Awakening from Complacency: Embracing God's Transformative Grace

Today, we gathered as one family in Christ, giving thanks for the faithful service of the LWML and the many ways God’s people serve both locally and globally. We celebrated the unity of our faith, confessing together the Nicene Creed, and were reminded that we are bound together not just by tradition, but by the living truth of God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit among us. As we reflected on the book of Amos, we heard the strong and loving warning of God: “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion.” This is not a casual word, but the roar of the Lion of Judah, calling His people back from complacency, self-indulgence, and the temptation to reshape God into our own image.

We explored the ancient heresy of Marcion, who tried to cut out the parts of Scripture he didn’t like, and saw how easy it is—even today—to fall into the trap of picking and choosing which parts of God’s Word we will accept. The danger is not just theological; it is deeply personal. When we ignore God’s call to repentance, we risk creating a god who simply affirms us, rather than the true God who loves us enough to call us out of our sin and into new life.

God’s “woe” is not the end of the story. It is always spoken from a heart of love—a love that sent Jesus to live, die, and rise again for us. Jesus meets us in our brokenness, forgives us, and then calls us to “go and sin no more.” The grace of God is not a license to remain unchanged, but the power to be transformed. Each of us is called to examine our lives honestly: Where have we become comfortable with sin? Where have we traded the truth of God for the comforts of this world? God’s Spirit invites us to bring our addictions, our misplaced priorities, and our failures to the cross, to receive forgiveness, and to walk in newness of life.

We are not left alone in this journey. God gives us His Word, His Spirit, and the community of believers to help us live differently than the world. As we receive Christ’s body and blood, we are strengthened to go out as missionaries, sharing the good news of Jesus with a world in desperate need of hope and transformation. Let us respond to God’s grace by living lives marked by repentance, faith, and courageous love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s “woe” is a loving warning, not condemnation. When God says “woe,” it is the roar of the Lion of Judah, calling us to wake up from spiritual complacency and self-indulgence. This warning is not meant to destroy, but to rescue us from the dangers of drifting away from Him. God’s love is fierce enough to confront us when we stray, always with the goal of restoration. [37:23]
• 2. Selective obedience leads to a false god. Like Marcion, we are tempted to accept only the parts of Scripture that are comfortable or affirming, discarding the rest. This approach ultimately creates a god in our own image, powerless to save or transform. True faith receives the whole counsel of God, trusting that even the hard words are spoken for our good. [40:44]
• 3. Prosperity and comfort can dull our spiritual senses. When life is easy, we are prone to forget our dependence on God and neglect the needs of others. Amos warns against using God’s blessings for self-indulgence while ignoring justice, mercy, and the call to serve. God’s “woe” shakes us from our comfort so we can rediscover our calling to love and serve as Christ did. [43:02]
• 4. Grace is both a gift and a call to transformation. Jesus loves us too much to leave us in our sin. He forgives us freely, but also commands us to “go and sin no more.” The Christian life is not about perfection, but about continual repentance, receiving grace, and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out. [51:33]
• 5. We are sent as missionaries, empowered by grace. God’s forgiveness is not just for our own comfort, but to equip us to bring His love and truth to a broken world. As we confess our sins, receive forgiveness, and are nourished at the Lord’s Table, we are sent out to live differently—to be salt and light, sharing the hope of Christ with those around us. [57:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - LWML Sunday and Service Introduction
• [03:10] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [07:30] - Confession of Faith: The Nicene Creed
• [16:40] - United in Faith and God’s Peace
• [18:32] - Prayer for God’s Truth and Grace
• [35:27] - Baseball, Rule Changes, and the Danger of Changing God’s Word
• [37:23] - The Roar of “Woe” in Amos
• [38:35] - Marcion and the Temptation to Edit Scripture
• [43:02] - Amos’ Warning Against Self-Indulgence
• [45:48] - God’s Love: Too Great to Leave Us Unchanged
• [47:19] - Encountering the Slippery Slope of Selective Faith
• [51:33] - Grace, Repentance, and the Call to Change
• [56:20] - Aslan, Safety, and the Goodness of God
• [57:21] - Sent to Live Differently: Mission and Benediction
• [58:55] - Confession, Forgiveness, and Prayer
• [60:58] - Assurance of Forgiveness and Sending
• [68:41] - Communion and Final Blessing

Bible Reading

Amos 6:1, 4-7 (ESV) — > 1 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
> and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,
> the notable men of the first of the nations,
> to whom the house of Israel comes!
> ...
> 4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory
> and stretch themselves out on their couches,
> and eat lambs from the flock
> and calves from the midst of the stall,
> 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
> and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
> 6 who drink wine in bowls
> and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
> but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
> 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,
> and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”

John 8:10-11 (ESV) — > 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
> 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Observation Questions

1. In Amos 6:1, what does God warn against when He says, “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion”? What kind of attitudes or behaviors is He addressing?
2. According to Amos 6:4-6, what are some specific examples of self-indulgence and complacency that God calls out among His people?
3. In John 8:10-11, how does Jesus respond to the woman caught in adultery? What two things does He offer her?
4. The sermon described God’s “woe” as the roar of the Lion of Judah, not just a casual warning. What does this image communicate about the seriousness of God’s call to repentance? [[37:23]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God’s warning (“woe”) is described as coming from a place of love rather than just anger or condemnation? How does this change the way we hear hard words from God? [[37:23]]
2. The sermon talked about Marcion, who tried to remove parts of Scripture he didn’t like. What are the dangers of “picking and choosing” which parts of God’s Word we accept? How might this affect our relationship with God? [[40:44]]
3. When life is comfortable and prosperous, why are we more likely to forget our dependence on God and ignore the needs of others? What does Amos warn will happen if we continue down this path? [[43:02]]
4. Jesus tells the woman in John 8, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” What does this teach us about the relationship between grace and transformation? [[51:33]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to examine where we have become comfortable with sin or complacent in our faith. Is there an area in your life where you sense God saying “woe” to you right now? What might it look like to respond to that warning? [[51:33]]
2. Have you ever found yourself “editing” God’s Word—ignoring or downplaying parts that are uncomfortable or challenging? What are some examples, and how can you begin to trust God’s whole counsel, even the hard parts? [[40:44]]
3. The people in Amos’ time used God’s blessings for self-indulgence and ignored justice and mercy. Are there ways you have used your resources or time mainly for your own comfort, rather than to serve others? What is one step you could take this week to serve someone in need? [[43:02]]
4. The sermon said, “Grace is both a gift and a call to transformation.” How do you balance receiving God’s forgiveness with the call to “go and sin no more”? Is there a sin or habit you need to bring to the cross and ask for help to change? [[51:33]]
5. We were reminded that we are not left alone—God gives us His Word, His Spirit, and the church community. Who in your life can help you walk in repentance and newness of life? How can you support each other in this journey? [[57:21]]
6. The sermon ended by sending us out as missionaries, empowered by grace. Who is one person in your life who needs to hear about the hope and transformation found in Jesus? What is one way you can share Christ’s love with them this week? [[57:21]]
7. When you come to the Lord’s Table (communion), how does it strengthen you to live differently than the world? Is there a specific way you want to respond to God’s grace this week? [[01:00:58]]