasting your money on things that do not matter when people need money for food and clothes and a place to live!"
The rich people did not like what Amos said. Amos was kicked out of Israel. "The things you are saying are just too hard to hear. We can't handle them. Go home to Judah. Don't ever come here again," they told Amos.
Amos replied, "I am a farmer. I did not want to come here. God told me to come and tell you the truth."
Amos cared about people. He wanted everyone to be treated fairly. Amos told everyone, "Try to do good things, not evil things. Take care of each other. God will be with you."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love a Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Amos grew up in a small village in Judah. He and his family were farmers. Every day they took care of their fields and their animals.
"God makes the mountains, creates the wind, cares about each of us, and helps the sun to rise in the morning," Amos said. Perhaps he was remembering his early mornings taking care of the farm with his family. Amos believed deeply that God was good and fair.
When people weren't treated fairly, Amos got angry. He did not like it that some people had so much while others had so little. When he saw bad things happening, he shouted to the people in Israel, "You rich people are making the poor people feel like dirt. You think you are fancy and better than everyone else. Stop wasting your money on things that do not matter when people need money for food and clothes and a place to live!"
The rich people did not like what Amos said. Amos was kicked out of Israel. "The things you are saying are just too hard to hear. We can't handle them. Go home to Judah. Don't ever come here again," they told Amos.
Amos replied, "I am a farmer. I did not want to come here. God told me to come and tell you the truth."
Amos cared about people. He wanted everyone to be treated fairly. Amos told everyone, "Try to do good things, not evil things. Take care of each other. God will be with you."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love a Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
I Wonder....
- what are good things?
- how will God be with me?
- how Amos felt?
- what is fair?
Discussion Questions
- Who do you know who tells the truth even when it's hard?
- What do you see in the world that makes you angry?
- What's one thing you can do to help someone else?
Videos
Godly Play
This video is 12:22 minutes long
Crossroads Kids' Club
This video is 3:46 minutes long
Songs
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Please Tell the Truth by JunyTony - Song and Stories
This song is 1:33 minutes long
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Honesty Song (Always Tell the Truth) by Little Angels: Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes
This song is 3:41 minutes long
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Tips for Adults
The book tells a story of how God's people stopped loving God even though God loved them very much. The people acted like a married person who is unfaithful to their spouse.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The book of Joel starts with the gloomy report of a natural disaster, the destruction of Israel's crops by flying insects. But the book also gives good news that God will comfort God's people and give God's spirit to them.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The book of Amos describes time when life was good for God's people and yet they forgot God's commands. The prophet Amos, who was a shepherd and farmer, spoke to the people about their sins.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Elementary Track
Overview of Hosea
This book contains the teachings of Hosea, a prophet who spoke to the northern kingdom of Israel.
Long before Hosea began to speak, God taught God's people that their most important duty was to worship God. Serving other gods would bring terrible pain God said, "If you do, in fact, forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, serving and bowing down to them, I swear to you right now that you will be completely destroyed" (Deut 8:19).
God's people didn't listen to that warning. They stopped loving God. They prayed to other gods - Asherah, Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech. The people were unfaithful. But God still loved them and had compassion for them.
The prophet Hosea continued to love his wife Gomer even after she left him. Even though people quit caring about God, God never quit caring about people. Hosea shows that God loves us even when we don't love God!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Long before Hosea began to speak, God taught God's people that their most important duty was to worship God. Serving other gods would bring terrible pain God said, "If you do, in fact, forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, serving and bowing down to them, I swear to you right now that you will be completely destroyed" (Deut 8:19).
God's people didn't listen to that warning. They stopped loving God. They prayed to other gods - Asherah, Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech. The people were unfaithful. But God still loved them and had compassion for them.
The prophet Hosea continued to love his wife Gomer even after she left him. Even though people quit caring about God, God never quit caring about people. Hosea shows that God loves us even when we don't love God!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 7:35 minutes long
Overview of Joel
The book of Joel begins with terrible news. The land has been attacked by locusts (flying insects similar to grasshoppers). A swarm of locusts could easily eat an entire field of crops in a few minutes. God's people could do nothing to stop countless swarms that covered the land of Israel and devoured their harvest. With no food left to eat, the people soon faced terrible hunger.
The prophet Joel said that the locust attack was a sign that the people hadn't followed God. The people were surprised by the disaster, but Joel told them that they should ask God for help. He said, "Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive" (Joel 2:13).
As you read this book, you will come across important words later quoted in the New Testament. In Romans 10:13 Pail repeated Joel 2:32: "Everyone who calls on the Lord's name will be saved." And in Acts 2 Peter talked about Joel 2:28, God's promise to pour out God's spirit. The book of Joel shows that God is full of compassion and always ready to forgive!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The prophet Joel said that the locust attack was a sign that the people hadn't followed God. The people were surprised by the disaster, but Joel told them that they should ask God for help. He said, "Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive" (Joel 2:13).
As you read this book, you will come across important words later quoted in the New Testament. In Romans 10:13 Pail repeated Joel 2:32: "Everyone who calls on the Lord's name will be saved." And in Acts 2 Peter talked about Joel 2:28, God's promise to pour out God's spirit. The book of Joel shows that God is full of compassion and always ready to forgive!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 6:48 minutes long
Overview of Amos
The prophet Amos watched God's people grow more and more wealthy. But Amos saw that some people were getting rich by taking advantage of the poor. They cheated people who had very little and didn't act to stop their suffering.
Amos challenged religious and political leaders. He said, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). The leaders were angry when they heard his words.
The prophet Amos preached to the southern kingdom of Judah and to many neighboring nations. But he spoke his toughest words to citizens of the northern kingdom, Israel. Amos shared five visions of the nation's punishment.
The end of this book looks ahead to a time when God will one day rebuild God's people (Amos 9:11-15). But the main message of Amos is that God pays attention to how we treat people who don't have money or food or a place to live. Showing true kindness to people who suffer is more important than any religious activity we might do. The book of Amos reminds us to seek justice and to care for others.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Amos challenged religious and political leaders. He said, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). The leaders were angry when they heard his words.
The prophet Amos preached to the southern kingdom of Judah and to many neighboring nations. But he spoke his toughest words to citizens of the northern kingdom, Israel. Amos shared five visions of the nation's punishment.
The end of this book looks ahead to a time when God will one day rebuild God's people (Amos 9:11-15). But the main message of Amos is that God pays attention to how we treat people who don't have money or food or a place to live. Showing true kindness to people who suffer is more important than any religious activity we might do. The book of Amos reminds us to seek justice and to care for others.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 7:12 minutes long.
Bible Readings
Telling the Truth (Amos 1:1; 4:13; 5:14-15; 7:12) Reading
Have you ever seen someone treated unfairly at school? On the playground? This story is about God's prophet Amos. He wanted people to look around and see what was going on. He told them hard things that were true. But the people didn't want to hear them.
Amos grew up in a small village in Judah. He and his family were farmers. Every day they took care of their fields and their animals.
"God makes the mountains, creates the wind, cares about each of us, and helps the sun to rise in the morning," Amos said. Perhaps he was remembering his early mornings taking care of the farm with his family. Amos believed deeply that God was good and fair.
When people weren't treated fairly, Amos got angry. He did not like it that some people had so much while others had so little. When he saw bad things happening, he shouted to the people in Israel, "You rich people are making the poor people feel like dirt. You think you are fancy and better than everyone else. Stop wasting your money on things that do not matter when people need money for food and clothes and a place to live!"
The rich people did not like what Amos said. Amos was kicked out of Israel. "The things you are saying are just too hard to hear. We can't handle them. Go home to Judah. Don't ever come here again," they told Amos.
Amos replied, "I am a farmer. I did not want to come here. God told me to come and tell you the truth."
Amos cared about people. He wanted everyone to be treated fairly. Amos told everyone, "Try to do good things, not evil things. Take care of each other. God will be with you."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love a Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Amos grew up in a small village in Judah. He and his family were farmers. Every day they took care of their fields and their animals.
"God makes the mountains, creates the wind, cares about each of us, and helps the sun to rise in the morning," Amos said. Perhaps he was remembering his early mornings taking care of the farm with his family. Amos believed deeply that God was good and fair.
When people weren't treated fairly, Amos got angry. He did not like it that some people had so much while others had so little. When he saw bad things happening, he shouted to the people in Israel, "You rich people are making the poor people feel like dirt. You think you are fancy and better than everyone else. Stop wasting your money on things that do not matter when people need money for food and clothes and a place to live!"
The rich people did not like what Amos said. Amos was kicked out of Israel. "The things you are saying are just too hard to hear. We can't handle them. Go home to Judah. Don't ever come here again," they told Amos.
Amos replied, "I am a farmer. I did not want to come here. God told me to come and tell you the truth."
Amos cared about people. He wanted everyone to be treated fairly. Amos told everyone, "Try to do good things, not evil things. Take care of each other. God will be with you."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love a Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
I Wonder....
- what are good things?
- how will God be with me?
- how Amos felt?
- what is fair?
Discussion Questions
- Who do you know who tells the truth even when it's hard?
- What do you see in the world that makes you angry?
- What's one thing you can do to help someone else?
Video
Godly Play
This video is 12:22 minutes long
Crossroads Kids' Club
This video is 3:46 minutes long
Songs
|
Yes, It's True by Lifetree Kids
This song is 3:07 minutes long
|
I Will Trust You by Lifetree Kids
This song is 2:48 minutes long
|
Content for Adults
The book tells a story of how God's people stopped loving God even though God loved them very much. The people acted like a married person who is unfaithful to their spouse.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The book of Joel starts with the gloomy report of a natural disaster, the destruction of Israel's crops by flying insects. But the book also gives good news that God will comfort God's people and give God's spirit to them.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The book of Amos describes time when life was good for God's people and yet they forgot God's commands. The prophet Amos, who was a shepherd and farmer, spoke to the people about their sins.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Each Sunday there will be a class addressing the reading for that week. The classes will engage the particular Bible book for that week, paying specific attention to a theme or topic. A list of January's classes are below. These classes are hybrid and will meet each Sunday, in-person (EM307/308) and on Zoom, at 10:05am. The Zoom link is at the bottom of this email and is the same for each week.
Week Beginning on:
Topic: Gathering Together Around God's Word | Sunday Class
Time: Every Sunday 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89900787541?pwd=QXF5dzBnM1Y0K1FPczgvWVNwYnFmZz09
Meeting ID: 899 0078 7541
Passcode: 328476
Week Beginning on:
- July 24th - Repentance, Justice, Restoration | Minor Prophets [Hosea, Joel, Amos] (Will Wellman)
- July 31st - Hope In The Midst of Risk | Minor Prophets [Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah] (Rev. Bill Hull)
- August 7th - The Not So Minor Prophets | Minor Prophets [Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi] (Marsha Rydberg)
Topic: Gathering Together Around God's Word | Sunday Class
Time: Every Sunday 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89900787541?pwd=QXF5dzBnM1Y0K1FPczgvWVNwYnFmZz09
Meeting ID: 899 0078 7541
Passcode: 328476
This video is 55:53 minutes long