Ending Ecclesiastes

October 18, 2023



We could all agree Ecclesiastes has been one of the more challenging books we’ve tackled as a church body. And that’s not because it was presented in a muddled or even highly emotional way—our elders have been remarkably blameless and compassionate in their preparation, delivery, and post-sermon follow ups. It’s been hard because of the tension it has created between vapor and substance; the now and what’s to come; how to handle life’s beginning as well as its ending. And when the saints you stand and worship with weekly are faced with real substance in one of these areas, you find yourself weeping or rejoicing with them in a new way. Here are 3 faithful members who have graciously recorded their final takeaway from our study together. 



Wrestling to reconcile his experience with his theology, the Teacher repeatedly offers two conclusions: (1) Man-centered wisdom cannot find life’s meaning—it’s fleeting, (2) In the face of life’s unanswered questions, we should keep God’s commands and enjoy His good gifts. The Teacher’s first point rings true to life, so I have been meditating on the second idea. At times, I am so focused on understanding God’s Word and obeying His commands that I neglect to enjoy the Giver and His good gifts. But just as my obedience demonstrates my love for God, so does my enjoyment of Him. And if I am not enjoying Him, what does that say about the closeness of our relationship?


—Brian Gault




The phrase, “Everything is meaningless.”, doesn’t sit well with most people. It makes us uncomfortable. As we walked through the book of Ecclesiastes, it was easy to get discouraged or become fatalistic. Yet, at the end of every message there was the reminder of Christ and His sacrifice. As I took the Supper each week, there was a deep sense of hope. The Gospel reminds me that there is hope in the futility of daily living. This world isn’t the end. Through Christ, there is hope in what’s to come.

 

I found comfort in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also put eternity in [our] hearts.” The moment that this painful life is over, it will be put away in favor of what is eternal and beautiful. When we “fear God and keep His commandments,” we are banking on what’s to come. We believe that God is a promise keeper. We are holding our good Father to keep His Word. And He will.

 

C.S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” (Mere Christianity) The deep longing for meaning, the hope for purpose is seated deep within us because God created us that way. He wants us to seek Him and find Him, and find purpose only in Him. Everything else is meaningless.


—Stan Britton




Ecclesiastes is God’s gift of divine perspective to His people. Rather than a sigh of resignation to the meaninglessness of life, it is a proclamation of freedom from fruitless and vain pursuits, to focus on what is of eternal importance. For those in Christ, it is the assurance of God’s sovereignty and justice. It is the ability to enjoy the simple gifts he has given to all people. We are free from the tyranny of our own conceit. Regardless of our accomplishments, wealth, position or lack thereof, we all live in a moment of time and then are forgotten. But God gives us the perspective and blessing of being part of His plan for eternity. There is no greater purpose or encouragement in life than that.


—Steve Hay

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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