Ecclesiastes: The Wisdom Community

Pastor Dale Benson

August 17, 2025

Pastor Yhoshua Ticum

Jesus is the Guide, and He has prepared a path for you.

Which path are you on? Life is full of forks in the road:

• Regret over the past → depression
• Fear of the future → anxiety
• Key Question: Am I on the right path?
• Even in our uncertainty, God sees you and loves you.

Proverbs 4:18–27 (NLT)

• Guard Your Heart – Why it matters
• Be cautious: “Follow your heart” can lead away from Jesus.
• Warning Signs & Lies of the Enemy
• Good News: Jesus is our Guide
• Key Question: Who are you following?
• Response: Take Your Next Step

Pastor John Keating

The author of Hebrews was writing to a group of Christians who had converted from Judaism. The entire book of Hebrews aims to encourage discouraged Christians. In these chapters, the author draws upon their Jewish experiences by referring to Jesus as their compassionate and helpful High Priest. 

Hebrews 5:4-5a, 7-9 (NLT)

- Jesus’s role in our lives is not limited to the one who brought us Salvation.

- Because of His sacrifice, He is qualified to be this High Priest on our behalf before God!

- A High Priest in a Jewish community would spend time reading the Torah, sharing stories of their Jewish heritage, and explaining or answering questions about passages of the Torah people didn’t understand.  This relationship with the High Priest was intended to be intentional and ongoing and help people grow in their understanding of who God was. 

- The author reminds Christians that their relationship with Jesus should be intentional and ongoing! 

If you have a daily relationship with someone, you know them, experience them, and value them! The encouragement is to see Jesus as the High Priest with us daily, be intimate in prayer, and appreciate Him so much that we are compelled to know Him better! Doing this could transform our lives… but we get this warning of reality!!!

Hebrews 5:11 (NLT)

- Airplane Christian

- Romans 10:17 (NLT)

Hebrews 5:12-6:3 (NLT)

- This is for seasoned Christians

- Baby Christians vs. Maturity

- Pastor isn’t feeding me…

- Feed Yourself.

- Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

How mature is your faith?  What level of influence does Christ have on you?

- Imitation of Christ

Hebrews 7:26-28 (NLT)

Pastor David Morrison

Hebrews 4:12-16 (NLT)

- There was a pattern in the Old Testament where God rescues His people, and they say that they would return to their past of worshipping other gods, and then they would be separated from God. It was a continuous cycle.

- It seems ridiculous. The author of Hebrews says not to make the same mistake.

Hebrews 3:12 (NLT)

- When things get hard, who or what is the authority that we allow to shape our lives?

- What God has healed me from I no longer am.

- Here is why we don’t turn back. It matters where we find our source and who is holding us accountable.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)

- To those tempted to turn back to something, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that only one can judge and see clearly.

- If you are trying to return to a form of legalism, only one thing can expose your innermost thoughts and motivations—Jesus. It's not Moses, it’s not the law, it’s nothing else!

Hebrews 4:14 (NLT)

- Another translation says, Stand Firm.

- What does it mean when it says that Jesus is the high priest?

- We no longer need a high priest to offer sacrifice, instead we have a perfect one, Jesus who faced all the temptations of this world and never faltered.

- So, the thing that influences your life and that you would normally look back on…stands the call to STAND FIRM.

- Stand firm means no retreating. God is calling you to let the good things remain in the past, so that you can experience greater things. 

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

- Come boldly to the throne.

- This place held the ark of the covenant, called the holy of holies.

- It was past the outer courts, and there was a place called the Holy Place, where offerings were given, a lamp with seven candles (a menorah), and a Holy of Holies…separated by a veil.

- When Christ died, the veil that kept people from God’s presence was torn. We no longer needed a human high priest because Jesus was the great high priest now! He would intercede with the Father on our behalf…and now we have an invitation to come boldly before the throne of God.

Here is an invitation to press into God’s presence in His most holy place, where the only light needed is His presence. This is a place where grace and mercy are found. But here is where I feel tension. It’s like we know we can step into God’s presence, but to do that, I need to let go of things in my life.

Pastor Dale Benson

Thinking About Jesus from the standpoint of first century Judaism. In terms of a modern-day company-owned business.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (NLT)

Laws, the Law… Laying down the Law.

John 1:17 (NLT)

Romans 7: The law pointed out my sin.

Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)

Galatians 3: Beautiful passage about the Law not saving us. The law did not give us the Holy Spirit. 

All of the Law and prophets can be summed up in this:

“Love God.  Love your neighbor.” - Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NLT)

Pastor Dale Benson

Are there things you hold onto that have outlived their usefulness?

Are there things in your life that used to bring value, but have been replaced by something better?

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NLT)

Over the next few weeks, we will examine the book of Hebrews. In this book, the author writes to a group of people who are Hebrews by birth but have accepted Jesus as the Messiah. However, as the church began to face persecution, some fell away.

They neglected getting together. They tried going back to their old ways of worship. They began to seek the old ways of doing things. They have started to do what is comfortable.

The book of Hebrews serves as a warning to the Hebrew people of why they should not fall away. The author compares Jesus to the various crutches, or old ways of doing things. Most of us gathered in this room today, Hebrew lineage. But we bear a strong resemblance to the group of people.

Whether you have walked in here today as a long-time believer in Jesus, or you are beginning to search and look for life that matters, why you're here on earth, or why you were created, the book of Hebrews points us to Jesus. The tools that we use, that we trust, the systems we create all fall short of Jesus.

John 14:6 (NLT)

Angels (Authority)

- John 5:39 (NLT)

Abraham (Heritage)

- Matthew 3:9 (NLT)

Moses (Strong Leader)

- 1 Corinthians 3:3-5 (NLT)

Priesthood, Worship & Sacrifices (STATUS)

- Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

All these things are merely tools and shadows that point to something much greater. They all point to Jesus.

Don't confuse the shadow with the one who casts the shadow.

Don't confuse the tool with the person to whom the tool is pointing.

Don't confuse the messenger with the one about whom the messenger is speaking.

Pastor John Keating

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)

* We are to be imitators: the translated word for “imitators” in this passage is where we get the word “mimic.” We are called to literally “mimic” God. 

* The author Paul insisted on this in the previous chapters by saying, “Because God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you, therefore be followers of God, or imitators of Him;”

1 John 4:16 (NLT)

* Our character as God’s children obliges us to resemble Him, especially in His love, goodness, mercy, and readiness to forgive. 

* John gives us the example of Christ, whom Christians are obliged to imitate, the most free and generous love that ever existed.

* As he offered Himself a design to be accepted by God, God did accept, was pleased with, and appeased by that sacrifice. 

John 13:35 (NLT)

* Your life should put God on display. Your choices are a billboard for who you serve. Your footsteps should point toward Christ; Your life should be an example for others to wish to mimic.

“Walking” references in Scripture represent being on mission and unity with God:

* Genesis in the Garden.

* Israelites followed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

* Jesus called disciples to follow Me, walking on water.

* Jesus carried the cross along the Via Dela Rosa.

* Missionaries were sent on the journey in Acts to spread the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

* We are all called to a lifestyle of action, movement, and being in step with God!

Your obedient life to the Lord expresses your love for Him.

He takes our obedient life, pleasing Him like an aroma of sweetness.

Do you want to walk in love? Are you tired of wandering?

You’re not imitating Christ because you don’t follow Him. Do you value Him for your kids to be exposed to Him and yet not value Him yourself…

Pastor Dale Benson

If you want to experience the thriving side of love, you must make a commitment to the striving side of love.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NRSV)

* There is no growth in the comfort zone. There is no comfort in the growth zone.

* You are a lot of work. I am a lot of work. So we are going to have to work in order for this to work.

One:

* Body.

* Spirit.

* Hope of your Calling.

* Lord.

* Faith.

* Baptism.

* God and Father of All.

God of All:

* One God and Father of ALL (panton)

* Above ALL (panton)

* Through ALL (panton)

* In Y’ALL (pacin humin)

With all:

* Humility.

* Meekness.

* Patience.

* Bearing with one another in love.

I used to think that if we all accepted Christ and were filled with the same Holy Spirit, unity in the Spirit happened as a byproduct.  If there were no unity, then either some of us or all of us wouldn’t be filled with the Spirit. Doesn’t Unity in the Spirit just happen? Most churches gather around one of three things:

Churches that tend to focus on unity typically end up in splits because they can’t agree upon what they need to be unified over. Churches that focus on discipleship tend toward a sort of educational model where everything focuses on learning and learning, and learning and they can become ingrown and never reaching out. Churches that focus on evangelism should necessarily disciple their people in order to evangelize, and the unity is derived from this shared mission. - Nicky Gumbel

Striving in Truth. Striving in Love. Striving in Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace.

* National Championship Games: “We don’t know how we got here.  It just kinda happened.” Said no team ever.

* “I don’t care if you get to the top of the mountain quickly or slowly, but you have to acknowledge the mountain.” – Simon Sinek.

* Strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up into.

In Revelation 2, this church was praised for their works, toil, and endurance. They had tested false teachers. They had persevered, BUT – they had forgotten the love they had at first.  This is the same church that is believed to be where John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and “The Disciple of Love” pastored. This church forgot the love they had at first. It takes work.  It takes courage. It takes persistence. The power of love is found in the work of love.

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NRSV)

Pastor Dale Benson

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT)

- Notice that God does not say, "He wants to get to know us more, even though we are beyond understanding." Quite the opposite.

- God already knows us. Inside and out. He created us. He knows our thoughts even before we know them. He knows our good, and bad. And loves us anyway.

- Paul prays that we would experience the Love of God, even though that love is beyond explanation or understanding.

Exploring the Unknown:

- The vastness of the heavens, the depths of the sea. The breadth and width of the earth God made for us. And the kiddie pool in which most of us live and play.

Psalm 139 (NLT)

- Where can I go from Your presence?

- Ocean Depths: "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau."

- Swimming at the Beach

The Depths of Being Truly Loved:

- God is our Healer

- God is our Provider

- God is our Strength

- God is our Father

Hosea 2:14-17 (NLT)

- This is a love none of us can understand fully. It is a love that must be experienced, and even after experiencing it, you still can't fully comprehend or explain it.

But you can live in it. You can experience it.

You can swim in it. You can sink into it.

You can be in over your head and love it.

Pastor David Morrison

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT)

- The Israelites, the people this text is written for, had lived in rebellion against God and found themselves without a permanent home.

- God says I have not forgotten you. I still believe in you and have plans for your future-good ones!

This is the foundation for the Scripture I am sharing. It is a form of love that God can only fully show His creation.

Ephesians 1:4-14 (NLT)

- Before time began, God loved us so much that He chose us through the work of Christ to be in a relationship with Him. For this to happen, we had to be blameless and holy because God is a blameless and holy God.

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

- God has chosen all people. God has chosen you because He loves you.

GOD CHOSE ME.

- Anyone who says they don't want to be chosen has just been picked last so many times that they have stopped caring, in self-preservation mode.

- God chooses me and you, even though I sin and make a mess.

- This is the gospel: God chooses you despite all the terrible things you have done and will do, not to benefit Himself but to bring you into a relationship with Him!

Not only does God choose us to be in a relationship with Him, but He also chooses us to spend eternity in heaven, not hell. That would be enough!

I'm reminded of the story of the prodigal son who ran from his father, spent his money, sinned, and came home on his knees. My father forgives me; I am no longer worthy of being a son but a servant.

GOD CHOSE TO ADOPT ME.

- When it says God chose us, He chose me to be His child, adopted into His family with the same rights and inheritance as a biological one.

- This means that when I am in Christ, I am a child of God.

- Just as God calls Jesus son, He calls you son and daughter!

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

- As a child of God - He is proud of you. He will fight for you. Everything that He has is available to you. When someone crosses a child of God, they must deal with the dad.

- Because of God's great love, you are chosen, not only chosen but also adopted into the family of God! And it gets better!

Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)

GOD CHOSE TO GIVE ME A NEW INHERITANCE.

- I'm talking about a new spiritual inheritance.

- When you step into a relationship with Christ...you are trading away the inheritance of this world for something greater.

You see, what I inherited from this world is addiction, its brokenness, its loneliness, its oppression, it's hell. But that chain can be broken when you are a child of God. That which has terrorized your family is no longer yours to pass down to your children by default.

Due to His immense love, God has chosen you, desires to adopt you, and has prepared a new inheritance for you.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)

DO I CHOOSE HIM?