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Sermon by Kenny Foster, Senior Pastor, from Amos 5:18-24 & I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Sermon Title: “But Let Justice Roll On”
Text: Amos 5:18-24 & I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Sermon Summary:
Our lectionary reading for this Sunday comes to us in the aftermath of a tumultuous, revealing, divisive, election season.
The prophet Amos is speaking to geopolitical Israel about the coming of the Lord, but it is not a positive message. The nation had become enamored with its religious practices and their understanding of what it meant to be blessed by God. But Amos intends to wake them up from their religion induced self delusion. So how does he awaken them? Furthermore, how does a nation awaken from self delusion? What role do the people of God have in rousing a nation from its self-deceit? Can we relate to the experience of Israel? As a nation are we deceiving ourselves? The Bible helps us to keep it real.
Keep it real about the Lord’s coming. (vs18-20) Keep it real about the worship of the Lord. (vs21-23) Keep it real about repentance and justice. (vs24) Keep it real about the meaning of the resurrection. (1 Thess. 4:13-18) Jesus died and rose again to keep justice rolling on like a river. Because of the hope we have in him, that takes us beyond the separation of death, righteousness is, in Christ, demonstrably, a never-failing stream. (I Thess. 4:13-18)
Why is this important to know as we suffer through a painful political season? Because we grieve but not without hope. Because justice rolls on. And Scripture shows us that religion without righteousness is repugnant: justification without justice is unjust.
This sermon will help us to be free from the bond of religious self-deceit and open us up to the justice that the gospel of Christ brings to us, a justice that rolls on like a river.