Tag: Ecclesiastes

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The Search – Ecclesiastes

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?”

The Search - Ecclesiastes

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:

  1. The Search for Meaning
  2. The Search for Happiness
  3. The Search for Status
  4. The Search for Justice
  5. The Search for Immortality
  6. Fix your eyes on Eternity

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Ecclesiastes: An Honest Look at Life

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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Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless

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.

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Pleasures are Meaningless

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.

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