I hate to assume, but I assume that most of us don't spend a whole lot of time in the book of Amos. So, here's a non-exhaustive run-through of what it has to say:
1) God doesn't call upon the talented, uber-religious to do his work. He calls regular men.
Amos was an ordinary sheep-breeder. But Amos 7:14 says, "I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'" Amos was just living his life, like many of us are. Then God called him to do something greater. God called him to exceed his own expectations and bring the words of God to a nation in trouble. We are just as capable of doing great things for Christ. We are just like the fishermen who became apostles, David who became a king and a man after God's own heart, and Paul who spread God's word.
2) The world doesn't want to hear what God has to say, and they will let you know it.
Amos tried to save an entire nation with the prophesies of God. He didn't want to harm anyone, but rather save them. But Amos 7:10 shows the response. "Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, 'Amos has conspired against you right here in the house of Israel. The land cannot endure all his words..." Amos was trying to do the right thing. He was trying to follow God's will. He was trying to save a nation from destruction. But no one wanted to hear it. In fact, the priest, the man who was supposed to be closest to God, accused him of trying to overthrow the kingdom. Christians often experience this whether it be evangelizing or just living the life of a Christian. People want to bring us down in whatever way they can because they feel threatened. They don't want to know that the way they are living is wrong. The world prefers to live in ignorance than to be saved by the Word of God.
3) God cares for the poor and we should as well.
Many people who criticize the belief in God point out poverty in the world. They say that a loving God could not exist, and if he does, he certainly doesn't care about the poor. I think God put the poor into the world so that he may be glorified through them and through service to them. Israel was being drastically punished because they "oppress the poor and crush the needy," among many other things. God was taking huge measures to make sure that the destitute of the world were taken care of and that those who neglected this responsibility were punished.
4) God uses both good and bad to draw us to him.
In Chapter 2, God points out all that he has done for the nation of Israel. He destroyed the Amorite, brought slaves out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness, raised of prophets and Nazarites, and more. But they did not remember these deeds. He then draws attention to all of the bad things that have happened to Israel, that should have strengthened the faith, but didn't. The plague of locust, war, and fire could not remind Israel of their omnipotent God. We too need to remember our God in both good times in bad.
5) Walking with God means knowing God.
When we become Christians we begin a walk of faith. But Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together without agreeing to meet?" We can't walk with God without knowing his word, talking to him, and obeying his commands.
6) God doesn't care about our worship if we aren't worshipping in spirit and truth.
We spend a lot of time doing the right thing because that's what we feel like we're supposed to do or that's what makes us look good. Amos 4:4 says, "Come to Bethel and rebel; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tenths every three days. Offer leavened bread as a thank offering and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings, for that is what you Israelites love to do! This is the Lord's declaration."
Christianity is not a "to-do" list. It is a lifestyle that revolves around glorifying Christ.
7) We will die without God's life-giving power.
In Amos 8 God compares Israel to a basket of summer fruit. They have been pulled from the tree and left to rot. If we are not connected to God, we'll be nothing. God provides our life source in his word and his strength. He is our support, our nourishment, and our life. God went on to say that there would soon be a famine in the land- not from food or water, but from the Word of God. Christians need it to survive in the world, and all souls need it to survive eternity.
"Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."
Amos 5:14-15
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