This lesson teaches children that God sees how people treat each other and that he cares about fairness, kindness and telling the truth. It is best for children ages 5 to 11, and it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God sees when people are unfair to others, and God cares about what is right. He wants us to be fair, kind and honest, especially to people who are poor or easily hurt.
Memory Verse
Amos 5:24
But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands out in front of them and slowly pour them down like water running. Say “Let justice roll like water” together while they do the motion. Repeat it three times so the picture sticks.
The Story: Amos 2 for Kids
Long ago, God sent a shepherd named Amos to speak to the people of many nations. Amos loved God, and he was not afraid to say what God wanted him to say. The first nations he spoke to were Moab, Judah and Israel, and God had a message for each of them. God said that he saw the wrong things they had done, and he would not ignore them.
God spoke about the nation of Moab first. The people of Moab had been cruel, and God said they would be punished for it. God was not happy with the way they treated others, and he said that their leaders would be judged. This showed the children that God pays attention to people far away, not just to his own family.
Then God spoke to Judah, the nation where God’s own temple stood. The people there knew God’s law, but they did not keep it. God said, “They have rejected my law, and they have not kept my commands.” They knew the right thing to do, but they chose to do the wrong thing instead. God’s heart was sad about this, even as he warned them.
Next, God spoke to Israel, and his words were very sharp. The people of Israel were selling poor people for money, even for something as small as a pair of shoes. They pushed down the weak and refused to treat the hurting people fairly. God saw every bit of it, and he did not like it at all.
God reminded the people of Israel how kind he had been to them. He had brought them out of Egypt and had cared for them for forty years in the desert. He had even given them prophets to speak his words, and they had treated those prophets badly. God asked them, in a way that made them think, whether they had not seen all of this for themselves.
So God told the people that a day of trouble was coming, and no one would be able to run away or be strong enough to save themselves. God wanted them to turn back before that day came, because he loves his people and wants them to do what is right.
Read It Together
Amos 2:6-7
6 The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; 7 They trample on the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and deny justice to the oppressed; and a man and his father use the same maiden, to profane my holy name…
(WEB)
Point out how the people treated those who had less than they did. Ask the children what it looks like to be unfair to someone in our own neighborhood or school. Help them see that God notices small unfair choices, not only big ones.
Amos 2:11
I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Isn’t this true, you children of Israel?” says the LORD.
(WEB)
Show the children that God gave good gifts to his people, including leaders who spoke his truth. Explain that God loves to share good things with us and that we can thank him for the people who help us know him better.
Amos 2:14-16
14 Flight will perish from the swift; and the strong won’t strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself; 15 neither shall he stand who handles the bow; and he who is swift of foot won’t escape; neither shall he who rides the horse deliver himself; 16 and he who is courageous among the mighty will flee away naked on that day,” says the LORD.
(WEB)
Point out that these verses describe what happens when people refuse to listen to God. Stress that God is serious about sin, but he also gives people time to change their hearts before judgment comes.
Talk About It
- What is one way we can be fair to someone who is not treated fairly at school or at home?
- Why do you think God cares about people who are poor or easily hurt?
- What did the people of Israel know about God’s rules, and why do you think they chose to break them?
- How did God remind the people that he had been good to them?
- What is one thing you can do this week to help someone who needs kindness?
Activity Ideas
Scales of Fairness Craft
You will need paper plates, string, a pencil, tape, and some small paper scraps. Punch two holes near the edge of each plate, tie string through the holes, and tie the strings to a pencil so the plates hang like a balance. Ask each child to write one fair action on a scrap and drop it into the plate, then talk about how fairness keeps the scale even.
Justice Like Water Game
You will need a open space and a bucket of water or a bowl and a sponge. Have the children stand in a circle and take turns passing a sponge that holds a bit of water, squeezing a little each time to show justice rolling along. Between turns, have each child say one kind thing they could do for someone, and let the group cheer for each one.
Fairness Reminder Card
You will need index cards, markers, and a stapler or a pretty ribbon. Have each child draw a picture of someone they can be kind to and write the words “God sees me” on the back. Staple or tie the card to a ribbon so the child can hang it on the bedroom door or in the car as a reminder to be fair all week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God takes injustice seriously, whether it happens among his own people or among nations far away. It also shows that God’s law is not just a list of rules but an expression of his care for the poor, the weak and the oppressed. Amos reminds us that privilege and religious practice do not excuse us from treating others fairly.
When teaching children, avoid frightening them with pictures of destruction or suggesting that God is quick to punish them for small mistakes. Keep the focus on God’s love, his desire for fairness, and his patience in calling people back to him. Let children know that God wants to help them do what is right.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for seeing everything we do and for caring about what is fair and kind. Help us to be honest, to treat others well, and to notice people who need help. Thank you for loving us even when we get things wrong. We ask this in your name. Amen.
