Preview of readings for Sunday September 23, 2007

Reading 1, Amos 8:4-7 Amos was from Tekoa about 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem. He was a shepherd and tender of fig trees when he received his call c. 750 B.C. He prophesied at Bethel, a Jewish religious site 14 miles north of Jerusalem, announcing that the northern kingdom of Israel would be destroyed (Assyria did so in 722 B.C.). The ephah was a dry measure equal to about half a bushel. Amos speaks of Jewish merchants in a hurry for religious feasts to be over so they can get back to their business, at which they were very conniving. What is your take on the application of ethical standards and application of Christian principles on the part of businessmen and women today?

Reading II, 1 Timothy 2:1-8  Although this letter was a personal one from Paul to Timothy, it was meant to be shared and passed around as a guide and encouragement to all other presbyters (priests) under Timothy’s guidance. Paul calls for the churches to pray for civil authorities. What is the role of the church today regarding civil authorities...prayer, support, challenge...and in the public arena?

Gospel, Luke 16:1-13  “Mammon” is an Aramaic word meaning property or wealth. The word must have had some powerful connotations since it was retained, along with “Abba” and a few other words, in Aramaic rather than being translated into the Greek of the gospels and other successive languages in biblical translations. Jesus advises us not to make material wealth our goal but rather a tool to be used for a greater goal, that of eternal life. If you didn’t have to be concerned about your livelihood or future financial security, how would you use/leverage your personal wealth and talents to make the greatest impact for God and other people in this world?