Hosea 5-6

Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 29, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 5-6. These chapters focus on a time of deep rebellion and political chaos in Israel around 740 BC. Despite repeated calls to repentance, Israel and Judah chase worthless things, turning from God and reaping the consequences in war and spiritual decay. Yet amid judgment, God offers a powerful invitation: seek His face, return to Him, and grow in knowledge of the Lord.

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Reflect

1. How can we ensure we are truly 'knowing the Lord' as opposed to just having surface knowledge about Him?

2. What steps can we take to seek God's face in our daily lives, rather than pursuing the 'filth' of this world?

3. How can the metaphor of God as a lion and moth help us understand His role in times of conflict and strife?

4. What does it mean for you personally to 'pray for knowledge of God,' and how do you envision that shaping your relationship with Him?

5. What practical measures can we implement to grow in our knowledge of God through scripture?

6. In what ways can we encourage and support one another in growing our knowledge of God as a community?

7. How can we discern when we are seeking worthlessness versus seeking what truly matters in God's eyes?

8. How can we reflect on our own lives to identify areas where we may be rebelling against God's call to repentance?

9. What can we learn from Israel's failure to know God and how can we apply it to our own pursuit of a deep relationship with Him?

10. How do you see the connection between our knowledge of God and our daily decisions and actions?

Hosea 3-4

Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 22, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 3-4. These chapters use Hosea's personal story to reflect His covenant love and the coming restoration through Jesus, the true and faithful Israel. We explore how prophetic language — from Hosea to Isaiah to Paul — reveals that faith in Jesus grafts believers into the the people of God and asks are we living in steadfast love, or have we let compromise and comfort erode our loyalty to God?

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Reflect

1. In Hosea, we can plainly see the Redemption Story.  Israel is unfaithful to God and therefore there is a separation between God and His people.  Have you ever felt separated from God?  If so, why – what led to that feeling of separation?  Has someone ever been unfaithful to you?  How did that make you feel?

2. Israel is promised that a new covenant is coming to the children of Israel.  Who are the children of Israel?

3. Jacob changed his name to Israel and had 12 sons who became the twelve tribes.  Ten tribes were in the north (Israel) and 2 were in the south (Judah).  Notice in Isaiah 49 that “Israel” is also used to refer to Jesus.  Israel (Jesus) will come to bring Israel (God’s people) back to Him.  This is the work of Jesus – to show God’s faithfulness to his people.  How would you describe your faithfulness to God?

4. Jesus was the faithful Israel that Israel was not.  Faith in Jesus grafts you into Israel, aka God’s people.  Would you consider yourself a child of God?  Have you accepted Jesus and follow Him and His will for your life, or do you treat your faith like a “to do” list?

5. Hosea shows us what faithfulness to God looks like.  It is a steadfast love.  In Hebrew, this steadfast love is called “hesed.”  It is a “true heart devotion.”  The priests in Israel were not loyal or faithful to God.  Therefore, the people were not faithful.  What examples of faithfulness to God have you experienced in your life?  Did you have leaders (Pastors, Teachers, Parents, Friends, etc.) who taught you the ways of the Lord?  The corrupt ways of others will influence you.  Who are you spending time with?  Who are you listening to?  Do you long for the things of this world more than God?

6. If you have struggled with having and/or developing a steadfast love for God through faith in Christ Jesus, this can lead to an empty or dead faith.  Is your love and faithfulness to God conditional on how easy and comfortable your life is?

7. We cannot choose when we will be obedient or not be obedient to God.  We can’t be selective or conditional about our obedience.  This is lazy loyalty and leads you down a path of destruction.  God wants your WHOLE HEART – NOT A DIVIDED HEART!  What is your heart posture?  Do you desire to seek faithfulness, knowledge of His word, and a steadfast love?  If so, the word promises that if we seek Him we will find Him.  Mathew 7:7-8

Hosea 1-2

Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 15, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 1-2. These chapters explore the powerful imagery of Hosea, where God calls the prophet to live out a parable of His relationship with unfaithful Israel—portrayed through Hosea's marriage to Gomer and their children, each symbolizing the nation's spiritual state. Despite Israel's betrayal, God promises redemption, transforming those who were "not my people" into His beloved through a new covenant fulfilled in Jesus. This prophecy lives on today as the church—Christ’s bride—carries the mission forward, seeking the lost and embodying God’s mercy and faithfulness.

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Reflect

1. In what ways do you feel God is calling you to be faithful in your own life, similar to how Hosea was called to be faithful?

2. How can we see the parallels between Israel's unfaithfulness and our own struggles with faithfulness to God today?

3. What does it mean for you personally to embrace the new identity of being 'His people' as described in Hosea?

4. How does understanding the concept of 'covenant' influence your relationship with God?

5. In what practical ways can you deepen your commitment to God, ensuring to prioritize Him above all else?

6. How can you actively engage in sharing the message of redemption and mercy that comes through Christ with those around you?

7. What steps can you take this week to seek reconciliation in broken relationships, mirroring God's faithfulness to Israel?

8. In what ways does the imagery of God as a faithful husband challenge contemporary views on marriage and relationships?

9. How can you identify and address the 'idols' in your life that distract from your focus on God?

10. How does the concept of God’s mercy being extended to those who were once 'not His people' inspire hope in your life?

Amos 8-9

Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 8, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Amos 8-9. These chapters end the book of Amos with a sobering call to repentance and a warning: Israel, having rejected God’s repeated invitations, is now ripe for judgment. God condemns Israel for their exploitation of the poor and obsession with profit over worship, showing that His lordship encompasses every aspect of life. Yet, even in judgment, Amos offers hope — a vision of restoration through Christ, inviting all nations to join God’s people.

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Reflect

1. After Amos called Israel to repentance, they rejected God’s message.  The Lord’s message is that He is going to judge them.  He passed by them with an invitation to turn back to Him.  Since they refused, God says He will not pass by them again.  Has there been a time in your life that God called you to repentance or a turning away from sin and you refused?  What were the consequences of that disobedience?

2. Has the Lord called you to do something, and you ignored Him?  Have you said, “I’ll do it tomorrow…next week…next month, etc.”  What if tomorrow never comes?  What are you doing with today?

3. If we do not answer His call, He will “pass us by” and ask someone else to do the very thing He asked us to do.  Have you ever seen this happen in your life?

4. The Israelites cared more about the things the world offered them than the things of God.  (Examples – money, success, possessions, etc.)  Have you found yourself consumed by the same desires more than God?

5. The Lord is the LORD over EVERY SECOND of your life!  It is arrogant of us to think otherwise!  This kind of thinking will turn our world upside down.  Have you felt that your life has been turned upside down because you did not listen to the Lord when He spoke to you?

6. The Lord tells us that if we reject His word, then there will be chaos and evil.  The lack of His word causes a void that NOTHING can fill.  We will be starving for Him and yet there is famine.  Darkness fills the void where God does not dwell.  Have you been experiencing famine or darkness in your life?  If so – why?

7. If we continue to reject Him, judgement/consequences will come.  We will become imprisoned by our choices.  Do you feel imprisoned by any choice or choices you have made?

8. Amos ends with the good news of Hope.  Our Hope rests in Jesus!  One day we will experience a new Heaven and a new Earth!  No sorrow, no sin and no lack of anything!  Only peace.  Are you prepared?  Are you ready?  There is no future in the things of this world!  Only a future in Christ Jesus!  If you do not know Him as your Savior – make today the day that you surrender to Him.  If you have turned away from Him – make today the day you return to Him.  God has a plan for your life!  Be willing to embrace it!

Amos 6-7

Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 1, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Amos 6-7. These chapters explore a sobering message from a prophet sent to shake Israel from its spiritual slumber. At the heart of Amos' warning is a timeless truth: God will ultimately give people what they truly desire—even if it leads to their ruin. Through a raw look at Israel’s craving for comfort, status, and self-indulgence, we explore how unchecked pride and greed spiral out of control, and how God's justice is revealed not by arbitrary punishment, but by handing people over to their choices.

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Reflect

1. How can recognizing our deepest desires help us evaluate our relationship with God?

2. How do you prioritize your desires to ensure they reflect your faith in Jesus?

3. What does it mean for your life to be measured against God’s Word instead of cultural standards?

4. In what areas of your life do you see greed or pride affecting your choices?

5. How can the concept of God giving us what we want prompt us to pursue a more godly lifestyle?

6. What does it mean to be 'plumb' in your spiritual life, and how can you gauge your alignment with Christ?

7. How can understanding the concept of eternal desires reshape your daily priorities?

Amos 5

Pastor Marshall Ochs | May 25, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Amos 5. This chapter confronts a prosperous yet spiritually complacent people who honored God outwardly through festivals and traditions but lacked true devotion and righteousness. Instead of seeking God, Israel placed their hope in historical places, religious rituals, and created things—leaving them vulnerable to judgment and spiritual emptiness. God's invitation is clear and urgent: "Seek Me and live" — through genuine inner faith and outward justice that reflects a life surrendered to Him.

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Reflect

1. What does the imagery of a funeral song in Amos 5 signify about the spiritual state of Israel?'

2. What does the biblical term 'seeking the Lord' mean in the context of Amos 5?

3. How can we actively seek God's presence in our daily lives?

4. In what specific areas of your life do you feel you are seeking worldly approval instead of God's approval?

5. How can we discern between healthy traditions and those that draw us away from a genuine relationship with God?

6. In what ways can we ensure our worship is centered on God rather than on traditions or rituals?

7. How does Amos 5 highlight the difference between genuine worship and mere ritual observance?

8. What practical steps can we take to focus on righteousness and justice in our interactions with others?

9. How does Matthew 7:7-8 reinforce the call to seek God found in the book of Amos?

Amos 3-4

Pastor Marshall Ochs | May 18, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Amos 3-4. These chapters reveal God’s judgment against Israel’s hypocrisy—highlighting their injustice, abuse, and hollow religious rituals. Through cause-and-effect imagery, Amos shows that closeness to God brings not only privilege but also greater accountability; rebellion leads to societal collapse, and even sacred places are torn down when true worship is replaced with shallow performance. Despite dire warnings, God pleads through Amos for repentance, urging both ancient Israel and modern believers to awaken, seek revival, and live with integrity before God.

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Amos 1-2

Pastor Marshall Ochs | May 11, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Amos 1-2. Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, delivered God’s message of judgment against nations that prioritized power over people, focusing on their cruelty, exploitation, and injustice. Each "roar" of judgment highlights the consequences of mistreating others, with God opposing human pride and valuing how we treat one another more than our worldly accomplishments.

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Reflect

Read Amos 1:1-2. Amos, a shepherd and fig grower from the southern kingdom of Judah in the city of Takoa, was tasked with delivering God’s message despite his humble profession. Although shepherding is neither prestigious nor inherently spiritual, Amos was chosen to be God's messenger. This illustrates that one does not need to possess a seminary degree to understand God's word and be an instrument of His will. A willing and humble heart is sufficient for God to use individuals in significant ways to share His love and teachings.

Mount Carmel is a wealthy and prosperous area with lush pastures.  It is important to note that success and prosperity can easily lead to arrogance and self-sufficiency.  Sinful practices can become a way of life and choke out relationship/fellowship with the Lord and His will for your life.  In verse 2, a metaphor is used to show God’s judgment.  He will roar like a lion and the once lush earth will wither and dry up.  Our sin has consequences.  What you have allowed to make you feel secure can easily be taken away – “dry up” and wither.

1. Has the Lord been speaking to you about something He wants you to do?  What was your response?  He equips those He calls.  Have you allowed feelings of inadequacy to keep you from your calling?

2. Have your successes and achievements caused you to start to wander away from God?  Have you become self-reliant instead of God dependent?

Read Amos 1:3-5. The Lord tells the people that He has watched them living in sin and they have finally crossed the line – they went too far and now judgment is coming.

The first roar is against Damascus in Syria.  They are guilty of treating people with cruelty and brutality during conquests.  The judgment is described in verses 4-5.  Destruction, death and captivity are the consequences.

Read Amos 1:6-8.  The second roar is against Gaza, Philistines.  They are guilty of slave trading to the people of Edom.  Judgement – every Philistine city will be destroyed.

Read Amos 1:9-10.  The third roar is against Tyre, Phoenicia.  They are guilty of slave trading with Edom and betraying their treaty with Israel.  Judgment – the whole city will be destroyed.

Read Amos 1:11-12.  The fourth roar is against Edom.  They were guilty of raising a sword to their brother (Israelites), human trafficking, extreme anger and violence.  Judgement – their cities were destroyed.

Read Amos 1:13-15.  The fifth roar is against the Ammonites.  They were guilty of murdering children and pregnant women!  Judgement – they will be destroyed by a violent windstorm (tempest) and their king and princes will go into exile.

Read Amos 2:1-3.  The sixth roar is against the Moabites.  They were guilty of desecrating the bones of Edom’s king.  Judgment – fortresses destroyed, king and princes slaughtered.

Read Amos 2:4-5.  The seventh roar is against Judah.  They did not keep their covenant with God and His decrees.  Judgment – fortresses in Jerusalem destroyed by fire.

Read Amos 2:6-16.  The eighth and final roar is against Israel.  They were guilty of robbing the poor, selling people for silver or a pair of shoes, sexual sin, showing disrespect towards their debtors, etc.  Judgment – loss of physical strength, weakness, courage – a crushing.

1. As we read about the sins of the people and the judgments that they incurred, does it hit close to home?

2. Have you put your confidence in the things of this world (i.e., career, money, power, possessions, adoration...)? The Lord cares very little about those things, but rather a great deal about how we treat others.

3. You might not be guilty of selling people into slavery or killing people in cold blood.  However, do you struggle with your tongue, thought life, unforgiveness, jealousy or anger?

4. How can we ensure that our interactions with others reflect God's care for the marginalized and broken?

5. In what areas of our lives might we be ignoring God's call to accountability concerning our treatment of others?

6. What does it mean for us to prioritize people over accomplishments in our daily routines?

7. Can you identify a recent situation where you may have prioritized status over the well-being of others?

8. What actions can we take to ensure that our workplaces and homes reflect God's heart for justice and mercy towards others?

9. How can we actively listen for God's voice in our lives as Amos did?

10. How can we encourage each other to be more conscious of our words and actions in relationships?