Welcome to the "Reality Check: Search for the Real" podcast. In this series, we've explored Solomon’s quest for meaning in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon finds that work, wealth, power, and pleasure all ultimately lead to emptiness.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, Solomon offers hope through the passage, “There is a time for everything.” This highlights life's cycles and contrasts—joy and sorrow, birth and death. Solomon notes that while we live in time, God has placed eternity in our hearts, creating a tension between our temporal lives and our eternal longings.

Paul’s New Testament writings echo this, suggesting that our experiences, both good and bad, are designed by God to draw us closer to Him. This divine orchestration aims to awaken our search for the eternal.

Through our struggles and triumphs, we can find purpose and beauty, trusting that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Join us next week as we continue to explore the profound wisdom of Ecclesiastes and our search for life's meaning.

In this episode, Pastor Erwin delves into the common dissatisfaction with work and its significant impact on our lives. He emphasizes how work often overshadows other important aspects, such as family, hobbies, and personal passions. Drawing from Solomon's reflections in Ecclesiastes, the discussion centers on the futility of labor without meaning, highlighting the emptiness of success when it's pursued solely for material gain.

Pastor Erwin shares personal anecdotes about the stress and insomnia caused by work, and how our lives can feel like a cycle of unfulfilling toil. He stresses the importance of integrating passion and creativity into our work to avoid a life dominated by meaningless labor. True motivation and productivity come from having autonomy, mastery, and purpose in our roles. Pastor Erwin asserts that it is the individual's responsibility to bring meaning to their work, regardless of the job's nature. By approaching even mundane tasks with creativity and passion, we can transform work into a source of joy and fulfillment.

The episode concludes with a call to action: listeners are urged to reevaluate their approach to work and find ways to infuse it with meaning. Whether by changing jobs or altering their perspective, the goal is to ensure that work contributes positively to their life's purpose and overall fulfillment.

Lead Pastor Erwin McManus delivered a brand new message on the unlimited power of wisdom. 

Speaking from the book of Ecclesiastes, he shared a story of a poor man who saved a city with his wisdom. And though this man accomplished an incredible feat, he went on to be despised and forgotten.

Pastor Erwin reminded us that often we look at all of the resources we do not have: fame, wealth, or power. But God wants to give us exactly what we need most — wisdom. 

It's time to pursue wisdom above all else and experience its unlimited potential.

Check out this brand message now! 

As we continue this “Reality Check” series diving into the archives. Venture into the depths of Ecclesiastes as we navigate Solomon's quest for life's true meaning, beginning from chapter 1, verse 12. In this episode, "Too Smart for Your Own Good," we delve into the introspective reflections of Solomon, a king endowed with unparalleled wisdom, who grapples with the profound realization of life's inherent futility.

Solomon's piercing insights reveal the stark reality that human endeavors, no matter how grand, may ultimately be meaningless—mere chases after the wind. His contemplations on the human condition and the limitations of wisdom serve as a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of existential despair.

Engage with us as we dissect the delicate interplay between despair and hope, and examine how Solomon's profound reflections juxtapose with the enduring optimism of divine perspective. This episode promises to challenge your philosophical understanding and inspire deeper contemplation of one of the Bible's most existential texts.

As we dive into the archives, Pastor Erwin talks about the concept of creativity being often misunderstood as exclusive to artists and visionaries. Through David and Goliath, we draw powerful parallels to modern challenges, illustrating how creativity can transcend conventional approaches to problem-solving. Highlighting a real-life scenario, we recount how Mosaic turned an unexpected venue closure into a transformative community event, showcasing the profound impact of innovative thinking. This episode is a call to action for everyone, encouraging the unleashing of creativity not just in the arts but as a vital tool for impactful change in every aspect of life.

This past Sunday Pastor Erwin McManus spoke on the importance of living connected not only to God, but to the gift of the Church.

Sharing from the book of Corinthians, he gave us three essential truths from the scriptures to inform the way we relate to God and others:

1. We are a unique part of the whole.

2. We are not whole when we are apart.

3. We are strongest when we all do our part.

When we out our uniqueness within the community God has given us, we become the strongest version of ourselves.

Are you ready to discover the importance of living a connected life?

Check out this new message now!

This weekend, Pastor Erwin McManus brought new insights that challenged us to step into a new level of connection to God.

Speaking from the book of Galatians, he shared that there are 3 levels of connection to God:

1: The universal good 

2: The adopted child

3: The heir apparent

We experience the universal good as we live our lives enjoying the blessings that God gives to all of humanity whether we believe in him or not. The adopted child has a relationship with God and experiences his grace, but the heir apparent has stepped into the maturity needed to inherit the life that God is longing to give them.

Are you ready to take your relationship with God to the next level? 

Don't miss this message!

Part 4 on the series of God from 2014