Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

Discussion Questions:

> 1. How would you summarize the message of Ecclesiastes in one word?...now, in one sentence?

> 2. What connections do you see between what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 5 and the painting, “The Moneylender and His Wife”?

> 3. The painting portrays two dispositions: being focused on money and being distracted by money. Which better describes you?

> 4. Charles Bridges wrote, “I have found more in Christ than I ever expected to want.” Think on that a bit. And now, give Him thanks.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you listen well? Is it easy for you to talk more than you should?

2. What things do you tend to use to distract your heart from hearing God’s voice?

3. What might God be saying to you about you?

4. What might God be saying to you about Himself?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4

Discussion Questions:

1. At what point in your life, if ever, did you think “It might have been better if I was never born”?

2. Do you think it’s true that we spend most of our time thinking about ourselves?

3. Who are the “we’s” you think God might like you to think about more?

4. Pastor Dave said that eventually everyone disappoints us. Friend, spouse, brother, companion. He said that Jesus is the “True and Better” friend, spouse, brother and companion. How is he that to you?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Discussion Questions:

> 1. How does seeing life in measurements of “times” and “seasons” help us pull back from the immediate, and consider things from a wider lens?

> 2. What “time” (season of life) are you in right now?

> 3. What burdens are on you in this current season of life?

> 4. What things are you most excited to see God make beautiful when the time comes? (3:11)

> 5. Solomon says that “God will call the past to account” (3:15). There will be “a time to judge every deed” (3:17) What difference could that truth make to the worries you have at the moment?

Discussion Questions:

> 1. How would you answer Leo Tolstoy’s question: "Is there any meaning in my life that the inevitable death awaiting me does not destroy?"

> 2. Solomon pursued meaning for life by pursuing WISDOM and PLEASURE. In what way do people pursue meaning in life today?

> 3. How do all our pursuits find their fulfillment in Jesus? Hebrews 11:6 “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Discussion Questions:

> 1. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that "[God] has set eternity in the hearts of men." Consider what it would mean to look ahead into eternity and work backward from there. What might it look like for you to "live with the end in mind"? What difference might you expect?

> 2. "Hevel" (meaningless, vanity, emptiness, vapor/mist) is the Hebrew word Solomon uses to describe life? What was your reaction when you first heard that today?

> 3. Pastor Dave said that the key phrase that unlocks the book of Ecclesiastes is the phrase "under the sun". This phrase is a reference to life without God. What connection do you see between "hevel" and life "under the sun"?

> 4. Ecclesiastes is pretty hard-hitting. So how do you anticipate / hope / expect the Gospel to be found in the book of Ecclesiastes?

"The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?"

(Psalm 27:1).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

> 1. It was mentioned in the message that Jesus prays this prayer with us. Read through Psalm 27 again and think and talk about how Jesus also prayed this prayer in his life on earth.

> 2. Read the crucifixion story in the bible (Luke 23, Mark 15, Matt 27) and listen for how Jesus is also experiencing what David experienced in Psalm 27. How does that comfort you?

> 3. David ended this Psalm with a reminder to himself to “wait on the Lord.” Do you need to hear that today? Confess what is true about God’s provision and protection that allows you to “let your heart take courage.”

Series: The Reason He Came (Advent 2020)

Title: "To bear witness to the truth"

Speaker: Pastor Dave Foss

Scripture: John 18:36-37

"My kingdom is not of this world…For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

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> Connection Card: http://bethellutheran.church/connectioncard

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

> 1. The often repeated question in the message asked, "Can you feel the darkness?". How and where do you feel the threat of "darkness" in your life these days?

> 2. What is the connection between "light" and "salvation"? (see Psalm 27:1)

> 3. Jesus is the light of the world. He says we are the light of the world, as well. (Matthew 5:14 ff) In what way are you bringing light to the darkness in our world today?