Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Take Risks for Christ's Kingdom - Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 -What truths and motivations should fuel risk taking for Christ? -What wrong beliefs & values hinder us from taking proper risks for Christ? -How can we seek and use wisdom in taking risks? -What does Christ's parable in Matthew 25:14-30 teach about stewardship and risk-taking? -What keeps you from taking risks for Christ's Kingdom? How would meditating on God and the Gospel help you do what God is calling you to do? For further study: Mt 5:1-16; 6:19-24; 25:14-30; 1 Cor 4:2; Heb 10:34; 13:5-6; 1 Pt 3:15; 4:10.

Flee Folly and Pursue the Way of Wisdom - Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 The Nature of Folly and Wisdom – vv1-4 -The fool does not know God and therefore goes the wrong direction in life. -The wise live skillfully because they know God personally. -Folly and wisdom are issues of the heart. -Wisdom and folly are matters of eternal life and death. Folly in Places of Authority – vv5-7 Folly at Work – vv8-11 Folly in Speech – vv12-15,20 The Fruit of Folly and Wisdom – vv16-19 -What does it mean to fear God? Why is the fear of God the beginning of wisdom? -Proverbs 8-9 say both wisdom and folly call out to us. Where do we hear the call of wisdom? Where does the call of folly come from? -How does knowing God impact the way we live our lives? -Are you going down the path of folly or wisdom? How can you tell? For further study: Ps 14:1; 35:7; Pr 9:10; 12:18; 15:4; Mt 12:33-34; 25:33-34,41; 1 Cor 1:18-25; Eph 4:29; 5:15-17; 2 Tim 3:15; Jam 3:5-10.

Upended by the Unexpected - Ecclesiastes 9:11-18 1) Expect the Unexpected – vv11-12 2) When the Unexpected Intrudes on Godly Living – vv13-18 -What does the reality of experiencing unexpected things teach us about ourselves and about God? -What challenges do we face when hard things happen to us while we are trying to faithfully follow Christ? -How does suffering help us grow in Christ-likeness? -What promises from God should we remember when we experience trials? Other passages to consider: Gen 50:20; Job 1:21; Ps 46; 89:9; 115:3; Pr 16:33; 21:1; Mt 10:29-31; Jn 16:33; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11; Jam 4:14-15; 1 Pt 3:14-22

Enjoying Your Brief Life to the Glory of God - Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 Notes: 1) Acknowledging the Enemy of Death – vv1-6 2) Defanging the Enemy of Death – vv7-10 -How should the reality of death help us enjoy life to the glory of God? -What patterns of your thinking are robbing you of joy and are not pleasing to the Lord? What biblical truths can you meditate upon to replace that kind of thinking? -How does your lack of joy negatively impact those around you and serve as a poor testimony to the Gospel? -How does enjoying life as a Christian bless others and make the Gospel attractive? -Where does lasting joy come from? How can we have this joy while still acknowledging the hard things in life? -What gifts in life has God given you? If you are not enjoying them, what changes do you need to make? For further study: Gen 2:18-24; Ps 16; 104:15; Pr 5:18-20; Eccl 2:24; 3:12-13; Jn 10:10; 11:25-26; 1 Cor 15:54-58; Phil 4:4-13; Col 3:23-24; 1 Th 5:10-18;1 Tim 4:3-5; 5:17; 1 Pt 1:3-9.