6/27/10 Guide

I Want Something Else

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Week of 6/27/10

Getting Started

Do you have any fun plans for the summer? What do you normally do for the forth of July?

Digging Deeper (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

1) What did you take away from this week’s passage?

2) Read verse 1. What are some ways that we can “guard our steps” in approaching God?

When we approach God trivially, it’s because we’re not grasping the seriousness of the meeting. In reviewing Scripture we see that when people met God in supernatural ways, it drastically changed their posture of body and life. Consider that in a very real sense, God is no less present with us now than when he appeared in discernable ways. Therefore, our response should be similar. Our approach must be thoughtful, heartfelt, and prayerful if we are to recognize and respond appropriately to God.

3) Is there anything you do to prepare for worshipping God and listening to God on Sunday mornings?

Here are some passages that might provide principles to follow (Ex.23:19; Dt. 23:18; Ps. 122).

4) In verses 1 and 2, Solomon emphasizes the importance of drawing near to God to listen intently? How can a person listen to God? What are they listening for? What are they listening to?

5) One way we hear God is by listening to and reading the Bible. What are some helpful habits that we can develop in reading the Bible? If you were to give a person tips on guarding their steps in approaching the Bible, what would you tell them?

Here are Nine Rules for Reading the Bible - HERE

6) Read verses 2 & 3. Solomon associates quantity of talking with sin. Look at the immediate context and compare this passage with Pro. 10:19 and James 3:1-8. Why is controlling how much you say (quantity) so important in protecting quality of what you say?

7) In verse 2, Solomon encourages us not to say too much by directing our attention God’s greatness and our smallness: “God is in heaven and we are on earth, so let your words by few.” Why is it that what we say and how much we talk reflect our awareness of these truths (or lack of awareness)?

Consider Calvin on the topic of knowing God and knowing ourselves - HERE

8) Verse 4 says to fulfill our vows to God for “He has no pleasure in fools.” Why is it foolish to make a vow to God and not fulfill it?

9) Solomon speaks of a person foolishly making vows to God. What might these vows to God look like today? How might delayed or unfulfilled vows reflect overconfidence upon ourselves and a trivialization of God?

10) Compare this passage with what Jesus says about vows in Matthew 5:33-37. In what way does Jesus add to and expand on the words of Solomon?

In Matthews 5:33-37, Jesus cannot mean that all forms of oath making are prohibited. Why? Jesus later in his life responds to an oath (Matt.26:63-64). The righteous angel of Revelation 10:6 is described has having “swore by him who lives forever and ever.” The apostle Paul calls God as his witness in verifying his intentions towards the Corinthians (2 Cor.1:23; cf. Gal 1:20). Even Jehovah swore by himself (Hebrews 6:13). Among these there are other numerous famous and celebrative oaths made throughout redemptive history: Jonathan and David (1Sam. 18:3,4; 20:16, 42; 2 Sam 21:7) The Jews with each other to serve God (1 Chron. 15:12-15; Neh 10:28-32) Moses to Caleb (Josh 14:9) Ruth to Naomi (Ruth 1:17) Boaz to Ruth (Ruth 3:13 Elisha to Elijah (2 Kings 2:2). In Matthew 5, Jesus was referring to the prevent practice of frivolous swearing. One commentator notes that a man might swear a false oath “a hundred thousand times and yet not be guilty of vain swearing.” This man would have justified his behavior of not following through with his oath by saying that he didn’t “swear by God.” He might have sworn by heaven, or by earth, or even by the hairs of his own head, but in his mind this isn’t swearing by God. As such, he regarded such oaths as not being binding. Jesus counters this prevalent philosophy of promise making by insisting that all things belong God. To swear by anything is tantamount to swearing by God. As such, our word should be so sure and solid that our “yes” or “no” should be good enough.

11) Have you made any vows before the Lord recently? What actions are you taking to fulfill you vow?

Put it Into Practice

In verse 7, Solomon encourages us to stand in awe of God. What attribute or characteristic of God are you particularly astounded by? What attribute of God do you need to be more awed by? Take some time this week to listen to what God says in the Bible about that characteristic.

6/20/10 Guide

I Want Something Else

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

Week of 6/20/10

Getting Started

Who is one of your oldest friend that you still stay in touch with? How long have you known them?

This week we’re going to talk about relationships, in general, are you an introvert, an extrovert, a social butterfly or caterpillar?

Digging Deeper (Ecclesiastes 4:8-12)

1) What did you take away from the passage we looked at on Sunday?

2) Read verse 8. It describes someone who is lonely. What was one of the loneliest times of your life? How did it affect you? How does it seem to affect the man that Solomon speaks of?

3) In verse 8 the man who is working hard asks the question “For whom am I toiling?” Is there someone you’re working for? Who is it? Does having someone to work for giving more meaning to our work? What do think is the point of this passage?

4) Verse 9 says that two are better than one because they have a good return on their work. Share a project, or task that you tackled in the past, in which the help of someone else played a crucial role?

5)For fun - Each of the following projects go better with help. But if you had to pick just one, which one would you definitely want to have help with.

· Moving all your stuff to a new place

· Repainting the inside and outside of your home

· Putting in new landscaping

6) In verse 10 Solomon says that friendships make tough times easier. Share about a difficult time in your life in which people stepped in and helped you through it. Who was it that stepped in? What did they that helped?

7) In verse 11 Solomon says that relationships enable you to enjoy things that people can’t enjoy on their own. In the example given, two isolated people are two cold people. If you had to change the example, what would you say?

8) In verse 12 Solomon says that relationships provide safety. Use your small group as a reference. How does you small group provide spiritual safety?

Putting It Into Practice

Revisit question (7). Is there someone in your group that you can help? As individuals, is there someone in your life who is struggling that can use your help.

6/13/10 Guide

I Want Something Else

Ecclesiastes 3

Week of 6/13/10

Getting Started

What are some areas in your life that you procrastinate in? What are some areas that you are punctual?

Digging Deeper (Ecclesiastes 3)

1) What did you take away from this past Sunday’s message?

2) Read through Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Go through each pair of terms and discuss what you might look for to determine whether it’s the right time to do these activities.

3) Reflect on last year and finish this phrase: “2009 was a time to ___________.”

4) Look ahead to this year and finish the phrase: “2010 is a time to _______________.”

5) Verse 7 says there is a time to be silent and time to speak. Share a time in your life when you realized it was either a time to speak up, or a time to be quiet.

6) Verse 8 tells us there is a time to love and a time to hate. Is it okay for a follower of Jesus to “hate” Give examples for your answer.

Scripture calls us to hate evil. Romans 12:9 ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Again, ^NIV Psalm 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. The issues are (1) to what or whom are your to direct hate and (2) how do you express hatred towards evil. As to (1), we are clearly to hate the acts and consequences of sin, but what about the perpetrator of sin? God himself might serve as an example. He both hates and loves evil doers (Psalm 5: 5-6 with John 3:16). He love what they were created as and hates what they become. His love is so great, he works to restore them from their sin.

7) Read verses 9-10, 12-13, and 22 and answer these questions: (a) How and why is work a burden (vs.10)? (b) How is it the gift of God (vs.13)? (c) What are the ways that we can make too much of our careers? (d). What are the ways that we can make to little of our careers?

God created man to work, exercising a level of dominion over his surroundings (Psalm 8:5-8). Due to the fall, work becomes laden with pain and labor (Gen 3:17-19. And yet, there is still enough of God’s common grace in our work to provide for ourselves and families, love our neighbors, and delight in God’s provision through them.

8) In verse 11 Solomon says that God “set eternity in the hearts of men.” Do people instinctively know that God exists and that he has a purpose of our lives? What other passages speak of this? What are some ways that you might point a skeptic to see “eternity” in their hearts?

Some key passages are Romans 1:18-23; 2:14; Psalm 19. One might use our inescapable sense of morality and argue that God exists: 1. Moral laws exist. 2. Moral laws transcend physical laws. 3. Moral Laws need a Moral Law Giver. 4. God is that Moral Law Giver.

9) In verse 14 Solomon makes a connection between God’s sovereignty and our worship. How do you feel towards God when you can’t change your circumstances? How can we cultivate worship in these circumstances?

10) In what ways is man like animals (19-22)? 
In what way is he different?
 What kind of test does God bring upon man (see 18)?


Putting It Into Practice

Revisit question 2. Is there something that you feel that maybe you should stop or start doing? Share with the group and pray for God’s wisdom on the matter.

Verse 7 reminds us there is a time to speak. As a follower of Christ, one of the things we’re called to speak up for, is our faith. Who are you currently sharing your faith with?

All Church Prayer

This Sunday we will be honoring our volunteers. Take some time this week to ask God to encourage our volunteers in their service to Him by their service to others. Pray that God would continue to refresh and empower them for ministry.