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Ecclesiastes 9:1-12, 10:8-9 ESV
But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. 11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them…8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

Sermon Discussion Guide

Big Idea:

“The only guarantee in life is Jesus Christ. And though our eyes may see what only appears to be vanity and meaninglessness, just the passing of vapor in the wind, we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ - the One who said death no longer has the final word, for he defeated death on our behalf on the cross. The full life, the life of joy and hope and peace and love and purpose and life you long for, is found in Jesus Christ and in him alone. This is what the teacher wants you to know - this is what I hope you’ll believe today. Jesus sees us in the pit of life and takes us by the hand, and lifts us out of the pit. Look to Jesus Christ and believe in him, for he is the only guarantee in this life and in the life to come.”

How were you impacted by the message this week?

What did we learn about the guarantee of life?

Why should trusting in God’s sovereignty bring us peace and joy in life?

Read Ecclesiastes 9:1-12, 10:8-9. How do control and conflict affect your life?

How does our Christian faith remove many of the tensions others struggle with in their lives?

What is the godless view of life? What do we often fill our lives with? How are we squandering what little time we have?

Why is there still hope for the living? Why must we be careful with what we think matters, especially in light of death?

How can remembering that God is the giver of all gifts help us enjoy them more?

Why is Jesus the only guarantee in life? What does he do for those who put their faith in him? Read Colossians 1:15-23; Romans 8:28.

NOTES

PERSONAL REFLECTION
How were you personally challenged this week?

What guarantees do you have in this life? What guarantees do you have with Jesus?

What passions or distractions are causing you to squander the little time you have?

What have you decided matters that really doesn’t matter?

In what ways has Jesus given you hope and joy in this life and in the life to come?

How will you personally apply what you learned from the sermon to your life?

How can your group hold you accountable this week? How can they encourage you?

DEEPER
Pray: Take time this week to pray for each Life Group member individually. At your next meeting, follow up with each other’s prayer requests.

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12, 10:8-9; Colossians 1:15-23; Romans 8:28. Take time to reflect on these passages and write down your thoughts. Visit Gateway News to read and review the sermon manuscript from our Easter service.

Write: Take time to write down your thoughts and insights from the sermon this week. Keeping a journal is just one more tool that you can use to track what God is showing you in your walk with him.

Sing: Visit Gateway News and listen to the worship songs from Sunday throughout the week. Look up the lyrics to each song and spend some time reading them as well.

Memorize: As a Life Group, pick a few verses from the sermon and memorize them this week. (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12, 10:8-9; Colossians 1:15-23; Romans 8:28)

Love: How can your group show the love of Christ to our community this summer?

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