Amos: Worship and Justice - Teacher (Standard) (print)

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Objective: Explain from the passage that god rejects religious activity that coexists with exploitation and injustice and locate the lesson on the whole-Bible timeline.

Read: Amos 5:10-24

Opening: Ask: What does this passage actually say before we explain what it means?

Say:

Amos condemns people who hate truthful correction and exploit the poor while maintaining religious activity.
God rejects their festivals and songs and calls instead for justice and righteousness.
Taken together, these passages support the lesson’s big idea: God rejects religious activity that coexists with exploitation and injustice.

Ask:

What does the text directly say?
What conclusion requires synthesis or inference?
What should we avoid overstating?
What is one faithful response?

Do: Complete Amos: Worship and Justice Evidence Grid.

Close: Restate the big idea, name one faithful response, and pray.

Materials: Bible; Amos: Worship and Justice Evidence Grid

Standard outline · 35 minutes

4 minConnect. Locate the lesson within Cycle 2 and activate prior knowledge.
4 minContext. Identify genre, audience, setting, and immediate context before making claims.
9 minRead and observe. Read selected portions of Amos 5:10-24 and identify direct observations. Ask: What does the passage directly say, what conclusion follows, and what should we avoid overstating?
7 minDiscuss. Test the big idea against the evidence and identify interpretive limits. Ask: What does the passage directly say, what conclusion follows, and what should we avoid overstating? What does the passage directly say, what conclusion follows, and what should we avoid overstating?
7 minActivity. Complete the primary evidence-based activity. Activity: Amos: Worship and Justice Evidence Grid. Printable: Y2-L02-P01-command-choice-consequence-flow.
4 minRespond. Name one faithful response and pray. Ask: What does the passage directly say, what conclusion follows, and what should we avoid overstating?

Activity details

Amos: Worship and Justice Evidence Grid · 10 min

Materials: Command / Choice / Consequence Flow; Bible; Pens or pencils

Read Amos 5:10-24 and record two direct observations.
Connect the observations to this big idea: God rejects religious activity that coexists with exploitation and injustice.
Name one faithful response without claiming more than the passage supports.

Low-resource option: Draw the categories on blank paper or complete verbally.

Closing

Memory verse: Genesis 2:15-17

Prayer: Thank God for what this passage reveals and ask for wisdom to respond faithfully.

Take-home line: God rejects religious activity that coexists with exploitation and injustice.