Thrive.Church Weekly Message

[Ecclesiastes 2:12-13] So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). [13] I thought, "Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

Human _____________________ has its limits.

[Ecclesiastes 1:16-18] I said to myself, "Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them." [17] So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind. [18] The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

There's a difference between _____________________ wisdom and _____________________ wisdom.

[1 Corinthians 3:19-20] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." [20] And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless."

The accumulation of worldly wisdom is ________________.

Wisdom is seeing _______________ from God's perspective

[Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV] Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

True wisdom is simply _____________________ God in every area of our life.

[Proverbs 1:7 NIV] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom is not just about _____________________ what is right; it's about _____________________ that knowledge.

[James 1:5-7] If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. [6] But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. [7] Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

[Matthew 6:1-4] “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. [2] When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. [3] But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. [4] Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

It seems like the more we _________ the less we _______________.

[Ecclesiastes 6:9] Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind.

The gift isn't in the ____________; it's in the ___________.

[Ecclesiastes 5:18-20] Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. [19] And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--this is indeed a gift from God. [20] God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

If I’m not satisfied with what I _________ I’ll never be satisfied with what I _________.

Contentment isn't found in _________-sufficiency but in _________-sufficiency.

[Matthew 20:8-12] "That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. [9] When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. [10] When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. [11] When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, [12] 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'

The secret to combat discontent is __________________.

[Philippians 4:11-13] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Contentment isn't found in what you HAVE it is found in _____________ alone.

[Ecclesiastes 6:6-9] He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else--well, what's the use? [7] All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough. [8] So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others? [9] Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind.

[Luke 5:16] But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

[Ecclesiastes 3:1] For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Life isn't random _______________, it's a series of _______________.

[Ecclesiastes 3:2-8] A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. [3] A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. [4] A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. [5] A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. [6] A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. [7] A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. [8] A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

Every season has a _______________.

We can't control what _______________ to us but we can control how we _______________.

[Ecclesiastes 3:11] Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Our goal isn't to _______________ the season but to _______________ God in it.

[Psalm 31:14-15] But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, "You are my God!" [15] My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.

God can turn our _______________ seasons into our greatest _______________.

[Psalm 62:5-6] Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. [6] He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.

We need to yield to God's _______________.

[John 16:33] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

[Matthew 5:21-22] “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not ______________. If you commit ______________, you are subject to ______________.’ [22] But I say, if you are even ______________ with someone, you are subject to ______________! If you call someone an ______________, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

[Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 NIV] The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: [2] "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." [3] What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?

Don't spend your life pursuing things that have no ______________ ______________ or significance.

[Ecclesiastes 1:8-11] Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. [9] History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. [10] Sometimes people say, "Here is something new!" But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. [11] We don't remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

We are all ______________ something.

[Ecclesiastes 1:14] I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.

Chasing ________________ is like running after the wind.

We need to _______________ our lives into things that _______________.

[James 1:17] Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Life is _____________________ without God.

The world doesn't offer real ____________________.

[Philippians 3:8] Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

You are the __________ of the earth and the __________ of the world!

We aren't made to do life ______________.

[Psalm 92:12-15 CSB] The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. [13] Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God. [14] They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, [15] to declare, "The LORD is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

We don't just _______ to church, we _________ the church.

[Exodus 17:8-13] While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. [9] Moses commanded Joshua, "Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand." [10] So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. [11] As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. [12] Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. [13] As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

Everyone should have a ______________ and a ______________________.

[Hebrews 10:24-25] Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. [25] And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

If you aren't ___________________ others, then you're doing it wrong.

[1 John 4:11-12] Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. [12] No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

The closer we get to ______________, the more we need to love ______________.

[Ecclesiastes 4:12] A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Together we can accomplish _____________ ____________ for God's Kingdom.

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: