God Working in Time

Ecclesiastes

October 10, 2021 • Jonathan Pokluda • Ecclesiastes 3, Philippians 4:11–13, John 10:10, Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Have you ever run out of time when you were in the middle of something that wasn’t complete? Maybe a house project, something for work, or an important relationship? As we continue our series on the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches through Ecclesiastes 3, showing us how God works in time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

-If what you have is not good, God is not done.

-Every human being experiences both the ups and downs of life. There are no exceptions.

-We experience life in time and chronological order. God sits above and outside of time and sees everything.

-There is a time for everything.

-It’s bad theology to believe you won’t experience sickness, pain, hurt, poverty, or other bad things on this side of death.

-God has put eternity in our hearts and nothing but Him will satisfy our cravings and desires.

-God is in charge of everything.

-The fear of the Lord means to fully stand in both fear and awe of the Lord at the same time.

-We can know and understand a lot about God through His creation and His Word, but make no mistake, He won’t fully fit into our finite understanding.

-When things aren’t going how you hoped or planned, ask yourself, “What is God up to right now? What does He want me to do or learn?”

-Everyone wants God to take care of evil, but they want Him to start just past themselves.

-God makes everything beautiful in its time.

-God took the worst day in human history and turned it into the best day in human history.

-Asking God, “How can you do this to me?” is the wrong question. The right question is, “How could you do that to You (Jesus) for me?”

-God makes everything beautiful in its time.

-For those who have trusted in Christ, one day we will see clearly and understand how the hardest thing we’ve ever been through was worth it.

MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 3; John 10:10; Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:11-13

-Sermon: The Search Begins

-Sermon: The Search Continues

The End of the Search

November 28, 2021 • Jonathan Pokluda • Ecclesiastes 12, Matthew 10:26–31, 1 Kings 11:1–6

What does it mean to fear God? Christians are commanded to do so all throughout the Scriptures. As we finish our series studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches us what it means to fear God. KEY TAKEAWAYS -We are all moving toward death. You are older now than when you read the sentence before this. -Fear and follow God before your body fails. -You can and should take care of your body, but you are going to die. -Form your theology before your decline. -Don’t buy into a false theology that God is not loving and kind because we are commanded to fear Him. -Read other books, but only in addition to the Bible, not as a supplement to the Bible. -Fear and follow God by holding firmly to His Word. -There are so many distractions in this world that the enemy uses to pull you off track. -Your quiet time is not a means to please God. It’s a method of survival to fight against an enemy that is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy you. -If you are not regularly reading the Bible you are backsliding. -Why would God make known to us His mysterious will when we are clearly disobeying and overlooking His revealed will? -Fearing God and following Him means living by faith. -Is your life marked by acts of faith? Things you did that if God didn’t show up you’d be considered foolish and a failure? -Every sin you’ve ever committed is against God. -If someone can come back from the dead after being tortured and crucified, you should fear them. If they were tortured and killed and came back from the dead for you, you should follow them. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 12; Matthew 10:26-31; 1 Kings 11:1-6 -Sermon: Wisdom in Words, Work, and Worship -Resource: http://www.biblereadingplan.org

Wisdom in Words, Work, and Worship

November 21, 2021 • Nate Hilgenkamp • Ecclesiastes 10, Ecclesiastes 11, James 1:19, Colossians 3:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:6–8

While toddlers can be really funny with their actions and words, there is a big difference when adults do and say similar things. As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us what Scripture has to say about our words, work, and worship. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Here are some descriptions of the tongue in Scripture: snake, fire, sword, world of evil, and full of deadly poison. -Are you thoughtful with your words? -The wise are slow with their words. -Your tongue can eat you alive if you aren’t careful and thoughtful with your words. -Your words always matter, and they matter even more when it comes to your family. -You are never “safe” when it comes to speaking words that aren’t wise or gracious. -The wise work hard no matter what while the foolish work based on how they feel. -The wise are steadfast in their work. -Many of our problems with work are because we let our feelings guide our work. -Your laziness steals from yourself, and at times, it might even be stealing from your company. -Don’t work so hard to provide for your family at the expense of your family. -The world is not out of control, but it is out of your control. God is fully in control. -The more you try to control the more you will worry and fear. -The wise are surrendered in worship. -When you have a right view of God you can worship instead of worry. -It will not go well with you when your life is centered around yourself. -Do your words, work, and worship look like that of an adult or a child? -While children are often foolish, they have the one thing necessary to come to Jesus: need. -Don’t try to clean up your mess before you come to God. Come to Him as you are and let Him clean you up. -The only people who get into the Kingdom of God are the ones that know they shouldn’t. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 10:11-14; James 1:19; Ecclesiastes 10:20; Ecclesiastes 11:1-6; Colossians 3:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8; Ecclesiastes 10:15; Ecclesiastes 11:5, 3:11, 8:7, 8:17, 9:12, 10:14; Matthew 19:13-14 -Sermon: Live Like You’re Dying

Live Like You're Dying

November 14, 2021 • Jonathan Pokluda • Ecclesiastes 9, Colossians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Psalm 111:10, Ephesians 2:10

Do you have a bucket list? What do you want to do before you die? It could be anything at all. As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP shows us that God has a bucket list prepared for each of us and that we should live like we're dying (and will live forever). KEY TAKEAWAYS -We do not know what tomorrow will bring. -Mortality causes us to be reflective. -Weddings are fun and celebratory, but everyone is distracted. At a funeral, the focus is crystal clear and you have everyone’s attention. -Remember death awaits us all. -In America in 2021, we are bad at death. We’ve outsourced it in a way that is completely foreign to other cultures and all of history. -You do not know how much time you have left. -It is really hard and sad when death strikes. We mourn because we were made to live forever. Death was not present in Eden before the Fall and it’s not in heaven either. -Find joy in living. -God does not want to rip you off. He is a good God, and He loves giving good things. -What do you enjoy doing? Can you do it to the glory of God? (doing something in faith and without sin). Go do more of those things! -Learn to enjoy serving others. -Do you use your words flippantly or thoughtfully? -You can be wise and live prudently, but even then, you don’t know what life has in store. Before Jesus returns, pain and death will come to the wisest people at times. -Live with wisdom. -Live a life not for God’s approval but from God’s approval. -We don’t have to experience all this earth has to offer before we die because we will have forever and ever and ever to experience this earth in its glorified form. -Don’t wait to live like you are dying. Surround yourself with Scripture, share the gospel with every person you meet, and give as generously as you can. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 9; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Psalm 111:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19 -Sermon: Submitting to Authority