Am I Living on Purpose?

Introduction:

Your Best Life (For Now...):
(Ecclesiastes 10:16-12:8)

1. Be a good citizen without an Attitude . (Eccl 10:16-20)
2. Give generously without Hesitation . (Eccl 11:1-6)

3 Reasons to Give Generously:

1. God Gives Back to the Generous. (Eccl 11:1-2)

   2 Corinthians 9:6 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2. Giving demonstrates your Faith . (Eccl 11:3-4)

   Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

3. Giving lets you see God at Work . (Eccl 11:5-6)

3. Enjoy life without Regret . (Eccl 11:7-12:8)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 10:16-12:8

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

2. What would you say to a fellow believer who seems to complain too much about the government (Eccl 10:20)? (Maybe: What SHOULD you say?)
   

3. How do you know when to give to someone in need (Eccl 11:2)? What makes you hesitate to give? What does Solomon say about giving?
   

4. Why is it harder to start seeking the Lord later in life (Eccl 12:1)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

What Good is Wisdom?

Introduction:

Control What You Can, Forget What You Can't:
(Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:15)

1. I can't control Popular Opinion ...
   ... but I can control My Reputation .
   (Eccl 9:13-10:1)

2. I can't control People's Conduct ...
   ... but I can control How I Respond to People . (Eccl 10:2-7)

   Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

3. I can't control Accidents Happening ...
   ... but I can control How Carefully I Work . (Eccl 10:8-11)
4. I can't control What People Say ...
   ... but I can control What I Say . (Eccl 10:12-15)

   Matthew 12:34 - For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:15

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

2. Share something in your life that you have no control over. In that situation, what CAN you control (about yourself)?
   

3. In which area do you have the hardest time with self-control? Why? How can that change for you?
   

4. Since God’s wisdom is always successful and effective, why do you think the world is so enamored with foolishness (celebrity opinions, fools elected as rulers)? See Eccl 9:16-17, 10:5-6.

Breakout
Pray for one another as we officially launch Small Group season!

What is God Doing?

Introduction:

3 Things I Know for Certain that Allow Me to Enjoy Life:
(Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10)

1. I can't know Everything God is doing. (Eccl 8:16-9:1)

   Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

2. I only get One shot at life on earth. (Eccl 9:2-6)

   Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...

3. I have God's Approval . (Eccl 9:7-10)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10

Icebreaker
Share something that you think you should know more about as an adult, but don’t.

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

2. Is there anything about God / the Bible that bothers you to the point where you struggle to believe? Is Deuteronomy 29:29 helpful to you? Why or why not?
   

3. What does it mean to have God’s approval (Eccl 9:7)? Why do so many Christians struggle with believing God approves them?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Can I Trust the Government?

Introduction:

How to Be OK with the Government:
(Ecclesiastes 8:2-15)

1. Change your Theology . (Eccl 8:2-7)

Basic Theology of Government:

1. Government is Established by God.

   Romans 13:1 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

2. Government is established by God to Deter Sin .
3. Proper submission to authority is an act of Faith .

   Proverbs 21:1 - The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

   Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

2. Change your Perspective . (Eccl 8:8)
3. Change your Expectations . (Eccl 8:9-14)
4. Change your Focus . (Eccl 8:15)

   Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder...

   Isaiah 9:7 - Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 8:2-15

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

2. Has this passage / message changed the way you view the government? If so, how?
   

3. How consumed do you get into politics? Are you too concerned, or are you “checked out”?
   

4. To what degree do you believe Christians should get involved in political matters?

Breakout
Pray for one another. (I hope this discussion didn’t blow up your Small Group!)

Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World

Introduction:

How Can I Live a Balanced Life:
(Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1)

1. By choosing to be Godly Instead of Unrighteous and Self-Righteous . (Eccl 7:15-20)

In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that - and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison - you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.

- C.S. Lewis

2. By choosing to be Wise Instead of Arrogant and Foolish . (Eccl 7:21-29)

3. By choosing to Stand Out Instead of Blend In . (Eccl 8:1)

   Isaiah 5:20 - "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1

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

2. How can you see yourself being a bit self-righteous at times? How should you deal with this temptation/attitude when it arises?
   

3. What is wisdom and why is it so important? What did Taylor mean when he said that we need to admit our own limitations as well as the limitations of wisdom?
   

4. How is the Lord calling you to stand out from the crowd and shine the light of wisdom right now? (Ecc. 8:1)

Breakout
Pray for one another.