Will Wisdom Fix It?

August 16, 2023

Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, August 13, 2023.

Sermon text: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18


Last week Pastor Ky kicked off the book of Ecclesiastes for us, thereby also kicking off a season of meaninglessness... a season of vanity... a season of grasping the air and chasing the wind... Among our staff this week we have had a recurring line spoken where, after discussing specifics and details related to the work of ministry that we are doing, someone will say, "Yeah, but it doesn't matter."


This sermon series is different because the book of Ecclesiastes is different. And within the first few verses, we find ourselves uncomfortable. "All is vanity... no one will remember what has been... no one will remember what will be... there is nothing new under the sun..." So much to observe but nothing to really comprehend. We find ourselves waiting for the

punchline, waiting for the silver lining. We are eager for the "But God" moment, but it doesn't surface. And I think that we naturally make some jokes to lighten the mood. However, by God's design, sometimes the mood doesn't need to be light. Here at Crosspoint we believe that preaching verse-by-verse allows God to set the agenda for our church. If that is true, then God's agenda for this morning is to feel the weight of life... particularly the weight of trying to make sense of life.


Last week we learned that there are two voices in this book. One is the narrator, and the other is Qohelet, the preacher. This morning we are hearing from the second voice, the preacher.


1:12-13 "I the preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart

to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven."

  • The preacher is inviting us to join him on a journey...
  • The journey is that of a wise king, who is a man of God, with unlimited resources searching for something of substance... meaning...
  • The playing field is under heaven... or under the sun...


The experience is that of a powerful leader, who is a man of God, with unlimited resources looking deeply into their sphere of reality, under heaven, their earthly experience, with the goal of applying wisdom to find something of substance/meaning. So before we even begin the journey, we can draw a conclusion just from the fact that this

journey exists...


1.) God intends for you to think deeply about difficult things.

  • Why are so many of us against this? Why do so many of us spend our time escaping from reality rather than leaning into it?
  • I think that it is for 2 reasons. First, reality can feel scary and overwhelming. Second, what reality can become can be even scarier. This is where our anxieties come from. There is no doubt that we have reason for uncertainty about the future, but it becomes terrifying and paralyzing because of how that uncertainty might negatively impact our lives. Hence, anxiety. Can I handle what is ahead? Will it overwhelm me? Will I be safe? Will I be alone? We so desire for such things to be behind us, that we run away rather lean into them.
  • We follow wise leaders. If one of the wisest leaders in history thinks deeply about difficult things, so should we.


So what does this journey yield? What does the Preacher find?

1:13-14 "And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind."


I think it is fair to say that we were all probably hoping for a better outcome. We were probably hoping that he would apply his heart and take his time to think deeply about difficult things... to travel and explore and bring back something of deep meaning and substance... to tell the people he is leading "this is what you should busy yourselves with!"

Instead, the message is "whatever you busy yourself with... it is an unhappy business..."


2.) God intends for you to be perplexed.

  • We hate this. Uncertainty unsettles us. Many of us have a sense of adventure, but it is usually planned adventure.
  • Every philosopher who ever lived has thought deeply in the search for meaning. If Descartes says, "I think therefore I am"... Qohelet says, "I think therefore I am unhappy." Perplexity... things without resolve... questions without answers... can make us feel unhappy. I think there is some nuance here that we need to consider. Just because you feel a certain way doesn't mean it is a certain way. Feelings aren't reality. So, when we can't immediately or even quickly find some substance and meaning in the complexities of our life, in some hard season we are going through, we may choose to feel unhappy. But there may be some deeper importance found in being perplexed. Why? God intends for you to be perplexed.


I want to be careful here, because I know that many sitting here this morning either have struggled, are struggling, or will struggle with depression. We live in a cruel and fallen world, and sometimes it can overwhelm us with dark thoughts. There is a difference between meaninglessness and hopelessness. Perhaps our hope was never intended to be found in the things we can wrap our heads around. Perhaps there is a hope that can be found in complexity.


Next we see a reason for the Preachers conclusion that humans have an unhappy business from God...

1:15 "What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted."


3.) God intends for you to learn your limitations.

If you have ever purchased lumber at Lowe's or Home Depot, you know that what is

crooked cannot be made straight. In all seriousness though, God intends for us to learn our

limitations through the crooked and unknown things of this world.

  • Crooked things: There are things that happen in this world that don't make sense. They are crooked. They can't be made straight. There is no real silver lining. These things are complex and cannot be simplified. For Example: Maui, Hawaii.... [Showpics and tell the story]...
  • Lacking things: There are things that happen in this world that you simply cannot know. What you cannot see you cannot observe. There is always more going on than you have the ability to observe.


So not only can you not observe all that there is to observe, you also cannot make sense of or wrap your head and heart around the things that you can observe.


RESULT: Learn your limitations. Come to the end of yourself.


1:16-18 "I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after that wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."


4.) Believers are not exempt from vexation and sorrow.

This is why the "prosperity gospel" is such a heaping pile of insufferable garbage. I'm not saying that for shock value. It is dangerous. It can try to eat your soul while professing that it is trying to save your life. If there is something to be learned in the sorrow and perplexity, shame on the man or woman or movement that says you must not have enough faith. Rest assured, it takes faith to think deeply about difficult things. It takes faith to be perplexed and sit in it. It takes faith to swallow pride and embrace your limitations. It takes faith to know that vexation and sorrow just might come from the loving hand of God.


Bartholomew: "What does one do when precisely as a believer everything one observes and experiences seems to lead to the conclusions that all is enigmatic and that the enigmas cannot be resolved? This is Qohelet's struggle, and it resonates with that of any believer in a crisis of faith."


Just because something is hard doesn't mean you should just pull the rip cord and remove that thing from your life. You might just not yet be to the end of yourself. One principle in our preaching is to preach verse-by-verse so that God can set the agenda for our church. Another principle is to always make sure to get to the point about Jesus. While Qohelet’s quest for wisdom was limited to what he could see, ours is not. The Supper reminds us of this.


Supper:

We can be transformed by the renewal of our minds, even if our circumstances don’t change. We can cry out for wisdom and know that God will grant it to us. Romans 8 says that, because of Christ, nothing separates us from the love of God. So, while we will still have to think deeply about difficult things, we do so in the loving arms of Christ. And while

we will still be perplexed, we enter those difficult situations in step with the Holy Spirit and bathed in the love of Christ. As we reckon with the reality of our limitations and weaknesses, at the end of ourselves we find a limitless Savior, for whom and with whom nothing is impossible. And in moments of vexation and sorrow, our Lord sustains us through his kindness and provision, ultimately welcoming us into the arms of our loving heavenly Father. That is far better than some silver lining….


Discipleship Questions:

  1. How do you feel about going through this book? Discuss what you know about it, questions you have about it, etc…
  2. The author uses the Hebrew word “hevel” which translates to “vapor” or “breath” almost 40 times in 12 chapters. What do you think he means by referring to life “under the sun” as vapor?
  3. Why do you think the author uses the phrase “under the sun” to describe human life?
  4. How is our perspective on this book different on this side of the cross as compared to its original author and audience?

Everything We Need

July 29, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:3-4 We have everything we need for a godly life. Sentence has: 68 words 9 prepositional phrases 5 dependent clauses God called us. “By His divine power” The word here is summon Like Lazarus, come forth. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 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. By revealing Christ to us. “Through the knowledge of Him” Side note, ambiguity: The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We need to note that this comes to us by grace, but also that we have a part to play here. Effort is not a 4 letter word. You have no excuse for: Pornography- You have everything you need. Substance Abuse- You have everything you need. Pride- You have everything you need Laziness- You have everything you need Anger- You have everything you need. Prayer and Scripture Reading- You have everything you need. Evangelism- You have everything you need. He’ll go on to mention supplementing He has given us what we need for godliness now, and He promises us even greater things to come. We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature 2 Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature Unusual word… The “divine nature” (Theos) appears only here and in Acts where Paul addresses the Areopagus an odd work choice and would have appealed to his pagan readers. Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. Redefining what it means to become like God. Christ shared in our nature that we might share in His. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. In 1:3, it’s through the knowledge of Christ that we are called to Him. Here, we see that a fuller revelation of Christ will conform us even more fully into His likeness. How so? Purity Immortality Restoration to Eden Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, We have everything we need for a godly life. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 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. The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Purity Immortality Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable.’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. Discipleship Questions: 2 Peter 1:3 says we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness… Do you find that verse encouraging, challenging or both? Are there any areas of your walk where you struggle to believe that you already have everything you need for success? Do you ever make excuses to yourself or others for a lack of godliness? If yes, explain. How much work does it take to live as a Christian? What does it mean that we will be “partakers in the divine nature”?

The Genuine Gospel

July 21, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:1-2  Peter is warning us about counterfeit teaching and false teachers The genuine gospel came from Jesus through His apostles —servant (humility and honor) —apostle (called, unique, sent) The genuine gospel is just as precious to us today —received and believed “How does someone become a Christian? One person might say, ‘Because I believe,’ and another, ‘Because God chose me.’ According to Peter, both ways of stating it are correct. On the one hand, we believe. It is a fundamental definition of a Christian that he or she is a ‘believe-er’; that he or she ‘has faith’ But Peter also knows that it is not our feeble faith that holds us close to God. It is God who does all the holding, and that is the reality behind the word received.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel is centered on the person and work of Jesus —God —Savior —Christ —Lord “This fourfold description of Jesus is important because it puts him at the focal point of human history. As God, he guarantees that his words and his works cannot be replaced or revoked; as Christ, he fulfills all the Old Testament promises; as Savior, he died on the cross for our salvation in the past, present and future; and as Lord he claims the right to our individual love and obedience—notice how Peter calls him our Lord.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel transforms us as we grow in knowledge of Jesus —grace and peace multiplied Discipleship Questions: Why is false teaching so dangerous? How does remembering and focusing on the true gospel help us stand against false teaching? In what ways is the gospel just as precious to us as it was to the apostles? How do you relate to Jesus as God, Savior, Christ, and Lord? What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him?

The God of All Grace

July 16, 2025
Notes from Zach Snow's sermon on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:8-14 Why is the lion roaring? Wouldn’t it be a better strategy to be quiet…subtle…sneaky, in an attempt to “devour” Christians? I think that Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, was very intentional with his description here of the devil being a roaring lion. Went into a rabbit hole on a lion's roar…there are some spiritual applications to these: Can reach up to 114 decibels…almost as loud as a jet engine taking off They roar for social reasons (territory, create bonds, locate other members of their pride) as well as for purposes of intimidation. One of the primary purposes of the lion's roar is to strike fear in the heart of their prey. The lion will always start with a psychological advantage Fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred - these things can absolutely paralyse you spiritually The lion is not necessarily trying to kill you, but to destroy your faith Prayer: Be sober-minded - Have a clear and self disciplined mind - Titus 2 Exercise self control in thoughts, words, and action this is the 3rd time Peter has said this to us in 1 Peter - 1:13, 4:7 - it’s a call to remain alert and focused Being sober-minded means waging war against the things that are detrimental to the mind: fear, hatred, anxiety, depression, anger I believe these are specific things the enemy uses to derail our mental health and cause us to take our guard down Be watchful - this is the same word that Jesus used in the garden before he was arrested and crucified - this is a call to pray Prayers for others - Eph. 6:18 - Ephesians 6:18 - [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Prayers for yourself - James 1:5 - 5 j If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. So here’s the question… Do you believe in prayer? How much do you trust that God can do the things that you are not able to do? Do you trust God with the big stuff AND the small stuff? Discipleship Questions: 1.) In your personal life, what does being sober minded and watchful look like to you? 2.) Who are the people who help you stand firm in your faith the most? 3.) As a CG look at each of the points of the Theology of Suffering and find Scripture to support each one of those statements: God is ALWAYS good God is ALWAYS enough God will ALWAYS love you 4.) Discuss ways that the God of all grace has restored, confirmed, strengthened, and established you.
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