12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. - Ecclesiastes 9:12 (ESV)

We Don’t Know…Our Time

1. Because we don’t know our time, we must be ready.

2. Because we don’t know our time, we must be wise.

3. Because we don’t know our time, we must be faithful.

1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth.

-Ecclesiastes 12:1

The Importance of Prioritizing the Young

1. We must prioritize the young because God does.

2. We must prioritize the young because that’s when they are the most open to the gospel.

3. We must prioritize the young because that’s when they are the most vulnerable.

7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Review Lessons from the Preacher

1. Solomon stresses to us that God is sovereign (9:1).

1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 9:1

2. Solomon warns us that death is certain (9:2-3).

2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Ecclesiastes 9:2-3

3. Solomon instructs us to enjoy life (9:7-10).

7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.*  Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

4. Solomon hints to us of the hope of eternal life (9:4).

4 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.  Ecclesiastes 9:4-5

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.*  1 Peter 1:3 

14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. Ecclesiastes 8:14-17

Theme: we can only make sense of life’s senselessness by accounting for God.

God and life’s senselessness:

~1. If we don’t account for God, life’s disparities will haunt us (8:14).

14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 8:14 

~2. When we account for God, life and joy become gifts (8:15).

15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:15

~3. Because we account for God, we can learn to trust the senseless parts of life to God’s wisdom (8:16-17).

The Summary of the Matter:

-Life's circumstances often exceed our understanding. 

-Our blessings are worth cherishing.

-God's character is worth trusting.

2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.  Ecclesiastes 8:2-5 (ESV)

Wisdom and Justice:

~1. The wise discern the course of justice (8:1). 

Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. - Ecclesiastes 8:1 (ESV)

~2. The wise obey authority and navigate unjust authority righteously (8:2-9).

2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.  Ecclesiastes 8:6-9 (ESV)

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  Romans 13:1-2 (ESV)

~3. The wise trust God’s ultimate rule over evil (8:10-13). 

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.   12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.  Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 (ESV)

What’s our duty as Christian citizens?

-Pray for our leaders (1 Tim 2:1-2). 

-Pay our taxes (Rom 13:6-7).

-Participate by voting and being involved politically and culturally (13:1-7).

-Prepare for the day when we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). 

13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. - Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (ESV)

Theme: biblical wisdom guides our paths and guards our steps.

Characteristics of Biblical Wisdom:

1. Biblical wisdom grants perspective (7:1-12).

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting… 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.  8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  Ecclesiastes 7:2-5, 8 (ESV)

2. Biblical wisdom grows out of a right view of God (7:13-14).

13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.  Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (ESV)

Thomas Boston: “Why Does God leave some things ‘crooked’”?

1) To help us determine whether or not we are trusting Christ alone for our salvation.

2) To turn our hearts away from this vain world and teach us to look for happiness in the life to come.

3) To convict us of our sins.

4) To correct us for our sins.

5) To point the lost to the hope of Jesus.

3. Biblical wisdom warns us of ditches (7:15-29).

15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them. - Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 (ESV)

1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.  - 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

3 Important Questions 

1. Do I desire the strengthening of God to make me and keep me faithful? (2:1)

2. Will I commit to be a part of our spiritual parenthood process? (2:2)

3. Will I rejoice in the generational change taking place at PGBC? (2:2)

Luke 9:57-10:2, 17-21

I. Committing to Jesus Means Becoming Uncomfortable (vv. 57-58)

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

II. Committing to Jesus Supersedes All Other Commitments (vv. 59-60)

59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

III.  Committing to Jesus Means Unconditional Service (vv. 61-62)

61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

IV. Committing to Jesus Means Going Where He Sends (10:1-2)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

V. Committing to Jesus Produces Great Joy! (vv. 17-21)

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” - Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)

Healthy Church = Healthy Mission

1. A healthy church thrives under shared leadership (13:1).

2. A healthy church pursues God’s guidance seriously (13:2).

3. A healthy church keeps the gospel central (13:2).

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  - Acts 1:8 (ESV)

4. A healthy church develops and deploys leaders (13:2).

If you are interested in finding out more about our Fall Leadership Training, drop me an email: 

1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? 7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. 10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?- Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 (ESV)

Theme: if you are looking for ultimate good anywhere but God, you’ll come up empty.

Looking for “ultimate good” in the wrong places: 

1. Wealth without enjoyment (6:1-2).

2. Children without honor (6:3).

3. Long life without peace (6:6).

4. Appetite without satisfaction (6:7-9). 

Chasing “ultimate good” from Ecclesiastes 6:

1. Be sure you identify your kryptonite.

2. Remember that God gives joy and satisfaction when we live in His ways.

3. Seek the great wisdom that lies with those who recognize God’s good rule.