Ecclesiastes | dave miers dot com

Tag Archive - Ecclesiastes

The Search – Ecclesiastes

January 6, 2009 in Jesus with 4 Comments

Ecclesiastes was a book of wisdom written about 3000 years ago. Yet it could easily have been written yesterday with its relevant observations of “life under the sun”. It was written by (or at least through the eyes of) Solomon, King of Israel. In it he speaks about life, death, work, money, pleasure, sex, alcohol, music, justice and God. The big question that Solomon asks is “what’s the point of life?”

Throughout the book he embarks on a search to find meaning and purpose in life. He concludes that everything is meaningless – it’s temporary and won’t last forever. Although everything “under the sun” is meaningless, life under the Son (JESUS) is far from meaningless. As we think about the search for meaning and purpose in life – the key question we want to think through is “what difference does Jesus make?” Knowing Jesus changes everything!

I gave the following talks (mp3) on The Real Thing 0809:

pic from pixelgirlpresents

Two Ways to Live – Ecclesiastes

December 20, 2008 in Jesus with 4 Comments

I’ve written a gospel outline from Ecclesiastes using the Two Ways to Live framework. The first 3 boxes are from Ecclesiastes; while the second 3 boxes are from the New Testament, but with reference to the ideas from Ecclesiastes.

Two Ways to Live - from Ecclesiastes

DOWNLOAD IT HERE (pdf). Let me know what you think.

Ecclesiastes: An Honest Look at Life

December 3, 2008 in Jesus with 1 Comment

Here is a series of Ecclesiastes talks from Al Stewart given at the City Bible Forum. I’m half way through the series. Good stuff. They are from the Reason4Hope podcast.

Talk 1 – Ground Hog Day: audio | video
Talk 2 – The Search for Meaning: audio | video
Talk 3 – Money Doesn’t bring Happiness and other Urban Myths: audio | video
Talk 4 – Eternity in our Hearts: audio | video
Talk 5 – Who can make sense of Life when it’s Cruel and Unjust?: audio | video
Talk 6 – How to Survive in the Real World: audio | video
Talk 7 – The Crime of Growing Old: audio | video
Talk 8 – Do you want the Good News or the Bad News: audio | video

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Everything’s Amazing, Nobody’s Happy

November 30, 2008 in Jesus, life with 1 Comment

I’ve been doing some work in Ecclesiastes this week. I’m sure this video ties in.

Longer Version

(h/t Los)

Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless

September 10, 2008 in Jesus, life with 0 Comments

12 Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,
and also madness and folly.
What more can the king’s successor do
than what has already been done?

13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly,
just as light is better than darkness.

14 The wise man has eyes in his head,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.

Pleasures are Meaningless

September 9, 2008 in Jesus, life with 0 Comments

1 I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem ^[a] as well—the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

Wisdom is Meaningless

September 8, 2008 in Jesus, life with 0 Comments

12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.