2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Your Density Destiny

Scripture: Eccl. 9: 1-10

(Death) is the great equalizer. “Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes.”

I.    DEATH WILL RENDER LIFE (MEANINGLESS)

Four basic philosophies which do not work:

1.     (Materialism). “Supply yourself!”

2.     (Hedonism) “Enjoy yourself!”

3.     (Humanism) “Exalt yourself!”

4.     (Fatalism) “Resign yourself!”

Since godliness is not a guarantee of (prosperity or comfort), we cannot look at our circumstances to determine if (God is for us or against us).

II.   DEATH CAN RENDER LIFE (MEANINGFUL)

6 things ways we should enjoy life:

1)     He says eat your (bread with pleasure). (v.7a)

2)     He says drink your wine with a (glad heart). (v.7b)

3)     He tells them to wear (white all the time).  (v.8a)

4)     He tells them to put (oil on their head).  (v.8b)

5)     He tells them to (enjoy life with your wife). (v.9)

6)     He tells them to (enjoy work) and (their activities). (v.10)

“The only way to get rid of death is to get rid of sin.”

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Be Sensible-Be Wise- Eccl 10

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  The Hole

Scripture: Eccl. 5: 8 – 6:12

“Our hearts are restless, O God, until they find their rest in you.”  Augustine

THE HOLE EXPOSED        

“I looked at life from both sides now/From give and take and still somehow/It’s love’s illusions that I recall/I really don’t know love at all.”  That song is a song about (futility).

It is very easy to get (envious) of what others have. Envy can lead to a stronger emotion called (jealousy).  Then the (disquiet) kicks in. The feeling of (“It’s not fair”) follows. The feeling of (dissatisfaction) becomes real, as does the feeling of (“I want more”).

Another downer from Solomon: (failure) is a real possibility.

THE HOLE FILLED      

“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.”  William Butler Yeats

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”  Plato

Three truths we must come to grip with:

1.     God is (sovereign)- (v.10a)

2.     We (are not)- (v.10b)

3.     Disputing those is a (waste of time)- (v.11)

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Your Density Destiny- Eccl 9: 1-10

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Religion Investigated

Scripture: Eccl. 5: 1-7

“When we obey God, we’re not doing it for God…we’re doing it for ourselves because God takes pleasure when we’re happy…When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really, you’re doing it for yourself.”  (Quote by Victoria Osteen)

 “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Westminster Shorter Catechism

“It is possible to go to church and hear little about God and much about you.” One religious leader

I.    NO HEART, NO MEANING

Worship has become a whole lot about me-(my desires, my likes, my preferences) and a lot less about God.

“The essence of sin is that man seeks his own in everything, even in God.” Luther

Three religious rituals Solomon exposes:

1.     (Approaching God) (v.1)  “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.”

2.     (Prayer) (Vv.2-3)   See also Mt. 6:7-8

3.     (Commitment) (Vv.4-6)

II.   RIGHT HEART, CONFIDENT APPROACH           

“Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.” (V.7 in NLT)

See story in Luke 18: 9-14

When we come to God we must approach Him with (reverence and awe). He is not some hack we can use or blow off. He is not our homeboy or our co-pilot. He is the (captain). He is the One worthy of our (worship and adoration). He is worthy of our (respect).

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: The Hole- Eccl 5:8-6:12

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Pitfalls and Platforms

Scripture: Eccl. 3: 16-4:16

I.    PITFALLS TO AVOID           

1.     First pitfall to avoid is (Injustice). Two lessons Solomon teaches us about injustice:

1)     Injustice will only be (temporary).

2)     Injustice reveals our (beastlike qualities).

2.     Second pitfall to avoid is (Tyranny).   “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

3.     Third pitfall to avoid is (Rivalry).

4.     Three other pitfalls listed for us:

1)     (Stupidity) v.5

2)     (Misery) Vv.7-8

3)     (Popularity) Vv.13-16

II.   PLATFORMS TO BUILD UPON           

Platform #1: (Contentment)  See I Timothy 6:6-8

“Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasures and inner turmoil. A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.” Pr.15:16-17 (NLT)

“Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.” Pr.16:8 (NLT)

Platform #2: (Companionship)

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Religion Investigated- Eccl 5:1-7

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Time Travel

Scripture: Eccl. 3: 1-15

I.    TIME HAS NO MEANING WITHOUT GOD

Solomon says it all comes down to a life of measurable chunks which he calls (matters). The NLT calls them (activities)

Keep in mind what Solomon has been teaching us in the previous two chapters: if this cursed world is all there is, then all our actions in this life are futile.

One writer calls this poem (the quiet versus the disquiet).

A couple questions to consider:

1.     What is the (profit?)

2.     What is the (purpose?)

II.   TIME HAS MEANING WITH GOD          

God’s most impeccable timing is in Gal.4:4- “When the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman…” (NLT)

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Rom.5:6 (NLT)

What is verse 11 teaching us:

1)     God has made everything (beautiful) in its time.

2)     God has put (eternity) in our hearts.

3)     God has not (revealed) His eternal plan.

3 applications:

1.     Wait for God’s time.

2.     Live your whole life knowing that there is a time for you to die.

3.     Make good use of whatever time you have.

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Pitfalls and Platforms- Eccl 4:1-16

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Work, Eat, Drink, and What?

Scripture: Eccl. 2: 18-26

I.     THE EMPTY PURSUIT OF WORK          

Brief “Previously on Life Matters” recap

Verse 18: we are about the read the diary of a (workaholic).

Turn to Luke 12: 13-21

II.   THE EMPTY PURSUIT OF DEBAUCHERY         

(“I said in my heart”) is so counterintuitive to what we could or should do.  That phrase can be paraphrased as (“I resolved”).

The (sensual life) will get you nowhere.

Solomon says enjoying life is (from God).

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Time Travel- Eccl.3:1-15

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Life is Sacred

Scripture: Psalm 139: 13-18

Over 20 million babies have been casualties of being unwanted. “95+% of children killed by abortion are killed for reasons of convenience; not incest, not rape, not the physical condition of the unborn, and not the threatened health of the mother.” (Chuck Swindoll)

I.   HOW PRO-LIFE IS THE BIBLE?         

Scriptures to consider:

1)     Gen.4:1

2)     Job 3:3

3)     Psalm 51:5

4)     Luke 1:41. Same word used later in Luke 2:12,16

5)     Isaiah 49:1

6)     Jeremiah 1:5

7)     Judges 13

II.   HOW DOES GOD SEE THE UNBORN?       

Psalm 139 breakdown:

1.     Verse 13- Two key words

a)     Inward parts is the word for (kidneys).

b)     Knitted literally means (to interweave).

2.     Verse 14- David breaks into spontaneous praise for the (way he is made).

3.     Verse 15- David refocuses on the womb.

a)     Frame actually means (bony substance).

b)     All this takes place in (secret).

4.     Verse 16- Removes any doubt that any conception is an (accident) or a (surprise).

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Work, Eat, Drink, and What? Eccl.2:18-26

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Chasing the Wind

Scripture: Eccl. 1:12-2:11

“Most men led lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau

I.    CHASING WISDOM IS EMPTY        

Lies we face:

1.     “Laugh and the whole laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone.”

2.     “Every day our world is getting better and better.”

3.     “There is a light at the end of every tunnel.”

4.     “Things are never as bad as they seem so dream, dream, dream.”

What does Solomon tell us?

1)     His first quest is to understand the (universe).

2)     His second quest is to understand the (meaning of life).

3)     His third quest is for the accumulation of (wisdom).

II.   CHASING PLEASURE IS EMPTY

Two key words to notice:

1.     (Pleasure)

2.     How many times he uses the word (“I”).

What we need to learn:

1)     Pleasure holds out promises but (can’t fulfill them).

2)     Pleasure pretends to open our eyes but in reality (blinds them).

3)     Pleasure (disillusions) us, making us cover up the (emptiness)

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Life is Sacred- Psalm 139:13-18

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge

Series: Life Matters

TITLE:  Same Old, Same Old

Scripture: Eccl. 1:1-11

I.    LET ME INTRODUCE YOU

Over the past few years, diagnoses of major depression have skyrocketed, rising 33% from 2013-2016. The percentage of Americans who experience stress is 20 points higher than the global average.

Why study Ecclesiastes?

1.     Helps us ask the same questions people are asking today that they asked back then.

2.     Helps us worship the (one true God).

3.     Helps us live for God and (not for ourselves).

4.     Helps us to be honest about the (troubles of life).

II.   THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

The word vanity in the Hebrew refers to a breath or a vapor.

The word gain (v.3) means profit or advantage.

Three closing thoughts:

1)     The constant lure of something better (tomorrow) (so we think) robs us of joy we are (offered today).

2)     The desire to escape it often covers up the realization there are (consequences).

3)     If God is left out, the future is (bleak).

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Striving after Wind- Eccl. 1:12-18

2020 THEME: TRUTH

TITLE:  Back to the Future

Scripture: Romans 10:9-17

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” (Quote from Gladiator)

I.    THE CHALLENGE FROM THE PAST       

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”  (Jim Carrey)

II.   THE CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE        

“Only one life will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Every follower of Jesus is called (to leverage) his or her life for the (cause of Christ).

Romans 10: 9-17

1.     It is a call to (listen to the gospel) and then to (surrender our lives) to Jesus.

2.     Note the progression found in verses 14-17.

“The world has yet to see what God can do in and with and through a man who is wholly committed to Him. I want to be that man.”  D.L. Moody

Next Year’s theme: (Life on the Edge)

A wasted life according to Pastor John Piper:

1)     A life without (passion) for the supremacy of God in all things.

2)     A life lived not for (the glory of God).

3)     A life lived without weaving God into our (eating and drinking).

4)     A life lived when we don’t pray and think and dream and plan and work toward (magnifying God) in all spheres of life.

“The one who fears God need fear nothing else.” John Wesley

Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters

Title: Same Old, Same Old- Eccl. 1:1-11