Ecclesiastes 1

Main Point: A

thing turned into a God thing becomes a

Reveal Answer

thing

All Activity is

- vs. 3-11
-

Reveal Answer

changes despite a whole lot of activity
- You cannot say, see, or hear enough to

Reveal Answer

Experiences can never

- vs. 12-18
- The American dream is a

Reveal Answer

and a

Reveal Answer

Our Frustration is Meant to

us to Jesus - Eccl. 12:8-14
- Ecclesiastes cannot be rightly understood without the conclusion

What is Ecclesiastes trying to Accomplish?
- Understand that everyone is in the same boat
-

what you are finding meaning in
- Do not delay in

Reveal Answer

in Christ

Questions to Ask:
- What is God calling you to do right now?

- Who can go with you?

- When will this be done by?

Community Group Chats

1. Has studying the temple and its significance impacted the way you view the phrase “my body is a temple”? What are some common misunderstandings about this phrase?

2. Read 1 Kings 8:41-43 aloud. In the ancient near east, each nation had their own god(s) In their view, crossing a border meant crossing into the territory of a different god’s reign. Knowing that why do you think Solomon prayed for other nations to know YHWH?

3. God’s presence was so intense that people could not touch or directly look at the ark of the covenant, and so thick in the temple that the priests fell down to worship. Despite all that, they wanted to be near God and went to great lengths to build the temple for Him to dwell. Have you ever felt God’s presence at work in You in a powerful way?

4. Why is it important to remember who God is speaking to when He makes promises like the one in 2 Chronicles 7:14? What could go wrong when we misapply God’s promises? What can we learn about God’s character from 2 Chronicles 7:14?

5. Not all pagans hated or opposed Solomon. His wisdom and ambition earned him the favor of foreign rulers who opposed YHWH (like King Hiram of Tyre and the Queen of Sheba), but his desire to keep peace led him to cross the line of wisdom and righteousness through his marriage alliance with the pagan daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh. What’s one area of your life where people-pleasing or peace-keeping tempts you to cross a boundary into unrighteousness?

6. When Solomon gives wisdom that seems to be contradictory (Proverbs 26:4-5) what is he revealing about life and wisdom?

7. How can we respond, as a group and individually, to what we have learned about God’s character this week?