In challenging times, it's easy to escape through alcohol, sex, and entertainment. But in the morning we come to realize the emptiness of those pursuits. Ecclesiastes shows us the way to lasting joy and ultimate meaning.

Matthew 5:38-48

Where can you find the best advice on how to live your life? Our age is filled with information, advice, self-help but also disinformation and lies. How can we find true wisdom for life? Ecclesiastes shows us the futility of the wisdom of this age and points us toward an eternal wisdom that leads to eternal life.

Many of our lives have been flipped upside down during this season. Instead of trying to survive, we should also make time for the big questions in life. Why is the world so broken? Why is progress in our lives and world so hard to achieve? Ecclesiastes takes us through the brokenness of life but leads us to some ultimate answers. The Professor shows us live beyond the daily grind and opens up to us the possibility of a life that echoes throughout eternity.

What does it mean to be truly strong? Our culture measures strength by independence, winning at all costs and confidence. But this style of leadership leads to abuse and burnout. Peter calls us to think of strength as humility and dependence upon the true King. Living in weakness results in spiritual health and ultimate glory.

These difficult times makes us wonder what we have done to anger God. But Peter assures us that suffering isn’t a sign of God’s displeasure but God’s Fatherly care. Suffering can be a way for God to draw us closer to Christ and prepare us for the glory to come.

The pandemic has put stress on a lot of marriages and relationships. What ideal are women and men called to during these confusing times? Peter shows us God’s call to treat each other with respect and honor as co-heirs of the grace of life. Our relationships ultimately point to a deeper mystery found in Christ.

The pandemic has put stress on a lot of marriages and relationships. What ideal are women and men called to during these confusing times? Peter shows us God’s call to treat each other with respect and honor as co-heirs of the grace of life. Our relationships ultimately point to a deeper mystery found in Christ.

Many people wrongfully assume the Bible supported the institution of slavery. Throughout the Bible God works as a liberator of those who are victims of oppression. God calls all of his people to live free and seek to free those who are oppressed. Nevertheless God calls his people to endure some injustice and await the end of all injustice.

Many of us feel an intense isolation during this period of our life. Peter shows us how God calls unloved people into a beautiful diverse community called the church. We will only make it out of exile shoulder to shoulder and face to face.