There is a deep connection between remembering and moving forward. Forgetting God’s past faithfulness is the greatest enemy of faith. When we forget what God has done, we stop believing what God will do. But the opposite is also true. When we only focus on the past, we can slowly move from mission to maintenance and movement to mediocrity with very little concern to what God is calling us to now. ~ Pastor Dave
Open: Have you ever been in a situation where you found yourself coasting through life only to find that you were missing out on something greater? Explain:
Read: Amos 2-6; Genesis 12, 22; Joshua 4; Matthew 6:33
Discuss:
1. Describe the connection between remembering and moving forward: Can you give some Biblical examples that demonstrate the importance of remembrance? How is forgetting an enemy of faith?
2. Describe the context of Amos: What makes Amos such a unique prophet with a unique perspective? In what ways was Israel thriving? What are some of the dangers we can experience in successful, smooth seasons? Have you ever had seasons of success that were wonderful, yet difficult? Explain:
3. Have you ever experienced seasons of apathy, complacency, procrastination, or selfsabotage? How are these more prevalent following good seasons? In what ways do you see these displayed in churches?
4. In Amos 5:5, Amos uses three places to illustrate how they were looking to the past (Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba). What did these places mean to them? How do each of these places illustrate his point to look forward? What does it mean to “seek God and live”?
5. How do past experiences prepare us for future opportunities? Would you say you have a tendency to look backward or to move forward? What are some fresh and exciting things that God is doing in your life today?
Pray: Pray that you would remember and celebrate all that God has done in the past, but also move forward in faith to what God wants to do in and through your life now. Ask God to reveal any apathy, self-sufficiency, procrastination or destructive tendencies that are holding you back to His present work in your life.
Memorize/Meditate: Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate…Amos 5:14-15
