Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North Sermons — Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North

Ecclesiastes

Does Anything Matter?

Introduction:

Here are Three Things That Don't:
(Ecclesiastes 2:1-26)

  1. Pleasures Don't Matter. (Eccl 2:1-3)

    1 Kings 4:22-23 - Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.

  2. Projects Don't Matter. (Eccl 2:4-6)
  3. Possessions Don't Matter. (Eccl 2:7-23)

Does Anything Matter? Here is One Thing That Does:

  1. Pleasing God Matters. (Eccl 2:24-26)

    1 Timothy 6:17 - As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Living Life from the Hand of God Results In:

  1. Being Thankful .
  2. Being Content .

    3. Philippians 4:11-13 - Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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When Life Seems Empty - Does Anything Matter?
Jeff Miller
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. Have you ever been disappointed in pleasures, projects, or possessions? Share a time you felt like Solomon in (Eccl 2:1-21).

  3. Thankfulness and contentment are the two signs of someone living life by the hand of God. Do you struggle with either thankfulness or contentment in this season of your life? How can you turn this around?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Is This It?

Introduction:

Two Big Problems with Life: (Ecclesiastes 1:1-18)

  1. Problem: Life is just an Endless Cycle. (Eccl 1:2-11)
  2. Bigger Problem: We're not Smart enough to find a Solution. (Eccl 1:12-18)

When you Know Jesus, these 2 things aren't a problem at all:

  1. Solomon said under the sun, life is just an endless cycle. Jesus said under the Son of God, you were made for eternity, and you have an eternal purpose in this life.

    Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

  2. Solomon said under the sun, we're not smart enough to find a solution. Jesus said under the Son of God, you discover that He is the solution.

    1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.

    John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

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When Life Seems Empty - Is This It?
Jeff Miller
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What are some things people do (or get) that they think will bring fulfillment? Why don’t they work?

  3. Honesty time: have you ever felt like your life was a meaningless, endless cycle (Eccl 1:4-7)? Describe what made you feel this way.

  4. Explain what Solomon means by “under the sun / under heaven” (Eccl 1:3, 9, 13, 14)? Why is this such an important phrase to understanding Ecclesiastes?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Finding Joy in Work

Introduction:

We Have Joy in Work Because...
(Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

  1. It is a Gift from God. (Eccl 3:13b)
  2. We are Made for working. (Eccl 3:10-11a)
  3. It leads us to the "Big Picture".
    (Eccl 3:11b,14-15)
2021-JUL-GuestSpeaker-MikeWolski-FindingJoyInWork_1400sq-sm.jpg

3 Ways Eternity Changes Our Work:

  1. It changes our Mindsets of why we work.
  2. It keeps work in its Proper Perspective .
  3. It helps us to Reevaluate our work.

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Guest Speaker - Mike Wolski - Finding Joy in Work
Jeff Miller / Mike Wolski
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

  1. What is one thing that God revealed to you personally during the sermon?

  2. How does God’s view of work allow you to be joyful in your toil?

  3. Why do we not have total satisfaction in our earthy work? What about people who are seemingly closest to God’s work (pastors, missionaries, evangelists, etc.)?

  4. Why should eternity have such a strong influence over our work?

  5. What changes can you make, in your mindset or circumstances, to bring joy in all your work?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Submitting to the Seasons

Introduction:

How Should I Handle the Changing Seasons of My Life? (Eccl 3:1-15)

  1. I should Wisely adapt to Change and Not resist it . (Eccl 3:1-8)
  2. I should Trust in God's timing and Not force my own . (Eccl 3:9-15)

    A.W. Tozer - "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."

David Gibson - "Living well in God’s world means recognizing that when it comes to our lives, we are not mini-gods, and this is His creation, not ours. We have all the pieces of our life given to us, and things come and go and seasons change, and it is only God who knows exactly where everything is meant to go, in which order, at what time, and why.”

Taylor Brown is a CONTROL FREAK!

Taylor Brown is still a CONTROL FREAK!

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Submitting to the Seasons - Guest Speaker - Taylor Brown
Jeff Miller / Taylor Brown
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

  1. Why should it encourage us to know that the Lord is sovereign and in complete control of every single aspect of our lives?

  2. Why does the Lord bring trials and difficult seasons into our lives? How is the presence of suffering in our lives the proof of God's love for us?

  3. Discuss examples from the Bible where God used pain and suffering to prepare His servants for ministry. Share a time when the Lord used a painful trial to help you become more like Christ and bless others.

  4. What does it look like to trust in the Lord and not yourself? How can you strengthen your dependence upon God over the upcoming week?

  5. How can we as believers make the most of this current quarantine? How is the Lord calling you to grow and bless others?

Breakout
Pray for the strengthening of those suffering during this uncertain “lock-down/quarantine” season.