Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (ESV) In these verses, Solomon proclaims that all is vanity. Or using other words, everything is meaningless. That statement is true, but there is a problem. …
Read the sermon here. SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION Ecclesiastes 2:11 | Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 | …
Continue reading The Vanity of Pleasure Under the Sun | Ecclesiastes 2
Read the sermon here. SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 | Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does a man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun. A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. Ecclesiastes 1:14 …
Continue reading The Vanity of Everything Under the Sun | Ecclesiastes 1
Author The author identifies himself as the Preacher (or Teacher). While the book is technically anonymous, Solomon is the most likely candidate. Theme Everything is meaningless “under the sun,” and the only source of true meaning and joy is God. Background In the first chapter of Ecclesiastes, the author identifies himself as the Qoheleth (the …
So over the past year or so, I've attempted to write a book that would concisely explain the values of my church, Western Meadows. My primary audience is my fellow church members and any who are considering becoming a member; however, I pray that these words will be of benefit to all who read them. …
All this took place to fulfill what the LORD had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:22-23 Jesus is the centerpiece of all human existence. His advent, His arrival is the highest point of human …
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4 ESV In 1 Peter 5:2-3, pastors are given three commands which correspond to their three titles: shepherd the flock (pastor), exercise oversight (overseer), and be an example to the flock (elder). Each command is a different aspect of leading …
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not …
Given that appointing elders in every town was Paul's primary directive to Titus (1:5), it is troublesome that so few of us understand the biblical concept of eldership. In fact, thinking about a church's elders likely conjures up either wizened old men or cultish organizations governed ruthlessly by a handful of men. As you may …
Finally, the notion of sloth does not merely apply to idleness but also to busyness. Before discussing busyness, we should note that idleness is a sinful counterfeit of God-glorifying rest. Rest is worship; idleness is not. Rest is found in coming to Christ; idleness is found in self-gratifying pursuits. The same is also true of …
B. C. Newton 