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.