Mark 14:27

What if everyone around you turned from God?

Noah chose to walk with God

Genesis 6:5-8

Noah chose to be righteous! We have to make that same decision.

James 4:4; Matthew 6:24

Noah took action for many years.

Genesis 6:3; 7:6 – This verse could be referring to a changing lifespan for man or the time until the flood would come.

II Peter 2:5

John 14:15 – There is work involved in serving God!

Ephesians 6:1-4 – Parents must be authorities in the home.

Titus 2:3-5

Being a good parent involves much work and love over years!

Noah developed a heart for worship.

Genesis 8:14-22 – Noah worshiped as soon as he got off the ark.

Matthew 22:37

Do we only have a heart for worship while we are in the pew?

II Timothy 4:10

Daily Bible reading is important!

Responding to big events in the right way is an important example to children.

If you lived back then, would your family be on the ark?

Introduction:

Ephesians 4:13

I Corinthians 14:20

Hebrews 5:14

Caveats:

This list is not exhaustive!

These are presented in the past tense to help us be specific with our own lives.

When’s the last time these were true?

I have adjusted my attitude to fit God’s will.

II Corinthians 12:7-10 – Paul’s requests were denied, but he decided to be content.

We often want to make God fit what we want. Instead, we must mold ourselves to fit God’s will!

I have confessed my sin to another.

James 5:16

We find all sorts of ways to try to get around this! It is humiliating and uncomfortable, but God prescribes it for our spiritual health.

I have loved my enemy.

Matthew 5:43-44

I Corinthians 13:4-7

Love assumes the best until proven otherwise.

I have admitted I was wrong on some point and changed my mind.

II Kings 5:9-14 – Naaman cured of leprosy.

When you’re wrong, changing your mind is the right thing to do!

I have repented of a sin without ever getting caught.

I Samuel 24:5-6 – David’s conscience is tender in this case.

II Samuel 11-12 – David only repented after Nathan called him on his sin.

II Samuel 24:10 – David repented before God called him on his sin.

I have spoken up when I was nervous.

John 7:47-52 – Nicodemus had courage to go against the prevailing opinion.

Mark 15:43 – Joseph of Arimathea had courage to ask for Jesus’ body.

Colossians 4:6

Matthew 10:32

Spiritual maturity is about putting God’s word into practice.

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 1:1

Writer = Solomon

Tone = Brutally realistic

Vanity (37 times)

Under the sun (30 times)

Contrast with Proverbs:

Solomon has done the experimenting for us.

Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

Life?

Ecclesiastes 1:3-11

Life is repetitive.

Pleasure?

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

It was all striving after wind!

Wisdom?

Ecclesiastes 2:12-15

Ecclesiastes 2:12

Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Wisdom can only help you so much!

Work?

No lasting joy in pursuits under the sun.

Enjoy the moments you have because eternity is coming.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Two universal truths

And so … Ecclesiastes 2:24; 3:11-13; 5:1-2, 6-7, 18-20; 8:15; 11:8-10; 12:1, 13-14

Ecclesiastes is better understood in the context of the whole Bible.

We learn how wonderful it is to look beyond the sun.

Matthew 6:19-20

Romans 8:18

Application:

If you spend your life looking for lasting joy and fulfillment under the sun, you’ll be miserable.

Eternity is everything!

Jeremiah 31:33-34 – God’s plan was always to change the world!

We are to positively influence the world.

Matthew 5:13-16

Philippians 2:14-15

Direct influence

Indirect influence

Our good deeds influence others to do good.

I Peter 2:12

People should see God’s light in us.

I Peter 3:1

Encouragement

The gospel is powerful.

I Corinthians 15:1-4

I Corinthians 1:24

God always wins. God + anyone = victory!

You never know who will respond.

Acts 10:34-35

Mark 16:15

We cannot decide ahead of time who will respond favorably to the gospel.

Paul was the last person people would expect to convert.

What about the Philippians jailer or Rahab? No one would have expected their conversions.

We’re responsible for efforts, not results.

One step at a time.

Joel 1:1-2 – We don’t know much about who Joel was or when he prophesied.

Locusts! God will punish.

Joel 1:4 – Locusts would come as a punishment from God.

Compare Exodus 10. For agriculture, a plague of locusts was deadly.

Joel 1:6-7; 2:1-9 – Locusts are described figuratively as an invading army.

Locust plague of 1915. https://www.loc.gov/collections/american-colony-in-jerusalem/articles-and-essays/the-locust-plague-of-1915-photograph-album/

Application: If we ever feel like we’re starting to go soft, read Joel!

II Peter 3:7

But you can still repent!

Joel 2:12-13 – Rend your hearts and not your garments.

Deuteronomy 6:5

I Timothy 1:5

Matthew 6:21

Turn to God with your whole heart!

Joel 2:18

Application: If we ever feel like we’re losing hope, read Joel!

God wanted them to turn back so He could bless them again.

Victory in the New Covenant

Joel 2:28-32 – Quoted in Acts 2:15-21

Joel 3:1-7

Physical or spiritual?

Joel 3:1

“Valley of Jehoshaphat”

Joel is full of figures.

Figures harmonize with New Covenant

Application If we ever feel like the forces of evil are too strong, read Joel!

Mark 15:24-39

I am loved!

“To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.” (Revelation 1:5)

Revelation 1:5-7

John 3:16

Romans 5:8

I Peter 1:18-19, 17

Titus 2:13-14

Our foundation is love. God loved us, therefore we want to serve Him.

We should value what God values.

“Now is the Son of Man glorified.” (John 13:31)

John 12:23-24

John 17:1-5

I Corinthians 1:18, 27-29

We should look at things the way God does.

I Corinthians 2:1-2

Luke 12:13-15

Proverbs 15:!7

II Corinthians 12:10

Proverbs 21:9

The future is what counts.

“for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2)

Hebrews 11:39-12:2

Why did Jesus suffer so mightily on the cross? Because of the joy set before Him.