An attractive storybook retelling of the book of Amos which will introduce 7-10-year-olds to the major lessons from this minor prophet. In a land filled with good things, there lived a shepherd named Amos. God called him to tell His people that He had seen the bad things they were doing - and the pain and suffering they caused. Although God had been so kind to Israel, and tried to warn them again and again, they mistreated people and rejected God's word. Amos brings them a warning of judgement - but also a message of hope. Brian Wright and John Brown show how Amos's prophecy ultimately points to Jesus. This minor prophet offers major lessons, teaching readers about repentance and promoting justice, two aspects of the Christian life as essential today as when Amos first wrote.

Nearly 2800 years ago Amos responded to the "lion's roar." He could no more ignore the voice of the Lord than he could react casually to a lion's roar, a ferocious beast common in Amos' time. Yahweh was calling his wayward people to remember him and to repent. Amos, a shepherd of southern Judah called to preach to the northern kingdom of Israel, courageously proclaimed God's message. He did so faithfully, despite the official opposition that came his way. In time Amos'words became a deep source of inspiration to all who stand in the prophetic stream, from the Hebrew prophets who followed him to evangelistic Christians in our day who know the transforming power of the Word. In this sense, the message of Amos--the lion's roar--has resounded through the centuries. Four major themes of Amos are: 1) Religion without righteousness is worthless; 2) How we treat others reflects the quality of our relationship with God; 3) God's concern extends not only to his covenant people, but to all nations; 4) Sin always has consequences. -- back

"Scott C. Ryan investigates divine conflict motifs in select Jewish literature and places the findings in dialogue with Paul's Letter to the Romans. Paul emerges as a writer who participates in Jewish divine conflict traditions even as he modifies the motifs in light of the Christ-event." --

The world cries out for a prophetic word to the chaos, unrest, and destructiveness of our times. Can the biblical prophets speak into our world today? Old Testament ethicist M. Daniel Carroll R. shows that learning from the prophets can make us better prepared for Christian witness. In this guide to the ethical material of Old Testament prophetic literature, Carroll highlights key ethical concerns of the three prophets most associated with social critique--Amos, Isaiah, and Micah--showing their relevance for those who wish to speak with a prophetic voice today. The book focuses on the pride that generates injustice and the religious life that legitimates an unacceptable status quo--both of which bring judgment--as well as the ethical importance of the visions of restoration after divine judgment. Each of these components in the biblical text makes its own particular call to readers to respond in an appropriate manner. The book also links biblical teaching with prophetic voices of the modern era.

Do you constantly feel like you’re running on empty? Do you wake up overwhelmed? Do you struggle with finding time for God? Let God’s Word change your perspective. In The One Year Devotions for Women with Jill Briscoe, you’ll discover a deeper understanding of how God’s Word can transform your life—written by a woman, for women. Designed to help you read the Scriptures regularly, this devotional by respected ministry leader and popular speaker Jill Briscoe helps make the truth of the Bible clear, its message understandable, and its points applicable. As you walk daily with God, you’ll find the peace and encouragement you’ve been yearning for. This year, may your life be filled with God’s peace as you graze on the wisdom in God’s Word, grasp its meaning, and embrace its truth. Previously released as The One Year Devotions for Women.

Although each is quite different, the books of Joel, Obadiah, and Micah are all survival literature. All three address the community that survived the crushing Babylonian destruction of Judah in 586 BCE. And all three seek to help this community cope by giving voice to its disorientation, trauma, anxiety, and rage. Each book insists that God will wrestle a positive future out of catastrophe, granting both physical and spiritual renewal. No matter how dire the circumstances, Israel can trust in the gracious God who will never abandon the faith community. In this thirty-fifth volume in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series, Old Testament scholar Daniel Epp-Tiessen explores the diverse, yet related content of these three prophetic books, always paying attention to how they might speak words of grace and healing into the disorientation, exile, and challenges of our own time. He also confronts the theologically problematic features of these books, especially their conviction that the salvation of God’s people requires that God obliterate their enemies. This volume explores how we might read Joel, Obadiah, and Micah in light of the larger biblical story of God’s saving purposes that reach their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.