"In this sermon, we explore Ecclesiastes 3 and Solomon’s profound declaration: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

We unpack how life finds true meaning only in light of God’s sovereignty. While life apart from God is vanity, recognizing His providential care gives purpose to every event—from birth to death, weeping to laughter, and even love and hate.

This message challenges us to:

Submit to God’s will in every season of life.

Recognize the moral duties embedded in God’s timing.

Conform our lives to Christ, the perfect example of obedience to God’s appointed plan.

Scripture Focus: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Main Points:

God’s sovereignty over all things

The moral duties of His timing

Living in submission to God’s providence

#Ecclesiastes #Sermon #GodsSovereignty #ChristianLiving #Faith #BibleTeaching #SpiritualGrowth #Wisdom #ChristianSermon #GodsProvidence #Ecclesiastes3"

"Sermon Outline: Genesis 32:1-21 — Unworthy of the Blessings Received by Grace

Prop: God often brings us to our end to soften our hearts to the gospel.

Introduction:

Jacob’s story is a powerful conversion narrative revealing God’s sovereign grace.

Before doing good or bad, God’s election stands: “the older will serve the younger.”

Jacob seems unworthy through all his deception, raising the key question: When will Jacob truly worship God?

Jacob’s exile and return mirror Israel’s exile and restoration in Christ, the true “Way, Truth, and Life.”

Jacob’s Predicament:

Jacob flees Laban after deceit and conflict, then faces imminent threat from Esau, who still wants to kill him.

Jacob is vulnerable, trapped between fear and no escape—his back is against the wall.

Change of Disposition:

In deep distress, Jacob begins spiritual transformation, humbling himself before both Esau and God.

“Propitiation” means to turn away wrath — Jacob seeks to appease both his brother and God.

Like gold refined by fire, Jacob’s heart becomes malleable in God’s hands.

Jacob’s Plan to Propitiate Esau (vv. 3-8, 13-21):

First gift attempt confirms fear; Esau approaches with 400 men.

Jacob divides his camp, prepares gifts to appease Esau.

Though Esau should serve Jacob (older serving younger), Jacob humbles himself and submits.

True exaltation in God’s eyes comes through humility and service, not worldly status.

Jacob’s Plan to Propitiate God (vv. 1-2; 9-12):

Jacob sees angels, prays humbly to God, acknowledges unworthiness of God’s mercy.

After a life of striving and deception, Jacob rests fully on God’s grace and promises.

His petition is for deliverance from Esau, trusting only God’s power.

Conclusion — God’s Grace in the Gospel:

Salvation is sovereignly given and requires humility, the opposite of natural human pride.

God often brings us to our end so we might see our need for mercy.

We are all “unworthy of even the least blessing” and cannot propitiate God ourselves.

Christ’s humble obedience and sacrificial death is our true propitiation and hope.

Those who humble themselves and trust Christ are saved.

Hashtags:

#Genesis32 #GodsGrace #JacobStory #SovereignGrace #GospelHumility #ChristianHumility #Propitiation #ExaltedThroughHumility #FaithJourney #BibleSermon #ScriptureReflection #Messiah #ChristOurHope #SalvationByGrace #WrestlingWithGod #ExileAndReturn #TrustGod #SermonOutline #GospelTruth #ChristianTeaching"

In this sermon, we explore Solomon’s sobering reflections on the vanity of all human labor apart from Christ. Life is full of weariness and frustration, and no matter how hard we work or what we build, death ultimately claims it all. Solomon shows how toil under the sun is filled with sorrow because what we labor for will be left to others—often to those who may squander it. Yet, amidst this seeming futility, there is hope and meaning found in fearing God and receiving His gifts with thanksgiving.

Key Themes:

The weariness and vanity of labor in a fallen world

How death renders all toil fleeting and often fruitless

The curse of working hard only to leave the fruits to another

The difference faith in God makes for meaning in life and work

Encouragement to find joy in God’s provision and to live for His eternal kingdom

Reflection Quote:

“I hate life, yet I am afraid to die.” — Voltaire (echoing Solomon’s honest struggle)

What you’ll learn:

Why all labor is ultimately “vanity” without God

How fearing God and keeping His commandments unlocks true meaning

The biblical perspective on work, rest, and eternal hope

How the wicked’s toil benefits the righteous in the life to come

Join us as we wrestle with life’s biggest questions and discover lasting hope in Christ.

#Ecclesiastes #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #BibleStudy #ExpositoryPreaching #VanityOfToil #MeaningOfLife"

In this sermon, we explore the gripping narrative of Jacob’s return from exile and God’s merciful preservation of His undeserving elect. Despite Jacob’s ongoing deceit and struggle, God’s faithfulness remains steadfast, protecting and guiding him back to the promised land.

Key themes include:

The tension of Jacob still not fully owning God as his own, even after God’s promise (Genesis 31:42, 53)

God’s providential removal of Laban’s household as a refuge, pushing Jacob toward grace and dependence on Him

The ongoing pattern of deceit between Jacob and Laban, showing human weakness contrasted with divine mercy

God’s intervention protecting Jacob from harm despite his unworthiness

Rachel’s theft of Laban’s idols as a subtle mockery of false gods and a reminder that salvation belongs to the one true God

The covenant between Jacob and Laban marking a turning point—Jacob is caught between enemies but under God’s care

Application: How God often humbles us through trials to reveal our need for His grace, just as He did with Jacob

This passage reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient for undeserving sinners and that He will go to any lengths to save His elect, even while they are still far from Him. May we, like Jacob, come to see the wonder of God’s mercy in our own lives.

“It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” — Psalm 119:71"

"""How the wise dies just like the fool!”

In this sobering passage, Solomon considers whether wisdom—so highly prized by the world—can provide lasting meaning in life. He concedes that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. Yet both the wise and the foolish face the same end: death. Both are forgotten in time. So what lasting advantage is there to even the best-ordered life lived “under the sun”?

This message explores Solomon’s reflections on the futility of human wisdom when divorced from the fear of the Lord. Drawing connections with Genesis 3 and the effects of the Fall, we see that all human striving—whether in pleasure or prudence—is subject to the curse of vanity.

But there is a wisdom that transcends this world: the wisdom that begins with the fear of God and finds its fulfillment in Christ. He is the Wisdom of God, the One who gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.

Sermon Text: Ecclesiastes 2:12–17

Theme: Worldly wisdom cannot escape the vanity of death.

Key Verse: “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” (Ecclesiastes 2:15)

🔔 Subscribe for more sermons that bring God’s Word to bear on the brokenness of life under the sun and point to the hope that is found in Christ alone.

#Ecclesiastes #Wisdom #Vanity #FearOfTheLord #GospelHope #ExpositoryPreaching"

"How is it that God often blesses us even through means that are unwise, sinful, or seemingly foolish? In this message, we explore Jacob’s strange and morally murky path to prosperity while serving Laban. This passage shows us that God works through sinful means to accomplish His holy ends.

Jacob’s peculiar breeding practices, Laban’s deception, and the ongoing competition between the two men create a chaotic backdrop—but behind it all stands the sovereign grace of God. Jacob's wealth does not come from his own wisdom or skill. In fact, his methods are laughable by any standard. And yet, God blesses him anyway—not because of Jacob, but in spite of him.

In this sermon, we consider:

🔹 Jacob’s flawed plan and Laban’s manipulative countermeasures

🔹 Why Jacob’s actions appear foolish—even to ancient interpreters

🔹 How God used this absurdity to magnify His providence and grace

🔹 The danger of trying to earn divine favor through human effort

🔹 How this story points us to salvation by grace alone in Christ

The foolishness of Jacob's actions becomes the perfect stage for the glory of God's grace. Likewise, the gospel reminds us that we cannot earn our salvation through cleverness or effort—it must be received as an unearned gift."

"In this sermon, we examine Solomon’s sobering reflections on his pursuit of pleasure. With more power, wealth, and wisdom than any before him, Solomon conducted a thorough and honest experiment: Can meaning be found in laughter, luxury, wealth, work, or worldly delights? His conclusion is striking and clear—all is vanity and a striving after the wind.

Solomon’s wisdom is not theoretical. He pursued every pleasure under the sun and found it all empty. This is a message deeply relevant to a culture drowning in materialism and entertainment. The pursuit of worldly pleasure, even to its fullest extent, cannot satisfy the soul. But there is hope: true and lasting joy is found not in the gifts, but in the Giver—in God himself.

📝 Sermon Outline:

The Pursuit of Pleasure: Summary and Evaluation (vv. 1–2)

Wine, Work, Wealth, and Women: The Extent of the Experiment (vv. 3–10)

The Final Verdict: Vanity and No Profit Under the Sun (v. 11)

💬 “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” — Augustine

🎯 Key Proposition: The pursuit of worldly pleasure is vanity. Only in God is true joy found.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly biblical sermons and teaching

👍 Like, comment, and share if you’ve been blessed

📲 Connect with us: [church website/social media links]

#Ecclesiastes #VanityOfPleasure #ChristianSermon #Solomon #BiblicalWisdom #YOLO #Gospel #TrueJoy #Augustine #ReformedTheology #Ecclesiastes2"

"This sermon explores the deeply flawed origin story of the twelve tribes of Israel. Rather than a tale of noble founders, Scripture records a story of jealousy, rivalry, polygamy, and spiritual blindness. And yet—through it all—God is at work.

As Jacob’s household spirals into dysfunction, God opens barren wombs, humbles hearts, and advances His promises. He brings life and blessing not because of human merit, but in spite of human sin. It is through Leah, the unloved wife, that the line of Judah—and ultimately the Messiah—will come.

In this message, we consider:

🔹 How God works through sinful means to accomplish His holy ends

🔹 The rivalry between Leah and Rachel and its destructive impact

🔹 God’s providential hand in opening the wombs of barren women

🔹 Why the story of Jacob’s sons magnifies grace, not human greatness

🔹 How this passage points us ultimately to Christ, the Son of Judah

This isn’t a clean or comfortable origin story—it’s raw, messy, and full of brokenness. But it reminds us that God's purposes are never thwarted by human sin. The same God who brought Judah through Leah brings redemption through Jesus Christ."

"In this sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:12–18, we explore the sobering conclusion of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived: even the pursuit of wisdom, apart from God, is vanity. Though many today still believe that knowledge, reason, or philosophy can solve the world’s deepest problems, Solomon exposes this as a “grasping for the wind.”

📖 Sermon Text:

Ecclesiastes 1:12–18

“What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered... For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

📝 Outline:

The Futility of Wisdom (vv. 13–15) – Wisdom cannot fix what is fundamentally broken.

The Weariness of Wisdom (vv. 16–18) – Wisdom brings grief, not peace, when pursued apart from God.

🔍 Key Themes:

Wisdom without God leads to despair

Human effort cannot reverse the curse

True wisdom is found only in Christ

The cross is God’s answer to a fallen, futile world

💬 Whether you are tempted to put your trust in education, philosophy, or personal insight—this passage reminds us that only Christ, the Wisdom of God, can make the crooked straight.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly expository sermons rooted in Scripture and centered on Christ.

📌 For more content and sermon outlines, visit www.newcovenantopc.com.

#Ecclesiastes #VanityOfWisdom #WisdomOfGod #ExpositoryPreaching #ReformedTheology #ChristOurWisdom #SermonOnEcclesiastes"

"In this powerful passage, Jacob—the one who deceived his father and brother—is now himself deceived by Laban. But behind the earthly injustice is the divine hand of providence and justice. God's perfect justice brings Jacob face to face with his own sin, as the deceiver becomes the deceived.

This sermon explores:

🔹 The biblical principle of “eye for eye” and God's perfect justice

🔹 The similarities between Jacob’s deception and Laban’s treachery

🔹 How God's providence humbles sinners in order to save them

🔹 The gospel truth that God's justice and mercy meet perfectly at the cross of Christ

🔹 Why God’s grace comes not to the worthy—but to sinners like Jacob and us

Are you feeling the weight of your own sins? Take heart—God’s grace covers your sins the moment you turn to Christ. In Christ, justice is satisfied and mercy is freely given to all who repent and believe.

#GodsJustice #Sermon #BiblicalJustice #GraceAndTruth #ChristOurSavior #ReformedTheology #DeceiverDeceived"