How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent word.

We live in a celebrity-driven culture. It's no secret, really. Famous names influence everything from the media we consume to the soap that we buy. And it seems to be a part of human nature, doesn't it? But things get dangerous when the same influencer mindset creeps into our churches, and we start following one pastor or leader over another. That's not how it should be,

even when we deeply respect them. The Apostle Paul gave us the right perspective in 1st Corinthians

111, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. Welcome to Through the Bible with our teacher,

Dr. J. Vernon McGee. As we continue our study in the book of Amos, we'll hear

from the country prophet who refused to bow to the celebrity culture of his time and boldly spoke

God's truth where it was most needed. Amos also reminded us to appreciate the faithfulness of those

serving God in small and often unseen places, a lesson close to Dr. McGee's heart,

and he shares more about that in this special introduction to our study.

We've heard so much today,

and I think all of us have a tendency to use it

when some famous person either on television or in politics or in athletics or in some other field

or an astronaut gets converted. My, we think that is great, don't we? But I think the real

heroes are not those folk today. I think the real ones are not those folk today.

I think the real ones are these little people that are out yonder today that are working for God.

And there's no one in the grandstand to applaud them.

They are just doing it under the Lord.

And here is a letter that reveals that. It comes from a little

place in Oklahoma. And I lived in Oklahoma in a little place, and I know how little those places can be.

Let me read. Just a few lines to let you know how much I appreciate and love you.

You are a real inspiration to me.

I thank God that I came to know many years ago, not you personally, not personally by radio.

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