The Pursuit… A Study in Ecclesiasties

1. The Pursuit… A Study in Ecclesiasties

2. Why do you feel that some people avoid reading this book?

3. Why has this book become a favorite of many living in our world today?

4. Ecclesiastes is the most contemporary book in the Bible. It tackles many of the challenges of secularism by exposing…

5. …“the mad quest to find satisfaction in knowledge, wealth, pleasure, work, fame, and sex. Ecclesiastes turns the reader toward god, the only hope of meaningful life.

6. The subjects in Ecclesiastes • Learning from the teacher 1:1 • Looking for satisfaction 1:2-2:26 • Longing for authentic significance 3:1-4:3 • Listening, learning, looking: a midpoint review 4:4-6:12

7. The subjects in Ecclesiastes 5. Learning wisdom in the midst of life’s mysteries 7:14-8:17 6. Living in light of ultimate realities 9:1-12:8 7. Life’s ultimate meaning 12:9-14

8. Overall Theme An elderly mans look back on life to see what meaning he could find in life lived “under the sun”.

9. What does “under the sun” Mean?

10. The message of the Book By exploring life’s tough questions the book of Ecclesiastes presents a powerful argument against a secularist way of viewing life.

11. The writer demonstrated how futile it was to live life by a secular viewpoint with no room for God.

12. Why are these items so important in a world view that excludes God? Success Wealth Power Intellectual reputation

13. When we have God as the center of our world view how does that change the way we evaluate these qualities. Success Wealth Power Intellectual reputation

14. Who wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes?

15. In what 3 ways does verse 1 refer to the writer of Ecclesiastes?

16. Ecclesiastes 1:1 “Son of David” What does this mean?

17. Ecclesiastes 1:1 “Son of David” What does this mean? Please read 1 Chronicles 3:1-9

18. Ecclesiastes 1:1 “King of Jerusalem” What does this mean?

19. Ecclesiastes 1:1 Please read the following: 2 Sam 15 1 Kings 2:25 Who is most likely the King of Jerusalem in Vs 1

20. What is a world view? “The lens through which we see circumstances and events”

21. Quote 1 “Our worldview serves as the lens through which we see circumstances and events. We have all observed occasions when people see the same event very differently…

22. Quote 1 …One reason is worldview. Our worldview controls the media of our minds. It filters information and colors what we perceive.” —Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy, How Now Shall We Live Workbook (Nashville: LifeWay Press, 1999), 13-14.

23. When the Super Bowl is played, passionate fans from both teams will travel to the stadium, and many more will host Super Bowl parties to watch the game. Suppose a receiver makes a controversial catch on the sideline.

24. • Why is it that people at the same party, watching the same TV, can see an event in two totally opposing ways?

25. • What influences the way they filter the data?

26. Why Study Ecclesiastes? • It helps us understand the troubles around us

27. Why Study Ecclesiastes? 2. It reminds us what life is really like when we pattern ourselves after the world

28. Why Study Ecclesiastes? • It helps us develop an “everyday theology” to engage our culture.

29. Why Study Ecclesiastes? 4. It enables us to see afresh our need for the gospel and living for God.

30. Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26 This passage helps us identify and assess faulty ways that people try to find meaning in their lives

31. Are these true or false? No pain, no gain

32. Are these true or false? Charity begins at home

33. Are these true or false? Willful waste makes woeful want

34. Are these true or false? Nothing but money is sweeter than honey

35. Are these true or false? Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise

36. Are these true or false? A penny saved is a penny earned

37. Are these true or false? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

38. Are these true or false? A tongue three inches long can kill a man six feet tall

39. Read Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 These verses explain what this book is all about, explain the meaning in your own words.

40. Take time right now and read Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26 Each person taking a turn.

41. Do you think the teacher was condemning these pursuits or condemning finding meaning in these pursuits?

42. What is the difference in those two emphases?

43. Read 1:4-11 The theme of these verses are repetition.

44. Think of all the repetitive aspects of life. You make the bed, only to sleep in it and have to remake it tomorrow. You got a shower this morning, but hopefully you will repeat the process tomorrow! List Five other repetitive aspects of this world in which you live. 1 2 3 4 5

45. Why does life “under the sun” render these repetitive aspects as meaningless?

46. Why do you think that the teacher seems so fatalistic about the repetitive nature of the world in which he lived?

47. How would belief in an afterlife change such an attitude?

48. How would belief in God change such an outlook?

49. What does Solomon meant by saying that there is nothing new under the sun?

50. Another issue that the teacher deals with is the complexity and confusion in life Please read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18