Growth Group Study Booklet Living for Jesus By making, maturing and mobilising disciples For His Glory Growth Group Study Booklet Diary Dates - Page 2 Introduction to Ecclesiastes - Page 3 Recommended Reading - Page 4 Space for Notes - Page 5 Study 1 – Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 - Page 6 Study 2 – Ecclesiastes 1:12 – 2:26 - Page 8 Study 3 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 - Page 10 Study 4 – Ecclesiastes 3:16 – 4:16 - Page 12 Study 5 – Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 - Page 14 Study 6 – Ecclesiastes 5:8 – 7:14 - Page 16 Study 7 – Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 - Page 18 Study 8 – Ecclesiastes 8:1 – 11:6 - Page 20 Study 9 – Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:14 - Page 22 Space for Notes - Page 24 Diary Dates Tuesday October 9 Term 4 Prayer Night Sunday October 21 AGM Forum Sunday October 28 Lakeshore 2018 AGM November 8-11 Senior’s Getaway Sunday November 25 Together for the Gospel (Brisbane) Sunday December 16 Christmas Carols Tuesday December 25 Christmas Day Service (9am) 2 Introduction to Ecclesiastes Author The author of Ecclesiastes calls himself “the Preacher” (1:1). Some interpreters have concluded that this was Solomon, while others think he was a writer later than Solomon. Either way, the book claims that its wisdom comes from the “one Shepherd” (12:11), the Lord himself. The Gospel in Ecclesiastes Jesus taught us to read our Bibles with him in mind—“everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). Even “the Psalms” or “the Writings,” which include Ecclesiastes, bear witness to him (John 5:39) and can “make [us] wise for salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15). For the Christian, what Jesus taught in John 15:10– 11 is an excellent summary of the wisdom of Ecclesiastes: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Our search for eternal life, rest, joy, and justice moves us beyond the creation’s subjection to futility (the frequent subject of Ecclesiastes) to Christ (Rom. 8:20). The movement to Christ is not by direct statement but by the words of this “son of David” (Eccles. 1:1), revealing the futility of everything that is not of God. Throughout Ecclesiastes we are led forward to other answers, other solutions, and other wisdom than the world’s vain promises of satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. Our eyes are constantly taken heavenward for God’s ultimate and eternal provision of which Christ becomes the ultimate revelation (2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:17). He is the world’s supreme sage (e.g., Matt. 7:24–27; 28:20a) as well as the ultimate embodiment and demonstration of the “wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:3). From the Gospel Transformation Bible (Study Notes for Ecclesiastes by Doug O’Donnell). Key Themes in Ecclesiastes 1. The tragic reality of the fall 2. The “vanity” of life 3. Sin and death 4. The joy and frustration of work 5. The grateful enjoyment of God’s good gifts 6. The fear of God 3 Recommended Reading Some recommendations for further reading related to the content and themes of Ecclesiastes: The Message of Ecclesiates (The God’s Big Picture Bible Speaks Today Commentaries) By Vaughan Roberts By Derek Kidner Fitting the whole Bible (including A helpful and readable introductory Ecclesiastes) into the big picture of commentary on Ecclesiastes God’s plan for all of history. Gospel and Wisdom By Graeme Goldsworthy Recovering Eden How to understand wisdom literature By Zach Eswine through the eyes of the gospel. “The gospel according to Ecclesiastes” Top Recommendation 4 Notes 5 STUDY 1 Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Kick Off: Do you ever feel that life is repetitive or boring? What does this make you wonder about life? Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 Big Idea: Striving for gain in this life under the sun is meaningless. Investigate & Apply: Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. 1. Who is ‘the Preacher’ (or ‘the Teacher’), according to verses 1 and 12? 2. The Preacher repeatedly makes observations about life “under the sun”. What does he mean by this? 3. What does the Preacher ask about ‘gain’ under the sun in verse 3? (See also 3:9, 5:16) 4. What is the Preacher’s basic answer to this question? (See verse 2; see also 1:14, 2:11, 5:16-17, 12:8) 5. The word translated “meaningless” or “vanity” is the Hebrew word hebel, which literally means ‘vapour’ or ‘mist’. Why do you think the Preacher uses this word so often to describe humanity’s efforts to achieve gain under the sun? 6. What is it about the world that makes life this way? (v. 4-11) 6 7. Do you think the Preacher’s outlook on life is healthy? Why or why not? Read Romans 8:18-21. (The word translated “subjected to futility” corresponds to the Hebrew word hebel, translated as ‘meaningless’ or ‘vanity’.) 7. Who does Paul say is responsible for the futility of life? (See also Eccl. 1:13). 8. What hope is held out to those who are subject to this futility and frustration? 9. Think of a current example of frustration in your life – a task, a relationship, etc. How might Ecclesiastes help you understand and respond to this situation? Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read Ecclesiastes 1:12 – 2:26. 7 STUDY 2 Ecclesiastes 1:12 – 2:26 Kick Off: What is one of the most frustrating things for you about ‘toil’ (i.e. all the things you have to do in life – study, paid work, jobs at home, making time for friends & family)? Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 2:3 Big Idea: Pleasure and toil under the sun cannot provide meaning, yet in their proper place can still be a source of satisfaction. Investigate & Apply: Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. 1. a) The Preacher wanted “to see what was good for people to do under the heavens” (v. 3). How did he find out? b) What does the Preacher say that he achieved from his toil? c) Yet what was his conclusion at the end of his experiment (v.11)? 2. Choose one of the pleasures listed – jokes (v.2), alcohol (v.3), “great projects” (v.4), houses (v.4), gardening or nature (v.4-6), money & possessions (v.7-8), music (v.8), sex (v.8), status (v.9), work (v9-10) – and talk about the role it has played in your life. How does Ecclesiastes both affirm you and warn you about this “pleasure”? 3. Read Ecclesiastes 2:14-23. Why did the Preacher find his toil so frustrating? List his various grievances. 8 4. Read Ecclesiastes 2:24-26. The Preacher began by wanting to find out “what was good for people to do under the heavens”. What is his interim conclusion? What is the upside of toil “under the sun” in the Preacher’s view? Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. 5. According to the Preacher, the great frustrator of toil is death. How does our knowledge of the resurrection change our view of this reality? 6. What is “the work of Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58)? How does Jesus’ victory over death effect our attitude to this kind of toil? 7. How can you enjoy the good things about ‘toil’ in this life (Eccl. 2:24) without letting them become more important to you than they should be? 8. How can you bring more of the lasting “work of the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58) into your everyday toil? Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. 9 STUDY 3 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 Kick Off: Do you think that you usually use your time well? What things do you tend to waste time on? Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 3:14 Big Idea: Our perspective on life and time is frustratingly limited. God however, is in control of all that happens in our world, which means we can trust him. Investigate & Apply: Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. 1. What is the principle given in verse 1? What do you think the Preacher means? 2. Do any of the examples listed in verses 2-8 particularly stand out to you? Have you experienced any of these stark contrasts in your own life, and what have you learned through them? Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-15. 3. What do we learn about the place of work and pleasure in our lives from these verses? 4. What does it mean that God has “set eternity in the human heart” (verse 11)? 5. How might this encourage us in our efforts to tell people about Jesus? 10 6. What do verses 14 and 15 reveal about God’s character? 7. What difference should this make to the way that we live? Read 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.