The Pursuit…
A Study in
Ecclesiasties
Why do you
feel that some
people avoid
reading this
book?
Why has this
book become a
favorite of
many living in
our world
today?
Ecclesiastes is the most
contemporary book in the
Bible. It tackles many of the
challenges of secularism by
exposing…
…“the mad quest to find
satisfaction in knowledge,
wealth, pleasure, work, fame,
and sex. Ecclesiastes turns the
reader toward god, the only
hope of meaningful life.
The subjects in Ecclesiastes
1. Learning from the teacher
1:1
2. Looking for satisfaction
1:2-2:26
3. Longing for authentic
significance 3:1-4:3
4. Listening, learning,
looking: a midpoint review
4:4-6:12
The subjects in
Ecclesiastes
5. Learning wisdom in the
midst of life’s mysteries
7:14-8:17
6. Living in light of ultimate
realities 9:1-12:8
7. Life’s ultimate meaning
12:9-14
Overall Theme
An elderly mans look back
on life to see what meaning
he could find in life lived
“under the sun”.
What does
“under the sun”
Mean?
The message of the
Book
By exploring life’s tough
questions the book of
Ecclesiastes presents a
powerful argument
against a secularist way
of viewing life.
The writer demonstrated how
futile it was to live life by a
secular viewpoint with no
room for God.
Why are these items so
important in a world view that
excludes God?
Success
Wealth
Power
Intellectual reputation
When we have God as the
center of our world view how
does that change the way we
evaluate these qualities.
Success
Wealth
Power
Intellectual reputation
Who wrote the Book of
Ecclesiastes?
In what 3 ways does verse 1
refer to the writer of
Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes 1:1
“Son of David”
What does this mean?
Ecclesiastes 1:1
“Son of David”
What does this mean?
Please read 1 Chronicles 3:1-9
Ecclesiastes 1:1
“King of Jerusalem”
What does this mean?
Ecclesiastes 1:1
Please read the following:
2 Sam 15
1 Kings 2:25
Who is most likely the King of
Jerusalem in Vs 1
What is a world view?
“The lens through which we
see circumstances and events”
Quote 1
“Our worldview serves as the lens
through which we see circumstances
and events. We have all observed
occasions when people see the same
event very differently…
Quote 1
…One reason is worldview. Our
worldview controls the media of our
minds. It filters information and colors
what we perceive.”
—Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy,
How Now Shall We Live Workbook
(Nashville: LifeWay Press, 1999), 13-14.
When the Super Bowl is played,
passionate fans from both teams will
travel to the stadium, and many
more will host Super Bowl parties to
watch the game. Suppose a receiver
makes a controversial catch
on the sideline.
• Why is it that people at the
same party, watching the same
TV, can see an event in
two totally opposing ways?
• What influences the way
they filter the data?
Why Study Ecclesiastes?
1. It helps us understand the
troubles around us
Why Study Ecclesiastes?
2. It reminds us what life is
really like when we pattern
ourselves after the world
Why Study Ecclesiastes?
3. It helps us develop an
“everyday theology” to
engage our culture.
Why Study Ecclesiastes?
4. It enables us to see afresh
our need for the gospel and
living for God.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26
This passage helps us identify
and assess faulty ways that
people try to find meaning in
their lives
Are these true or false?
No pain, no gain
Are these true or false?
Charity begins at home
Are these true or false?
Willful waste makes
woeful want
Are these true or false?
Nothing but money is
sweeter than honey
Are these true or false?
Early to bed and early to
rise makes a man healthy,
wealthy, and wise
Are these true or false?
A penny saved is a penny
earned
Are these true or false?
A bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush
Are these true or false?
A tongue three inches long
can kill a man six feet tall
Read Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
These verses explain what this
book is all about, explain the
meaning in your own words.
Take time right now and read
Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26
Each person taking a turn.
Do you think the teacher was
condemning these pursuits or
condemning finding meaning in
these pursuits?
What is the difference in those
two emphases?
Read 1:4-11
The theme of these verses are
repetition.
Think of all the repetitive aspects of life. You
make the bed, only to sleep in it and have to
remake it tomorrow. You got a shower this
morning, but hopefully you will repeat the
process tomorrow!
List Five other repetitive aspects of
this world in which you live.
1
2
3
4
5
Why does life “under the sun”
render these repetitive aspects as
meaningless?
Why do you think that the
teacher seems so fatalistic
about the repetitive nature of
the world in which he lived?
How would belief in an
afterlife change such an
attitude?
How would belief in God
change such an outlook?
What does Solomon meant by
saying that there is nothing
new under the sun?
Another issue that the teacher
deals with is the complexity
and confusion in life
Please read
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
In Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, the
Teacher pondered the
complexity and confusion of
life under the sun.
Though he had achieved
wisdom, many questions
remained unanswered in his
own mind. He called
them a pursuit of the wind
(1:14). Such as…
• Why do the righteous
suffer?
• Why did I lose my job
in layoffs when so many
others kept theirs?
• How could people fly
airplanes into two buildings
and kill thousands of
people?
• Why was my child born with
abnormalities that other
children do not have to face?
These questions may or
may not have answers
under the sun.
Why does education
fail to provide all the
answers needed for
these questions?
How can wisdom help us
cope with these
situations but still leave
us wanting when it
comes to answers?
What are some
other questions that
have left you
chasing the wind?
How does living life
“under the sun”
limit our ability to
find answers to
these questions?
How does living life
“above the sun”
help us live with
hope even when we
still have no
answers?
Read 2:1-3
List the pleasures
the teacher sought
to give meaning to
his life.
Did these activities
give meaning to his
life?
Read 2:4-11
List all of the
teachers
possessions.
Did these
possessions give
meaning to his life?
Read 2:12-17
Why does death
make these
possessions or
wisdom a futile
pursuit.
Read 2:18-26
Why is it futile to
work so hard for
possessions and
achievements that
must be left behind
at death?
Make a list of some
of your favorite
possessions.
What meaning do
these possessions
give to your life?
Make a list of
pleasures that you
have in life.
What meaning do
these pleasures give
to your life?
LIVING ABOVE OR UNDER?
Using the following scale system signifying living life
“above the sun” or “under the sun,” mark each
item on the scale to reflect your attitudes at the current
time.
1. I am trusting in my education to
answer life’s difficult questions.
No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LIVING ABOVE OR UNDER?
Using the following scale system signifying living life
“above the sun” or “under the sun,” mark each
item on the scale to reflect your attitudes at the current
time.
2. I am pursuing things that make me happy
no matter what God says in His Word.
No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3. I am happier when I get the latest
and best types of technology.
No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4. My life would be more successful if I
had an important job supervising many
people.
No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5. If I make wise decisions with my life
and my future, I will automatically be
happy.
No (Above the Sun) Yes (Under the Sun)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
IS there anything “under the
sun” that brings satisfaction
and security to life? (explain)
In what ways have you sought
fulfillment (similar to the
teacher in 1:12-2:26)?
What impact does the
repetition of the phrase
“under the sun” have on you?
What did the teacher teach us
about work? (positive and
negative)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:3
Helping us affirm our trust
in God’s sovereignty
goodness.
Read 3:1-8
Explain how this passage
resonates with us today
The teacher sees life in two
extremes
Living/dying
Loving/hating
Killing/healing
Is 3:1-8 describe life or
prescribing the way it should
be?
Are we governed by time or do
we govern time? Why?
The teacher uses time cycles
demonstrated how helpless
humanity was at times but in
light od the next section would
demonstrate that God was still
sovereign.
3:9-15
Life viewed
“above the sun”
Read 3:9-15
Make a list of what God does
in these verses
A few to consider
1. God made everything
appropriate in its time
A few to consider
2. God set eternity in the
hearts of men.
A few to consider
3. God gives people the ability
to enjoy life.
A few to consider
4. God calls the past into
account.
Read 3:13-15
How does God’s activity
interject sanity in a world that
seems to be out of control at
times?
3:13
Joy and contentment are to be
found in enjoying these good
gifts, not in speculation about
things we cannot fully
understand.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 takes a
peek “above the clouds” in a
book dedicated to finding
meaning “under
the sun”…
…For the first, and not the last
time, the Teacher relaxed his
restriction to looking at life
“under the sun” to see the
meaning of life with a loving
God in control.
• God has given us work to
do on earth (v. 10).
• God made everything
appropriate (beautiful) in
its time … though it may
not seem so
beautiful at the current
time (v. 11).
• God has given us what
we enjoy in this life (vv.
12-13).
•
God is not bound by
time (v. 14).
• God’s sovereignty is
sure (v. 15).
What do you believe is
the “work” God gave you
to do on the earth?
How has God revealed
Himself “beautiful”
during difficult times?
What do you
enjoy most about
life?
Why does God’s
sovereignty give us
peace for living?