City Group Questions | April 6-12th
Amos 7-8

City Group Core Values

  1. Engagement: Each person will get out of their city group what they put into the group. Make sure everyone in the group gets a chance to engage. If you tend to talk more than others be sensitive to how much you may dominate the conversation. If you tend to talk less make sure you work to speak up in your group. Your voice is valuable to others in your group and community; growth can’t happen without engagement.

  2. Confidentiality: We long for our groups to be places of authentic community. The only way this happens is through vulnerable conversations in which we share personal parts of our lives and confess our sin together. Anything and everything that is shared in the group must stay in the group.

  3. Speech: We must fight against gossip, grumbling, and complaining. Our speech should build up our group not burden our group (Eph 4:29). We also must keep our conversation focused when our group meets. City groups gather to study the word and connect together please avoid personal rabbit trails or off topic subjects.

  4. It takes more than one day and one person: City groups are about relationships. True relationships are not built by one person on one day a week. Step up to help your leader - they can’t do it all alone. Everyone in the group should be serving the group - volunteer to host, volunteer to bring a side or main dish, volunteer to give them a week off. Follow up and engage the members of your group during the week: one day a week does not build authentic community.

Preparing for City Group

Pray | Take time out of your week before your City Group to pray over the members of your group and for this week’s discussion.

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START HERE
Read: Amos 7-8

Starting Discussion Recommendations:

Pray | Start small group time by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to bless your time together diving into scripture and the sermon.
Watch | Bible Project - Amos

Big Idea | Amos 7-8 warns of God’s coming judgement on Israel for their unrighteousness, doing injustice, and rebellion against God.

  1. Have a member of your City Group read Amos 7 for the rest of the group.

  2. Observe Scripture: Take a moment to observe this scripture passage. What stands out to you the most in these passages? Did you notice anything new that you haven’t before? Is there anything here that is confusing or that you have questions about? Spend a few minutes discussing your observations about the passage. Does this specific passage bring any other verses to mind?

  3. Recall the Sermon: What stood out to you from this week’s sermon if you were able to attend the Sunday gathering? What do you know about this particular portion of Revelation? What questions do you have about it?

  4. Amos describes God as using a "plumb line" to measure the righteousness of Israel. What does this metaphor suggest about God's standards for His people? How does it apply to our own lives today?

  5. Amos intercedes for Israel, pleading for mercy and urging God to hold off on judgment. How does Amos' role as an intercessor challenge us to think about how we pray for others, especially those who may be far from God?

  6. Amaziah, the priest, rejects Amos' message because it threatens his power and comfort. In what ways can we become resistant to God’s call for justice or repentance when it challenges our own comfort or self-interest?

  7. How does the concept of remembering God's past actions of deliverance shape our ability to show compassion and justice to others, especially those who are marginalized or oppressed?

  8. In the sermon, there’s a focus on God’s judgment, but also on His mercy. How can we hold both aspects of God’s nature—His justice and mercy—together in our understanding of how He works in the world?

  9. Matt emphasized the importance of telling our personal stories of God’s grace and mercy. How does sharing our personal testimony of God's intervention in our lives serve as a powerful tool for both sanctification and evangelism?

The primary goal of the Bible is to show us who God is and point us to Jesus. For that reason, these three questions are necessary and foundational in how we interpret, understand, and read scripture. So as we read and process each passage of scripture on a week to week basis, end City Group with discussing how it points us to God and Jesus. Then reflect on how the Holy Spirit might be asking you to apply these specific truths to your life.

  1. What aspect of God’s character has this week’s passage of scripture shown you more clearly?

  2. Fill in the following statement:

    • Knowing that God is _______________________________________ shows me that I am __________________________________________________________________________________.

    • What one step can you take this week to better live in light of this truth?

  3. How does this week’s passage point us to Jesus? What aspects of Jesus life, death, burial, resurrection, and coming return are in view here?

  4. Has the Holy Spirit taught, led, challenged, encouraged, our guided you personally this week? How will you respond to Him?

What Did You Hear: Is there anything you felt God showed you or told you through today’s discussion or this weekend’s sermon?