All is vain. What are your first thoughts when you hear this?
One of the hardest books in the Bible or at least one of the not so easy ones would be the book of Ecclesiastes. All is vain. What exactly does that mean? It can be a difficult book because the message can appear, on the surface, so bleak. However, there’s more to Ecclesiastes than meets the eye. Today Pastor Tom will introduce a perspective we should keep in mind as we study Ecclesiastes.
To encourage you to check out the video, I’ve summarized the video through questions, while listing a few key points.. If you would like to hear the answers, please check out the video.
- What did Macbeth say?
- What myth of the Greeks viewed life as meaningless?
- What does Pollyanna teach?
- What is Hedonism?
- Key Point: Everyone has am outlook on life.
- “We won’t be satisfied with a Sunday School answers for the realities of life.” – Tom Ascol
- What is unique about the book of Ecclesiastes?
- How is all vanity? What does this mean?
- Who is the preacher?
- What word means “to gather”?
- How does the preacher relate to Solomon?
- Whose words are the Shepherd?
- How is life defined?
- In what way is life vanity without God?
- Phrase: Under the sun. What does this mean?
- What event happens to all?
- Series of why questions. What is the answer to them all?
- Romans 8 Paul explain the world and how it got to the state its in.
- There is a hope of restoration. (See: Christ: The Hope of Glory)
- What did Christ do?
- What gives life meaning?
- What will God do through Christ?
- What is the ending of Ecclesiastes
- Do we fear God?
- “Or is God just another thing on your agenda? … Do you think about His commandments?” – Tom Ascol
Check Out: Life Without God by Tom Ascol
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The Gospel Message– The Gospel message is good news, which means there’s bad news. We all are sinners and condemned. We all deserve the just punishment of God’s wrath. Christianity is unlike any other religion because we cannot earn our way into Heaven. God saw the weakness of man and his utter depravity. Yet, He showed us grace. Jesus, God, One Person of the Trinity, became God in the flesh, the God-Man. He was always perfect and sinless. And His humanity was perfected on the cross, living the full sinless life. He became our atonement sacrifice. Dying in our place, taking on the wrath of God upon Himself. He died on the cross, and He was resurrected because death could not hold Him. Jesus is the answer. We, as guilty sinners, need His blood to pay off our debt of sin. For all who put their faith in Him – meaning eyes are opened to the Gospel, we see ourselves as a sinner, we see the need for Christ, we desire our Savior, and we see the ugliness of our sin. Putting our faith in Jesus, we seek HIs forgiveness and repent from our sins, we turn away from our old way of life. We, through the work of the Holy Spirit, continue to become convicted of sin daily. Our eyes will never be the same again. We see things in a different light, and the truth of Christ affects how we live and serve Him. Christ tells us to count the cost. Salvation is a serious topic, it is not to be taken lightly. For a breakdown of this powerful message, understanding how Christ could be God and Man, why God required sacrifices, and more -please see: Why Did A Loving God Kill His Son? (Does God Hate?)
If you think you know the Gospel, check out these questions and see how prepared you are for the day someone might ask you why you believe: The Gospel Challenge (30 Question Quiz) – Are You Ready To Defend Your Faith?
Scripture To Meditate On –(ESV) John 15:06 – If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Community Prayer – Feb ‘23
Christian Topics/Series Covered
Personal Blog: Peeking Beneath
Second Blog: UnAshamed Christian Housewife
Godly Men & Women I Recommend: Link To List
Resources For False Teaching: Recommended Websites For False Teachers/Teaching
Video Playlist: Christian Questions, Topics, False Teachers, Insights
Video Playlist: New Christian Believer
Video Playlist: Understanding False Teachings
Video Playlist: Sermons To Grow From
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