COMMENTARY

Lesson 1: Amos 8:1-12
Yahweh shows Amos a basket of summer fruit. Because of Israel's wickedness, judgment will come upon the people. The basket contains summer fruit to indicate the end is near. Among the catastrophies that will happen to Israel is not a famine of physical food but a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord.

Lesson 2: Colossians 1:21-28
Through the cross Christ reconciled those once estranged that they might be blameless before God, and Paul explains the purpose of his sufferings and ministry. Paul teaches that Christ suffered and died to reconcile us to the Father that we might appear before him as blameless. This depends on keeping the faith gained from hearing the Gospel. Paul rejoices in his sufferings which are lacking in Christ's sufferings for the churc…