Ecclesiastes - All Is Vapor

10am Worship - August 11

August 11, 2024 • 1 Peter 3:15

This morning we are honored to celebrate a beautiful time in the life of Grace of Christ | First Pres. 50+ years ago a man and his wife were invited to help lead the youth (and from them … the church and the entire community) into a celebration of faith, music and life! Sonny and Linda Salsbury brought their love for Jesus, guitars and drums, their gift with song, and transported a dose of the California Jesus movement to Yakima, Washington … and Gospel Pres took off. What happened then is still happening today. Members of the original Gospel Pres band and choir come together to remember, to celebrate friendships, and to commit themselves again to the power and call of Jesus. We get to join in as they led us this morning. All across this valley, this state, this nation, are those impacted by the passion and faith of the Salsbury’s. They returned to Yakima in the mid 1980’s – 1990’s to lead at Ghormley, and then made one more trip north to spend these years with us. Songs like, “The first Song I Sing Today,” and “How’s About a Boa,” and “Are the Mountains Out?”, all come from the heart and pen of the mountain man, the trail boss, the youth pastor, choir leader, musical maestro, Sonny, and Linda too. One of my favorite songs written by Sonny, one I’ve sung at camps, in church services, on my own driving or hiking from one place to the next is this, based on Psalm 19: Don’t you wonder why, the stars are in the sky? They’re telling you and I of the glory of God. And every towering tree, is there for folks to see, so there no doubt can be of the glory of God. So let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, do the same thing for thee and a witness be, to the glory of God. Then come the morning sun to make the darkness run and say our day’s begun to the glory of God. But when the shadows fall and the night winds call, they’re telling one and all of the glory of God. So let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, do the same thing for thee and a witness be, to the glory of God. What song is God singing in you right now? I want the song I’m singing, whatever the source, to be a witness to … the glory of God.

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Our Stuff is Vapor 11AM

August 4, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 5

This morning we conclude our four-week summer sermon series focused on the difficult truths found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 5 reminds us to “guard our steps,” and “let our words be few,” and remember that, “he who loves money will not be satisfied.” That’s easy for Solomon to say. He was the wealthiest person of his day. As if Mr. Musk were to call and tell you, “Don’t worry … money isn’t everything … it will all be fine.” Not helpful Mr. “$32,000 a minute” man! Surprisingly, I find Solomon’s words very helpful. He had it all … and found it a vapor. His great wealth brought great sorrow. Honestly, I have so much. Most of us do. Solomon’s words and warnings are a gift … if we listen. Loving things and money, has NEVER been enough. Loving God grows “Joy” in our hearts.

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Our Stuff is Vapor 9AM

August 4, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 5

This morning we conclude our four-week summer sermon series focused on the difficult truths found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 5 reminds us to “guard our steps,” and “let our words be few,” and remember that, “he who loves money will not be satisfied.” That’s easy for Solomon to say. He was the wealthiest person of his day. As if Mr. Musk were to call and tell you, “Don’t worry … money isn’t everything … it will all be fine.” Not helpful Mr. “$32,000 a minute” man! Surprisingly, I find Solomon’s words very helpful. He had it all … and found it a vapor. His great wealth brought great sorrow. Honestly, I have so much. Most of us do. Solomon’s words and warnings are a gift … if we listen. Loving things and money, has NEVER been enough. Loving God grows “Joy” in our hearts.

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Hope in the Hard Existence 11AM

July 28, 2024 • Ecclesiastes 3

This morning we are in the third of our four-week summer sermon series focused on the hard truths found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 3 begins with a well-known litany “for everything there is a season …” In 1965 the musical group The Byrd’s turned a Pete Seeger song (based almost word for word on the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3) into a number 1 hit, and an international sensation. This chapter offers sobering truth. We don’t get to choose the season we are in. And yet each season has its beauty. God is the One who “has made everything beautiful in its time.” Even when the season we are in is burning out of control, smoke everywhere, we are reminded that God has placed “eternity into [our] heart.” It is a time to trust God. He has something bigger, brighter, and beautiful, prepared for us!

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Hope in the Hard Existence 9AM

July 28, 2024 • Ecclesiastes 3

This morning we are in the third of our four-week summer sermon series focused on the hard truths found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 3 begins with a well-known litany “for everything there is a season …” In 1965 the musical group The Byrd’s turned a Pete Seeger song (based almost word for word on the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3) into a number 1 hit, and an international sensation. This chapter offers sobering truth. We don’t get to choose the season we are in. And yet each season has its beauty. God is the One who “has made everything beautiful in its time.” Even when the season we are in is burning out of control, smoke everywhere, we are reminded that God has placed “eternity into [our] heart.” It is a time to trust God. He has something bigger, brighter, and beautiful, prepared for us!

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Pleasure is Vapor 11AM

July 21, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 2

This morning, and for the next two Sundays, we take a short break from our year-long sermon series in the book of Acts. We are turning our attention to the book of Ecclesiastes. The writer of this book, a very wise soul, reflects on: wisdom, pleasure, our temporariness, wealth. He gave himself to, and explored, each. What he discovered challenges our world, and our priorities, today. His great wisdom only took him so far. This week he will say the same about his pursuit of pleasure. The temptation to make pleasure our life focus is pervasive and perennial. His life, chasing pleasure without restraint, did not bring him what he hoped for. He learned hard lessons. He paid a high cost. We can learn from him … and save ourselves much grief. Will we? Will I? I pray so …

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Pleasure is Vapor 9AM

July 21, 2024 • Ecclesiastes 2

This morning, and for the next two Sundays, we take a short break from our year-long sermon series in the book of Acts. We are turning our attention to the book of Ecclesiastes. The writer of this book, a very wise soul, reflects on: wisdom, pleasure, our temporariness, wealth. He gave himself to, and explored, each. What he discovered challenges our world, and our priorities, today. His great wisdom only took him so far. This week he will say the same about his pursuit of pleasure. The temptation to make pleasure our life focus is pervasive and perennial. His life, chasing pleasure without restraint, did not bring him what he hoped for. He learned hard lessons. He paid a high cost. We can learn from him … and save ourselves much grief. Will we? Will I? I pray so …

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Wisdom is Vapor 11AM

July 14, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 1

For the next four weeks we turn our attention to the Old Testament (the story of God at work in this world before the arrival of Jesus). Our particular focus, the book of Ecclesiastes. This Old Testament book puts into words the sense I have that all I have, all I could have, is not, would not be, enough. No matter what I achieve, how much I am loved, all the pleasure I experience, something is still missing. The writer is a person of incredible wisdom, wealth, position, and power. He did not hold back in his pursuit of pleasure. Still, he found hollowness not wholeness, longing rather than satisfaction. How can that be? He’s done everything that promised him happiness, everything, and still there was an emptiness in his heart and soul. What if nothing in this world can fill our deepest longings? That’s what Christian faith claims. That’s why Jesus came. That’s what the writer of Ecclesiastes discovered. We can discover that too.

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Wisdom is Vapor 9AM

July 14, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 1

For the next four weeks we turn our attention to the Old Testament (the story of God at work in this world before the arrival of Jesus). Our particular focus, the book of Ecclesiastes. This Old Testament book puts into words the sense I have that all I have, all I could have, is not, would not be, enough. No matter what I achieve, how much I am loved, all the pleasure I experience, something is still missing. The writer is a person of incredible wisdom, wealth, position, and power. He did not hold back in his pursuit of pleasure. Still, he found hollowness not wholeness, longing rather than satisfaction. How can that be? He’s done everything that promised him happiness, everything, and still there was an emptiness in his heart and soul. What if nothing in this world can fill our deepest longings? That’s what Christian faith claims. That’s why Jesus came. That’s what the writer of Ecclesiastes discovered. We can discover that too.

Grace of Christ

Ecclesiastes - All Is Vapor

2024 Summer Mini Series

10am Worship - August 11

August 11, 2024 • 1 Peter 3:15

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Our Stuff is Vapor 11AM

August 4, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 5

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Our Stuff is Vapor 9AM

August 4, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 5

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Hope in the Hard Existence 11AM

July 28, 2024 • Ecclesiastes 3

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Hope in the Hard Existence 9AM

July 28, 2024 • Ecclesiastes 3

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Pleasure is Vapor 11AM

July 21, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 2

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Pleasure is Vapor 9AM

July 21, 2024 • Ecclesiastes 2

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Wisdom is Vapor 11AM

July 14, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 1

Summer Series Ecclesiastes: Wisdom is Vapor 9AM

July 14, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Ecclesiastes 1