ENGLISH BIBLE STUDIES

SUB-THEME/2:  SITUATIONS CALLING FOR HEALING OF THE LAND
TOPIC: Social Challenges
TEXTS:  Amos 2:6-12; 3:9-15.
AIMS: To

1. understand some of the social challenges that bedevil our land today and
2. determine what to do to attract God’s mercy and healing.

INTRODUCTION: We are still looking at the situation in Nigeria. This time however, our concern and focus is the social aspect—to look closely at the many social ills that are plaguing the nation. By social challenges we mean the evils/wrongs in the relationships and interactions of the people in the land. Social challengesare essentially, man’s inhumanity to man. We will note why God detests these and will judge even His own people who are guilty of them. Why then should we not be afraid? God wants to use this study to raise the likes of prophet Amos, though he was unpopular and rejected (Amos 5:10, 13) as divine vanguards of righteousness in the land.

STUDY GUIDE
1. Identify and discuss the social ills that the nation of Israel was guilty of, and how they provoked God to wrath,Amos 1:13-15; 2:6-8, 12-16; 3:9-12; 4:1-7.
2. a. Why will these attract God’s judgment to our nation? Psa. 11:4; Ezek 18:4; Hab. 1:13?
b. Has the Church in Nigeria any chance to escape from God’s judgment?
c. How may we escape God’s judgment? SeeAmos 4:6-12; 5:4 - 6, 14.
3. From the key texts above, what are the implications of these ills on the nation? See alsoAmos 1: 3-15; 3:11; 4:1-3.
4. What are some of the causes of social ills?Rom. 3:12-18; I Cor. 15:33. Discuss how these may be avoided/prevented in the Church. II Tim 4:2.

CONCLUSION: The social challenges of Nigeria are monumental, and worse are those found in the Church. We must therefore return to theLORDso as not to suffer His judgmentbut receive His healing.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Any spirituality that does not abhor social misdeedsis false.

MEMORY VERSE: Amos 3:10..