Living Facing Death - Week 3

Ecclesiastes: Living the abundant life with death in view.

Connecting to one another

Share an immaterial gift one person who has already died gave you that still bears fruit in you today. 

Understanding the Truth with one another 

Verse by Verse ~ Topic by Topic ~ Argument by Argument

Today we are reviewing larger portions of Scripture to answer this question –      

What is the point of living wisely (unto God) if we, just like the fool, experience “the same event”? Since we are reviewing larger portions to mine an answer to this question, keep your pace lively.

Read Ecclesiastes 2:12-26

2:12-17

1a. What is the “same event” the Preacher references? What specific question does this reality raise in his mind? 

1b.  What does he mean in verse 16 by “all will be forgotten”?

1c. How does this affect his attitude toward life?

2:18-26

2a. Why does the Preacher hate his toil?

2b. Translate into plain language (poetic language often needs translation) what it means to give your heart up to despair? (verse 20) How does doing that affect us? (verse 23)

2:24-26

3. Here we see the Preacher changing his attitude even though this does not change his realities. What then is the purpose of living wisely (unto God) that the Preacher concludes in this section?

Read Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

9:1-6

Last week  we learned that the Preacher is testing his hypothesis that all is vanity under the sun with a great experiment and that any great experiment requires repetitions with minor variations. So, after testing with variations (chapters 3- 8), the Preacher returns to the subject of the “same event” again here in chapter 9. 

4. How is the Preacher’s content and presentation similar yet different from chapter 2?

5.  In Scripture, hope means “confidence.” According to verses 4-6 what is the confidence of the living? 

9:7-10

6. The living know that someday under the sun, they will not love, but neither will they hate or envy. How does that free one “in the hand of God” (v1) to live as the Preacher commands in verses 7-10? 

9:11-18

Even if we are swift, strong, wise, intelligent, knowledgeable, death will catch us one day. Still, the Preacher closes this section with an example of a man who preserved others from death’s snare. 

7a. List the details of when, where, who, what, how in this example and how they are ironic (unexpected)?

7b. Why does the Preacher close with this example? In other words, how does it answer our opening question -- What is the point of living wisely (unto God) if we just like the fool experience “the same event”?

Living the Truth as we are sent out 

King Solomon did not know Christ, yet he esteemed the poor man who saved a “few” lives, applying wisdom instead of might, as a “great” example under the sun (v13). You do know Christ. You know what “many prophets and good people” were eager to know (Matt 13:17). 

8a. How does Christ’s life lived toward the certainty of death illustrate the point of living wisely? 

8b. Knowing you shall die and then be raised in Christ, what does wisdom dictate your priorities should include? Just list them for now.

Last week we planned an “abundant life” day for our weekend. Were you able to enjoy that? This week, we are seeing that we are to live the abundant life with a view towards death. Silently reflect on your tomorrow and your week ahead. 

Imagine these priorities were on your calendar in a regular rhythm AND you were engaging in them WITH and FOR God. 

9a. How do you feel about this kind of life? Consider the fruit you will leave behind. 

9b. How will you live out your priorities being mindful of your few days? Get very practical here. 

Praying Through the Truth for one another

A. We lose sight so quickly of why we are here and who we live WITH and FOR. Below, make a list of seven things you will seek from God so that you can live the abundant life intentionally. 

B. Pray through your list. 

C. Optional -- Every day this week, your group will pray for one of these together via text. Decide who will start the prayer and set an alarm on your phone for when that can happen. 

Daily Personal Worship

At Grace we trust Christ to transform us as we abide in Him daily.

If you are not already engaged in a Bible reading plan, then below is an option for engaging in God’s Word this week – 

Read John 13-17. Notice how Jesus is living the abundant life with His beloved disciples even as He is preparing to go to the cross. Also, as you read, notice Jesus’ priorities. What is He trying to leave with them? How is He preparing them to be rejected as He was? How is He preparing them for an intentional life lived toward certain death? 

You can pray through these passages for yourself and loved ones and for our church and community. 

God’s joy and strength to you!  

kpaulson@gracelaredo.org