Calvary Baptist Church

The Conclusion of the Whole Matter Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 "When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?" "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind." Three thousand years before these songs were written, a famous "Preacher" said, "I have seen the works that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind" (1:14). As it has been said, "One thing we learn from history is that man does not learn from history." One thing that Solomon has learned in life "under the sun" is that "all is vanity" (1:2,14;2:11,17;3:19;11:8;12:8). Solomon has used the word "all" over seventy times in Ecclesiastes. There is life with God (the Shepherd,12:11), or there is life without Him "under the sun." A life of purpose, or a life of emptiness, it is all or nothingness (vanity).

Wars and Providence Daniel 11 Chapters 10-12 of the book of Daniel form the last great vision of the aged prophet. Chapter 10 reveals the great spiritual war that goes on between the forces of Satan and the God of heaven. In chapter 11 we are given a detailed prophecy of the wars of Persians, Greeks, and Romans. This prophecy is so accurate in its fulfillment that skeptics try to discredit as being written hundreds of years later. This prophecy was given to Daniel in 534 B.C..

Rejoicing and Remembering Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." (Westminster Shorter Catechism) "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The old man is now summing up his lectures to his students. He has experienced the joys of life with God and the emptiness of life without Him. He is now coming to his conclusion. Life under the sun is fleeting. True meaning and purpose in life can only be found in knowing the One who created life.

Solomon has made the transition from a morbid pessimism of life "under the sun" (chapter 1-4) to the didactic approach of giving common sense advice to a younger generation. He is now coming to some basic conclusions about life. There are principles of business which are true to Christians and to non-Christians alike.

David had pure motives in his desire to bring the ark to Jerusalem, but he failed to seek God for instructions which led to tragedy. Be with us tonight as we continue our systematic study of the Word of God.

What Are These Stones? Joshua 4:1-7, 19-24 "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So, He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:2,3). "Remember" is commanded 15 times in the book of Deuteronomy.

Solomon continues his observations of life with some pithy sayings concerning day to day "evils" he has seen "under the sun." Wisdom and folly have no social barriers. "Folly is set in great dignity" (v.6). Many a great person has been brought down by his own foolishness. There are certain laws of nature that apply to all no matter one's position in life.

Be with us tonight as we continue our study of King David. Immediately after David was established as king over all Israel, he faced a challenge which would determine the fate of two nations for generations to come. Message: Defining Moments Reading Scripture: 2 Samuel 5: 17-25

When God Answers Our Prayers Daniel 10: 1-21 "Prayer is an art, and as in all art, there is achievement in a full measure of dedication" (W.A Criswell). The last three chapters of the book of Daniel record the prophetic future of Israel which is without parallel anywhere else in Scripture. This fourth great prophecy is again set in the venue of Daniel's prayer life.

Things I Have Seen Under the Sun Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:7 The old man has told us of the emptiness of living "under the sun." As he has come out of the doldrums, he now gives objective observations of the rat race life can be. In preceding verses, he has surmised that "time and chance" (v.11) happens to us all. There are no guarantees in life under the sun. Human ability does not guarantee genuine success (9:11,12). Therefore, we should make the most of the time and the circumstances in which we find ourselves (9:7,8). Now, Solomon's observations and proverbial language dominate the rest of the book.

Authority, Mystery, and Mortality Ecclesiastes 8:2-9:12 Solomon continues his musings on life and meaning. Beginning in chapter 5, he has written of the wisdom he had gained from his experiences "under the sun." As he progresses, he becomes more and more convinced that the meaning of life can only be found in the Person who gives life. "Life under the sun" is filled with contradictions, complexities and certainties. Only when we realize there is a "time for every purpose under heaven" under God's sovereign control can find true meaning and purpose in life.

When David finally became king, one of the first actions he took was to capture Jerusalem. This is a very important event that reverberates through the rest of the Bible. Be with us tonight as we continue our study in the life and times of King David.

At times, we meet people who have walked with God, but go off on a tangent and defy all reason and experience. They have allowed the ways of the world to become dominant in their lives, and revolt against the wisdom of God (Proverbs 8:1-9:6). Solomon was such a man. The time he spent "chasing the wind" could never be made up. He had suffered bitter experiences "under the sun." He hated life (2:17). Beginning in chapter 6, Solomon begins thinking in a more God-centered way. The terms "wise" and "wisdom" become much more prevalent in his thinking. He has learned the hard way about the nasty facts of life. He now speaks from experience. True meaning and joy in life can only come from a walk with God.

King Solomon has shared his disillusionment in seeking satisfaction in life apart from the presence of God. He has explored nature, philosophy, pleasure, materialism and religion. He has found all these pursuits to be empty of meaning and lacking in satisfaction. Beginning in chapter 5, Solomon gives earthy advice from an old sinner's observations. His lessons are brutally honest.

The Handwriting on the WallScripture Reading: Daniel 5

General Counselling Principles Part IIIPsalm 139

The church in Ephesus was in many ways the apex of Paul's ministry. The letter Paul wrote to the church sets forth God's revelation of the church as an organism and the part churches would play in the accomplishment of God's purposes for the earth. God has blessed all believers "with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ" (1:3). The believers' opportunity and obligation are to discover "what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (1:18). In verses 1-14 of the first chapter, Paul sets forth the riches of God's grace. In verses 13-15, Paul prays that we will discover them.

The Lord Was With HimScripture: I Samuel 18: 1-16