Intro to Ecclesiastes: "What is the Meaning of Life"

Sermon Scripture:  Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Sermon notes are available to follow along below, or for download here.

Sermon Notes:

Primary Information for Starters…

• Written by “the _____________” – likely Solomon (1:1-2, 12).
• Key question: Is _________ really worth living?
• Key words: man, labor, under the sun, ________________, wisdom, evil.

Practical Advice for Study…

• One of the most difficult books in the Old Testament.
• Look for major ideas:
  • God is the ___________ Reality, the Creator of all.
  • God’s ways are not always understandable.
  • ___________ is the ultimate equalizer.
• Don’t forget – Ecclesiastes is a book without an ___________.

Understanding Ecclesiastes…

• ● We must understand the basic genre.
  • Ecclesiastes is located in the ____________ tradition of Israel.
  • Thus, we must exercise great _________ in our interpretation.
• We must understand the overall structure.
  • Two voices are apparent in the text:
    • The voice of the ____________.
    • The voice of the ____________.
  • The key to understanding Ecclesiastes is found in the ______________ and ________.
    • In the beginning, we have the Preacher’s basic message.
    • In the end, we have the narrator’s final assessment.
• We must understand two key ideas:
  • “Vanity”…
    • “Vanity” refers to being meaningless, futility, or _____________.
  • “Under the sun”…
    • “Under the sun” denotes life without reference to ________.

Hearing Ecclesiastes…

• In the Old Testament context:
  • The Preacher observes two problems:
    • What we see “under the sun” is _____________.
    • What we see “under the sun” is _____________.
• ____________ is pointless.
• ____________ is pointless.
• ____________ is pointless.
• ____________ is pointless.
  • The narrator offers two guidelines:
    • _________ God.
    • _________ His commandments.
• In the New Testament context:
  • All of us live under the ___________ of God.
  • This curse is by divine ____________.
    • The curse alerts us to the problem of ________.
    • And the curse points us to ___________.
  • Jesus ______________ us from the curse of God.
    • Suddenly, in Christ, there is something ________ “under the sun.”
    • And, in Christ, no longer is anything vanity.

Applying Ecclesiastes…

• Be _____________ about empty pursuits.
• Be _____________ in the Lord.
• Be _____________ for His return.