LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Amos 2:6-7 and 5:11-17, God speaks through the prophet Amos about the importance of justice and fairness. Amos lived during a time when wealthy people in Israel were treating poor people unfairly. The rich were cheating farmers by not paying them correctly for their grain and fruit. Judges were accepting bribes to make unfair decisions. Poor people had to give up their coats to pay debts they couldn’t afford. Amos saw all this unfairness and felt troubled because God had been so good to His people, yet they were not being good to each other.
Amos delivered a powerful message from God, telling the people they needed to change their ways. He used the beautiful image of justice rolling on like a river and righteousness flowing like a never-failing stream. This means that kindness and fairness should be constant in our lives, always present like water that never stops flowing. God desires His people to treat each other with honesty, fairness, and compassion in all their relationships, whether at home, at work, or in the marketplace.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15-10:30 | Fair Share Cereal
Items Needed:
- Large bowl of colorful cereal pieces (Fruit Loops or similar)
- Small cups (one per child)
- Sorting mats or paper plates
Give each child a cup and pour cereal pieces onto a central table. Let children practice “fair sharing” by taking turns scooping cereal into their cups. Emphasize that fair means everyone gets some, we take turns, and we share. After sorting, let children count their pieces and talk about how it feels when everyone gets a fair amount. Connect this to the story by saying in today’s Bible story we will learn about a man named Amos who saw merchants not giving fair amounts to farmers.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 10:30-10:40 | Water Drop Hop
Amos 5:24 (ESV): “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Items Needed
Cut out large raindrop shapes from blue paper and place them on the floor in a path across the room. Write one word from the verse on each drop. Children hop from drop to drop, saying each word as they land on it. After everyone has hopped across once saying the words, do it again but this time with different movements (tiptoe, jump with both feet, march, walk backwards carefully)
SONG 10:40-10:50
BIBLE STORY 10:50-11:00 a.m.
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Amos
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
Today we’re learning about a man named Amos. Can you say “Amos”? [Let children repeat] Good job!
Amos took care of sheep. [Make sheep sounds together: “Baaaa!”] He also had fruit trees with yummy fruit growing on them.
One day, Amos walked to the big city. When he got there, he looked around. [Put hand over eyes like looking far away, have children copy you]
What did Amos see? He saw some people who were very sad. These people didn’t have much food. Their tummies were hungry. They didn’t have warm coats to wear.
But Amos also saw other people who had LOTS of food, big fancy houses, and were very rich. Should the rich people share? [Wait for responses] Yes! But they weren’t sharing!
Amos saw something else that made him even more sad. The people who sold food at the market, they were cheating! They weren’t being fair! Let me show you what I mean.
[Hold up two cups, one clearly has more than the other] If I’m selling you cereal and I only give you THIS much [hold up cup with less], but I keep all THIS [hold up cup with more], is that fair? [Let children respond “No!”] That’s right! That’s what was happening to the farmers!
And you know what else? The judges were supposed to help people, but they were taking money to be unfair! When we play games, we follow the rules, right? [Nod heads together] The judges were breaking the rules!
Amos was SO sad about all this unfairness.
God talked to Amos. God said, “Amos, I want you to tell my people something very important.”
Amos went to talk to the people. He said in a big, strong voice, “God says you need to be FAIR!” [Say it loudly together] Let’s say it again, “Be FAIR!” [Repeat together]
Then Amos said something beautiful. He said, “Let justice roll on like a river!” Do you know what a river does? [Make wave motions with your arms] It flows and flows and never stops!
That means being fair and kind should never stop! Should we only be kind on Sundays? [Shake head “no”] Should we only share on Tuesdays? [Shake head “no”] No! We should be fair and kind ALL the time, every day! [Nod head “yes” enthusiastically]
Amos taught the people that God wants us to treat everyone fairly. When we share our toys, we’re being fair! When we take turns, we’re being fair! When we’re kind to everyone, we’re being fair!
God was happy that Amos told the people this important message. And you know what? God wants YOU to be fair too! Can you be fair this week?
Theological Questions:
- Who sent Amos to talk to the people? (God sent Amos to tell people to be fair)
- What did Amos say justice should be like? (Like a river that keeps flowing and never stops)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you think of a time when someone wasn’t fair to you? How did it make you feel? (Answers will vary, accept sad, mad, hurt, etc.)
- What’s one way you can be fair to your friends this week? (Sharing toys, taking turns, being kind, including everyone, etc.)
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for teaching us to be fair. Help us to share with others and treat everyone with kindness. Help us to be like a river that flows with fairness every single day. Amen! [Say “Amen!” loudly together]
BIBLE CRAFT 11:00-11:15 a.m.
Craft 1: Flowing River Craft
Items Needed:
- Blue construction paper
- Streamers or tissue paper strips in blue/white
- Glue
- Markers
- Watercolor Heart Stickers
- Amos Bible Verse Cutout
Instructions: Children create a “river” by gluing blue streamers onto construction paper to show flowing water. They add heart stickers along the river to represent justice and kindness flowing. Glue the Bible Verse at the top. This visual reminds them that fairness should flow constantly like water. Parents can hang this at home as a reminder to treat others fairly.
BIBLE MOVIE AND SNACK
Provide each child with a snack as they watch the Bible story movie.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Amos 2:6-7 (KJV): “Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name.”
Amos 5:11-17 (KJV): “Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the Lord.”
Amos 5:24 (KJV): “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Be Fair
What I learned today: Today we learned about Amos, who told people to be fair to each other. God wants us to treat everyone with kindness and fairness, like a river that never stops flowing. We can be fair by sharing, taking turns, and being kind to everyone we meet.
Questions to ask me:
Theological Questions:
- Who was Amos? (A prophet/shepherd who told people about God)
- What did God tell Amos to say to the people? (To be fair and kind to each other)
- What should justice be like according to Amos? (Like a river that flows all the time)
- Why was God sad about the people? (They were not being fair to each other)
- Where do we find Amos in the Bible? (In the Old Testament)
Life Application Questions:
- What does it mean to be fair? (Sharing, taking turns, being kind to everyone)
- How can you be fair when playing with your friends? (Sharing toys, taking turns, including everyone)
- What should you do if you see someone being unfair? (Tell an adult, be kind to the person who was hurt)
- How does it feel when someone is fair to you? (Happy, loved, cared for)
- Can you name one way you will be fair this week? (Share my toys, take turns, be kind to my brother/sister, help someone)