Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes has been described as King Solomon’s report on his failed attempt to find purpose and the good life in our fallen world. Ecclesiastes helps us face reality honestly so that we become wise, cheerful, and learn to fear God in the real world as we wait with hope for the day when God the Son will ultimately rescue us from life under the sun.
At the end of all things, the Preacher of Ecclesiastes tells us to fear God and keep his commandments.
Resources:
Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes: Foundations for Expository Sermons, Sidney Greidanus
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
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In a world that is plagued by the effects of time and chance, the preacher instructs us how to walk the safe path of wisdom and forsake the folly that leads to our destruction.
Resources:
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We often see human authorities and our inability to understand what God is doing as impediments to living a good life, but the preacher shows us how to live our lives with joy in light of these realities.
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
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Hope in the Glory of God
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
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Rather than loving money and wasting our lives striving for more, God calls us to enjoy the good gifts He gives.
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes us Just, Timothy Keller
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We’re naturally so set on beating our neighbor that we’re discontent with what we have, leading to oppression, loneliness, and hypocrisy. The Preacher shows us a better way.
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
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Part of our reality on earth is everything around us changes. Life is seasonal; how can we respond with wisdom? Being joyful, doing good, and fearing God.
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, Phil Ryken
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Lasting joy cannot be found in the pursuit of pleasure without God, the pursuit of wisdom without God, or the pursuit of toil without God. True lasting joy is found only in living a God-centered life.
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (The NIV Application Commentary) – Iain Provan
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Life is hard, and the way to deal with the hardship is not to try not to think about it. In fact, great wisdom can be gained by focusing on it and figuring out how to live accordingly. Ecclesiastes is written to do that.
Resources:
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan
Making Sense of God, Chapter 3: A Meaning that Suffering Can’t Take From You, Timothy Keller
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