CrossLife Church

Human experience and personal reflection give rise some difficult tensions. “How do I find pleasure and purpose in this world, when it seems like life is just a set cycle of birth, life, and death?” Eternity is in our hearts, but our life on earth is temporary. The answer the world tends to give is “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” And it almost seems like Solomon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, agrees with this, throughout the Book of Ecclesiastes. Is it really our lot in life just to be born, enjoy daily blessings, and then die? Are we any better off than all of the less intelligent creatures of the earth? Or maybe even worse off, since they don’t ever suffer over these questions of meaning? As we continue in our series through the Book of Ecclesiastes, Michael Vaughan will explore these questions that arise from Ecc. 3:12-22, and look at how to live in the tension–not with angsty cynicism, but with real hope-filled joy in Jesus Christ, the eternal one who took on temporal flesh, dwelt among us, and gives us the ability to live in the light of eternity.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

"a time to be born, and a time to die;

"a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted..."

Ecclesiastes 3:1&2 

God is the sovereign, good Creator both of this world and of time, under which the world operates. As the Lord of time, He has appointed seasons and times for every worldly occurrence. Looking at Ecclesiastes 3, we see that this is true; however, sometimes the seasons are not happy ones.

A time to be born, and a time to die. Can any man appoint these seasons to himself? Can he make himself to be born, and can he will his heart to keep beating? We live in a world with extreme moments, both those that are extremely happy and those that are extremely sad. Time, sometimes, can seem to just happen to us. It is totally out of our control.

Where is the joy, and where can we find rest? These are the questions Solomon seeks to answer in Ecclesiastes 3.

“What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart 

     with which he toils beneath the sun?"

-Ecclesiastes 2:22

A recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece asked the question, Why is Everything an Existential Crisis? Mr. Hartz, a clinical psychologist writes, "So-called existential risks seem to be everywhere. Climate change, artificial intelligence, nuclear war, pandemics, and more threaten to return us to nothingness." 

He argues that when people feel threatened, they will look for a purpose to live for that they are convinced has meaning. "When people are reminded of their death, they try to boost their self-esteem, take steps to create a legacy, and defend their worldview—be it secular or religious." 

The existential threat may be a pandemic, overpopulation, global warming, or the deportation of vulnerable illegal immigrants. In the absence of deeper meaning a purpose these politically charged issues become life or death issues. Hartz writes, "This temporarily makes their anxiety feel more manageable, but it’s likely to contribute to fanaticism and emotional dysregulation around politics."

How do we identify a REAL existential threat and what answers are the God? In Ecclesiastes 2:12-26, Solomon considers these questions and lays out a path for true meaning and enjoyment in this life and a greater reward in the next. 

This Sunday, we will continue a new summer series through the Book of Ecclesiastes. This book was written by Solomon, one of the wisest, richest, and most successful men who have ever lived. Solomon had the resources to have and do anything his heart desired and he did. At the end of those pursuits, he said it was all vanity and chasing after the wind. The question he asks in Ecclesiastes 2:1 is "I will test myself with pleasure," will it give me satisfaction and fulfillment?

“I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after the wind"

-Ecclesiastes 1:14

Let's dream for a moment. What if you had all the money and resources to do anything you want? What would you do with your time and resources? 

The greatest tragedy in life is to have plenty of life to live and nothing to live for. 

This Sunday, we will continue a new summer series through the Book of Ecclesiastes. This book was written by Solomon, one of the wisest, richest, and most successful men who have ever lived. Solomon had the resources to have and do anything his heart desired and he did. At the end of those pursuits, he said it was all vanity and chasing after the wind. The question he asks in Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 is "Can I find fulfillment in this world?"   

If you haven't asked the question, you have thought about it. What is the point? What is the point of school, homework, working, dusting, laundry, planning, eating healthy? 

God has wired humans with the ability to think, reason, and contemplate. Everyone searches, consciences or unconsciously, for a meaning or purpose by which they seek to live. Regardless of how simple, selfish, sacrificial, profound, or transcendent that purpose may be, we are all in search of meaning and fulfillment.   

In this message, we will begin a new summer series through the Book of Ecclesiastes. This book was written by Solomon, one of the wisest, richest, and most successful men who have ever lived. Solomon had the resources to have and do anything his heart desired and he did. At the end of those pursuits, he said it was all vanity and chasing after the wind. The question he asks in the Book of Ecclesiastes is "What is the point?"

There is no shortage of critiques that have been leveled at the church, Christians, and the state of Christianity in the West. One doesn't have to look far to hear the latest confession, blog, book, or article telling a tale of disenchantment with the local church.

"I want Jesus but not the Church!"

Many have rejected the morality taught in churches and don't want other Christians "judging them" if they are living like a nonchristian.  On the other hand, the same critics will say churches are full of hypocrites. Many are advocating for the need to walk away from organized religion into a fuller more satisfying Christian life based on the pursuit of your personalized spiritual needs and interests.

This Sunday, we will consider how the church as the body of Christ is to function in the healthiest way. How clear is the Bible's teaching regarding the importance of the local church and how it is to function? 

There is no shortage of critiques that have been leveled at the church, Christians, and the state of Christianity in the West. One doesn't have to look far to hear the latest confession, blog, book, or article telling a tale of disenchantment with the local church.

"I want Jesus but not the Church!"

Many have rejected the morality taught in churches and don't want other Christians "judging them" if they are living like a non-Christian. On the other hand, the same critics will say churches are full of hypocrites. Many are advocating for the need to walk away from organized religion into a fuller more satisfying Christian life based on the pursuit of your personalized spiritual needs and interests.

This Sunday, we will consider how the church as the body of Christ is to function in the healthiest way. How clear is the Bible's teaching regarding the importance of the local church and how it is to function? 

After the first disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples began to rapidly multiply. The church grew from around 150 disciples to thousands as God moved and added to their numbers everyday. Thousands of new believers were baptized in the ceremonial mikvah pools (ritual baths) located near the Jerusalem Temple. 

The Book of Acts records the growth of the early church as the Gospel spreads from Jerusalem, to Judea, Samaria, then up to Antioch. Eventually churches are established throughout the Roman Empire in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey, Ephesus, Smyrna), Ancient Greece (Thessaloniki, Berea, Athens, Corinth), and onto Rome.  

How were the churches organized, who led them, and how did they function? Most of the New Testament letters known as the Epistles of Paul and the General Epistles provide us with the answers to those questions. One of those letter is 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul describes a local church as a body with many parts but only one head. 

This Sunday, we will consider how the church as the body of Christ is to function in the healthiest way. How important are you as part of the body of Christ? Do you have any idea what your purpose is and part of Christ's body and are you fulfilling it? 

We have spent the last few weeks looking at the final days of Jesus after His resurrection and before His ascension from Luke's Gospel. Think how difficult it was for the disciples to understand that Jesus had indeed physically risen from the dead. Even though Jesus had plainly predicted and prepared them on many occasions that he would be rejected by the Jewish leaders, betrayed, crucified, and on the third day rise again, they could not make any sense of the events that had unfolded.

It makes me wonder if Jesus had planned on waiting 14 to 20  days before ascending to heaven but had to extend it because the disciples took so long to get it! If the disciples struggled while Jesus was with them, how would they ever make it without Him leading them on earth?  

This Sunday, we will continue Luke's account of the early church in the Book of Acts. As we see what God had planned for the Church as it was Empowered & Unleashed.