Nothing Matters?

THE TEXT: Ecclesiastes 1-2 & 1 Kings 11:1-9.(MULTILINE)

Ecclesiastes reminds us of the of → so we can live for and for !

| Ecclesiastes 3:11 | James 4:14 | Psalm 90:12 | Genesis 3:17-19 | Romans 8:21 |(MULTILINE)

Ecclesiastes encourages us to hard → and to do our best to be with the best .

| Deuteronomy 29:29 | Habakkuk 3:17-18 | John 6:66-69 | 1 Peter 3:15 |(MULTILINE)

In an upside down way, Ecclesiastes guides us to…

• To our .

| Proverbs 4:23 | Ecclesiastes 2:10 |(MULTILINE)

• To a perspective that is “.” 

| Ecclesiastes 1:13 | Psalm 19:1 | Colossians 3:1-12 |(MULTILINE)

• To find and joy in the and in your !

| Ecclesiastes 2:23-26, 12:13 | Psalm 16:11, 37:4 | John 15:11 | Philippians 4:4 |(MULTILINE)

Small Group Questions

What do you think? 

From Sunday’s service, what stood out to you, raised a question for you, or got you to think?(MULTILINE)

The story of your life?

1. What kinds of things help you find meaning and enjoyment in mundane, everyday life?(MULTILINE)
2. If you can think of one, share a story of something that someone else did that made you feel like you mattered, or what you do matters.(MULTILINE)

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

1. On Sunday, we saw how Solomon’s “under the sun” perspective eventually gave way to despair. Similarly, 1st Corinthians 1:8-11 opens a letter to an entire church with the Apostle Paul’s own experience with despair. As with Ecclesiastes, Paul’s words are strikingly honest. And yet, they differ as well. Read 1 Corinthians 1:8-11 as a group and reflect on Ecclesiastes 1-2 from Sunday (culminating in Ecclesiastes 2:20). 
   1. Compare Solomon’s experience in despair with that of the Apostle Paul. What feels similar? Different?(MULTILINE)
   2. What does this tell us about God? People and ourselves?(MULTILINE)
2. Connectedness to biblical community is a key ingredient to combat despair in our lives. Jesus discusses this in John 15:1-9. Read it together and respond to the following prompts and questions.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the main tenets of the passage.(MULTILINE)
   2. What does this tell us about God? Despair? People and ourselves?(MULTILINE)
3. The following verses highlight the importance of biblical community as a key factor to combat despair. Share any insights that might help pull you up when you feel yourself drifting down.
   1. Proverbs 18:1.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   3. James 5:13-16.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   4. Hebrews 10:24-25.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Personal Reflection and Application.

1. Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.(MULTILINE)
2. Break up into smaller groups and pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).(MULTILINE)