Path To Purpose - A Study of Ecclesiastes

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 12: Fear God and Keep His Commandments

Text: Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:14 Theme: The Final Word Summary: In the end, all that matters is honoring God. Life is short—live it with reverence and responsibility.

Analysis of Chapter

• Exhortation to liberality. (11:1-6)

• An admonition to prepare for death, and to young people to be religious. (11:7-10)

• A description of the infirmities of age. (12:1-7)

• All is vanity: also a warning of the judgement to come. (12:8-14)

Questions:

• What legacy are you leaving?

• What does it mean for you personally to “fear God”?

Application: Surrender any final area of life where you're holding back from God.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 11: The Unpredictability of Life

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:11–10:20

Theme: Life is Uncertain, but Wisdom Still Matters

Summary: Life doesn’t always reward the strongest or smartest, yet wisdom still leads to better outcomes than folly.

Analysis of Chapter

• Disappointments are experienced by everyone. (9:11,12)

• Benefits of Wisdom. (9:13-18)

• To preserve a character for wisdom. (10:1-3)

• Subjects and rulers. (10:4-10)

• Foolish talk. (10:11-15)

• Duties of rulers and subjects. (10:16-20)

Questions:

• When has something unpredictable shaken your trust?

• What small, wise choice can you make in a chaotic area of life?

Application: Choose one area to simplify or realign with godly wisdom.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 10: Remember the End

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1–10 Theme: Living in Light of Death Summary: Death is inevitable, but that truth can help us live wisely and joyfully now.

Analysis of Chapter

• Good and bad men fare alike as to this world. (1-3)

• All men must die. (4-10)

Questions:

• How does your awareness of death affect your daily life?

• What would you do differently if you lived with eternity in mind?

Application: Write a personal mission statement that reflects your values and purpose in Christ.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 9: Living with Limitations

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:1–17 Theme: Trusting God in Uncertain Times Summary: We don’t understand everything, especially injustice. God calls us to live rightly even when life doesn’t make sense.

Analysis of Chapter

• Commendation of wisdom. (1-5)

• To prepare for sudden evils and death. (6-8)

• It will be well with the righteous, but not with the wicked. (9-13)

• Mysteries of providence. (14-17)

Questions:

• How do you respond to life when it feels unfair or unclear?

• What keeps you anchored when answers don’t come?

Application: Pray for faith to trust God when you don’t understand His plan.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 8: Wisdom for Living

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1–29 Theme: The Benefits and Boundaries of Wisdom Summary: Wisdom can help us live well, but it doesn’t provide all the answers. Only God is in control.

Analysis of Chapter

• The benefit of a good name; of death above life; of sorrow over vain mirth. (1-6)

• Oppression, anger, and discontentment. (7-10)

• Advantages of wisdom. (11-22)

• Experience of the evil of sin. (23-29

Questions:

• Where do you seek wisdom most often: prayer, people, or possessions?

• What’s one “hard truth” from this chapter that hits home?

Application: Take one wise principle and intentionally apply it this week.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 7: Money Can’t Buy Meaning

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:8–6:12

Theme: The Emptiness of Wealth

Summary: Wealth without contentment is pointless. Satisfaction comes from God, not stuff.

Analysis of Chapter

• Vows and oppression. (5:8) continuation from previous lesson

• The vanity of riches. (5:9-17)

• The right use of riches. (5:18-20)

• The vanity of riches, long life and flourishing families. (6:1-6)

• The little advantage any one has in outward things. (6:7-12)

Questions:

• How has the pursuit of wealth affected your peace or relationships?

• What are you most tempted to chase after right no

Application: Practice generosity this week in a specific, sacrificial way.

Speaker: Rob Colvert

Week 6: Worship with Reverence

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1–7

Theme: The Importance of Worshiping God Honestly

Summary: Solomon cautions against careless words and empty religious rituals.

Analysis of Chapter

• What makes devotion vain. (1-3)

• Vows, and oppression. (4-8)

Questions:

• Are your spiritual habits rooted in reverence or routine?

• What does it look like to "fear God" in your daily life?

Application: Commit to a sincere and focused time of worship this week.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 5: Injustice and Oppression

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:1–16

Theme: The Burden of Life’s Unfairness

Summary: Solomon laments injustice, loneliness, and the futility of status-seeking.

Analysis of Chapter

• Miseries from oppression. (1-3)

• Troubles from envy. (4-6)

• The folly of covetousness. (7-8)

• The advantages of mutual help. (9-12)

• The changes of royalty. (13-16)

Questions:

• How does the reality of injustice affect your faith?

• Who can you walk with so neither of you walks alone?

Application: Reach out to someone who may feel unseen or burdened.

Speaker: Eric Davidson

Week 4: A Time for Everything

Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1–22 Theme: God’s Sovereignty Over Time Summary: Life is full of seasons, and each has its place under God’s rule.

Analysis of Chapter

• The changes of human affairs. (1-10)

• The divine counsels are unchangeable. (11-13)

• The vanity of worldly power. (16-22)

Questions:

• Which season of life are you in right now?

• How do you see God's hand in it?

Application: Choose to trust God's timing in one area you're struggling to understand.

Speaker: Rob Colvert

Week 3: Wisdom vs. Folly

Text: Ecclesiastes 2:12–26 Theme: The Limits of Human Wisdom Summary: While wisdom is better than folly, even wisdom has limits—it cannot stop death or secure lasting fulfillment.

Analysis of Chapter

• Human wisdom is insufficient. (12-17)

• This world to be used according to the will of God. (18-26)

Questions:

• How do you balance wisdom with trust in God?

• What’s one wise choice you can make this week?

Application: Identify an area where you need to seek godly wisdom over worldly success.