Grace Messages

Knowing that God is in charge of the times and seasons in our lives is a truth designed, NOT to discourage us or cause us to take a fatalistic view of life, but rather it is designed to encourage us to trust in the One who is ultimately in control. We learn that this very God, who is in control of all seasons and timing in our lives, also has our good in mind. Although not all seasons and times are pleasant, we have been given a gift to be preoccupied with in our thinking that will allow us to traverse this life “under the sun” in an enjoyable and satisfying fashion.

This morning, we will look at one of the most famous, most quoted poems in all of the Bible. Solomon is going to use a poetic device known as merism, which is a device used to represent a comprehensive whole. In this poem, Solomon uses 14 pairs of opposites to represent the “whole” of experiences of life under the sun. Solomon does this to argue that even when the individual scenes of our lives do not make sense, God still has a plan according to His timing, AND that God still designs enjoyment, meaning, and purpose for us in this life.

The dead-end streets have been explored, and depression and hopelessness have set in. Finally in 2:24, at the end of his depressing and gloomy experiments, Solomon finds something “GOOD.” It comes ONLY as he changes his perspective and as he considers additional evidence. Now He’s going to consider life “above the sun,” so to speak. For the first time in the book, Solomon introduces divine perspective into the equation of assessing value and enjoyment of life on this earth. Preached: 12/8/2019

As we conclude the “Dead End Streets” section of Ecclesiastes this morning, we come up with a natural follow-up question to earthly achievement and success…What becomes of the fruit of all our labor and skill after we die? Surely if pleasure, wealth, and wisdom are all dead-end trails in this search, there must be satisfaction in laying up wealth for others or for one’s children. Unfortunately, as we will see, this philanthropic approach does not provide lasting meaning or purpose in life either. Preached: 12/1/2019

Have you ever struggled with feeling truly thankful? Has the Thanksgiving holiday season ever annoyed you? Now, these are not things that we typically feel comfortable saying out loud because we would not want people to think poorly of us! However, maybe you have felt that way and the Scripture provides encouragement on how to be thankful. We are going to look at “one” of the keys to thankfulness this morning in Psalm 100. Preached: 11/24/2019

As we continue to consider the Dead-End streets of Solomon’s personal investigation into different pleasure pursuits, he takes a turn towards something more noble – the pursuit of wisdom. Surely the pursuit of wisdom will provide the meaning to life and will produce an experience of lasting purpose…or does it? Solomon investigates this road further and realizes that even the pursuit of wisdom, when done independently of the Lord, will not result in unlocking life’s meaning or purpose. Preached: 11/17/2019

As we consider the Dead-End streets of Solomon’s personal investigation into different pleasure pursuits, today we come head to head with the “American Dream.” Accomplishments in both work and/or hobbies tend to captivate many people’s attention. Does success in work, hobbies, or other achievements provide lasting meaning and purpose for one’s life? Solomon explored this avenue with vigor and found it also to be lacking.

Preached: 11/10/2019

This morning, we continue to walk with Solomon down the dead-end streets of his personal investigation into the meaning of life. Personal pleasure is his focus this morning – specifically the areas of FUN and ALCOHOL. Is life all about our happiness? Can alcohol, and frivolous pursuits for happiness “at any cost” really bring us lasting meaning and value in our lives? Solomon investigates these very questions and after a thorough investigation, he has the answer.

Preached: 10-20-2019