The Pursuit… A Study in Ecclesiasties

The Pursuit…A Study in

Ecclesiasties

Why do you feel that some people avoid reading this

book?

Why has this book become a

favorite of many living in

our world today?

Ecclesiastes is the most contemporary book in the

Bible. It tackles many of the challenges of secularism by

exposing…

…“the mad quest to find satisfaction in knowledge,

wealth, pleasure, work, fame, and sex. Ecclesiastes turns the

reader toward god, the only hope of meaningful life.

The subjects in Ecclesiastes

1. Learning from the teacher 1:1

2. Looking for satisfaction 1:2-2:26

3. Longing for authentic significance 3:1-4:3

4. Listening, learning, looking: a midpoint review

4:4-6:12

The subjects in Ecclesiastes

5. Learning wisdom in the midst of life’s mysteries

7:14-8:176. Living in light of ultimate

realities 9:1-12:87. Life’s ultimate meaning

12:9-14

Overall Theme

An elderly mans look back on life to see what meaning

he could find in life lived “under the sun”.

What does “under the sun”

Mean?

The message of the Book

By exploring life’s tough questions the book of Ecclesiastes presents a

powerful argument against a secularist way

of viewing life.

The writer demonstrated how futile it was to live life by a secular viewpoint with no

room for God.

Why are these items so important in a world view that

excludes God?

SuccessWealthPower

Intellectual reputation

When we have God as the center of our world view how does that change the way we

evaluate these qualities.

SuccessWealthPower

Intellectual reputation

Who wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes?

In what 3 ways does verse 1 refer to the writer of

Ecclesiastes?

Ecclesiastes 1:1

“Son of David”

What does this mean?

Ecclesiastes 1:1

“Son of David”

What does this mean?

Please read 1 Chronicles 3:1-9

Ecclesiastes 1:1

“King of Jerusalem”

What does this mean?

Ecclesiastes 1:1

Please read the following:

2 Sam 15

1 Kings 2:25

Who is most likely the King of Jerusalem in Vs 1

What is a world view?

“The lens through which we see circumstances and events”

Quote 1“Our worldview serves as the lens

through which we see circumstances and events. We have all observed

occasions when people see the same event very differently…

Quote 1…One reason is worldview. Our

worldview controls the media of our minds. It filters information and colors

what we perceive.”

—Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy, How Now Shall We Live Workbook

(Nashville: LifeWay Press, 1999), 13-14.

When the Super Bowl is played, passionate fans from both teams will

travel to the stadium, and manymore will host Super Bowl parties to watch the game. Suppose a receiver

makes a controversial catchon the sideline.

• Why is it that people at the same party, watching the same

TV, can see an event intwo totally opposing ways?

• What influences the way they filter the data?

Why Study Ecclesiastes?

1. It helps us understand the troubles around us

Why Study Ecclesiastes?

2. It reminds us what life is really like when we pattern ourselves after the world

Why Study Ecclesiastes?

3. It helps us develop an “everyday theology” to

engage our culture.

Why Study Ecclesiastes?

4. It enables us to see afresh our need for the gospel and

living for God.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26

This passage helps us identify and assess faulty ways that

people try to find meaning in their lives

Are these true or false?

No pain, no gain

Are these true or false?

Charity begins at home

Are these true or false?

Willful waste makes woeful want

Are these true or false?

Nothing but money is sweeter than honey

Are these true or false?

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy,

wealthy, and wise

Are these true or false?

A penny saved is a penny earned

Are these true or false?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Are these true or false?

A tongue three inches long can kill a man six feet tall

Read Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

These verses explain what this book is all about, explain the meaning in your own words.

Take time right now and read

Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26

Each person taking a turn.

Do you think the teacher was condemning these pursuits or

condemning finding meaning in these pursuits?

What is the difference in those two emphases?

Read 1:4-11

The theme of these verses are repetition.

Think of all the repetitive aspects of life. You make the bed, only to sleep in it and have to remake it tomorrow. You got a shower this morning, but hopefully you will repeat the

process tomorrow!

List Five other repetitive aspects of this world in which you live.

1 2345

Why does life “under the sun” render these repetitive aspects as

meaningless?

Why do you think that the teacher seems so fatalistic

about the repetitive nature of the world in which he lived?

How would belief in an afterlife change such an

attitude?

How would belief in God change such an outlook?

What does Solomon meant by saying that there is nothing

new under the sun?

Another issue that the teacher deals with is the complexity

and confusion in life

Please readEcclesiastes 1:12-18

In Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, the Teacher pondered the

complexity and confusion of life under the sun.

Though he had achieved wisdom, many questions

remained unanswered in his own mind. He called

them a pursuit of the wind (1:14). Such as…

• Why do the righteous suffer?

• Why did I lose my job in layoffs when so many

others kept theirs?

• How could people fly airplanes into two buildings

and kill thousands of people?

• Why was my child born with abnormalities that other

children do not have to face?

These questions may or may not have answers

under the sun.

Why does education fail to provide all the answers needed for

these questions?

How can wisdom help us cope with these

situations but still leave us wanting when itcomes to answers?

What are some other questions that

have left you chasing the wind?

How does living life “under the sun”

limit our ability to find answers to

these questions?

How does living life “above the sun” help us live with

hope even when we still have no

answers?

Read 2:1-3

List the pleasures the teacher sought to give meaning to

his life.

Did these activities give meaning to his

life?

Read 2:4-11

List all of the teachers

possessions.

Did these possessions give

meaning to his life?

Read 2:12-17

Why does death make these

possessions or wisdom a futile

pursuit.

Read 2:18-26

Why is it futile to work so hard for possessions and

achievements that must be left behind

at death?

Make a list of some of your favorite

possessions.

What meaning do these possessions give to your life?

Make a list of pleasures that you

have in life.

What meaning do these pleasures give

to your life?

LIVING ABOVE OR UNDER?Using the following scale system signifying living life

“above the sun” or “under the sun,” mark eachitem on the scale to reflect your attitudes at the current

time.

1. I am trusting in my education to answer life’s difficult questions.

No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

LIVING ABOVE OR UNDER?Using the following scale system signifying living life

“above the sun” or “under the sun,” mark eachitem on the scale to reflect your attitudes at the current

time.

2. I am pursuing things that make me happy no matter what God says in His Word.

No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3. I am happier when I get the latest and best types of technology.

No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4. My life would be more successful if I had an important job supervising many

people.No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5. If I make wise decisions with my life and my future, I will automatically be

happy.No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

IS there anything “under the sun” that brings satisfaction and security to life? (explain)

In what ways have you sought fulfillment (similar to the

teacher in 1:12-2:26)?

What impact does the repetition of the phrase

“under the sun” have on you?

What did the teacher teach us about work? (positive and

negative)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:3

Helping us affirm our trust in God’s sovereignty

goodness.

Read 3:1-8

Explain how this passage resonates with us today

The teacher sees life in two extremes

Living/dying

Loving/hatingKilling/healing

Is 3:1-8 describe life or prescribing the way it should

be?

Are we governed by time or do we govern time? Why?

The teacher uses time cycles demonstrated how helpless

humanity was at times but in light od the next section would demonstrate that God was still

sovereign.

3:9-15Life viewed

“above the sun”

Read 3:9-15

Make a list of what God does in these verses

A few to consider

1. God made everything appropriate in its time

A few to consider

2. God set eternity in the hearts of men.

A few to consider

3. God gives people the ability to enjoy life.

A few to consider

4. God calls the past into account.

Read 3:13-15

How does God’s activity interject sanity in a world that seems to be out of control at

times?

3:13Joy and contentment are to be found in enjoying these good gifts, not in speculation about

things we cannot fully understand.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 takes a peek “above the clouds” in a

book dedicated to finding meaning “under

the sun”…

…For the first, and not the last time, the Teacher relaxed his restriction to looking at life “under the sun” to see the

meaning of life with a loving God in control.

• God has given us work to do on earth (v. 10).

• God made everything appropriate (beautiful) in its time … though it may

not seem sobeautiful at the current

time (v. 11).

• God has given us what we enjoy in this life (vv.

12-13).

• God is not bound by time (v. 14).

• God’s sovereignty is sure (v. 15).

What do you believe is the “work” God gave you

to do on the earth?

How has God revealed Himself “beautiful”

during difficult times?

What do you enjoy most about

life?

Why does God’s sovereignty give us

peace for living?