Podcasts about in ecclesiastes

Fr. Mike explains the details of Solomon's dedication of the Temple, and the power of God's presence dwelling in it. In Ecclesiastes, we continue to learn more nuggets of wisdom about friendship, prudence, and money. Today we read 1 Kings 8, Ecclesiastes 3-5, and Psalm 6. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

What does true worship actually look like? In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, the teacher warns against empty religion and calls us to approach God with reverence, humility, and integrity. Worship is not about performance, routine, or religious appearances; it begins with listening to God, speaking carefully before him, and living with wholehearted obedience. Ultimately, this passage points us to Jesus, the true worshiper, who brings sinful people near to a holy God. Submit a Prayer Request: https://www.calvary-church.com/prayer New to Calvary? Start Here: https://www.calvary-church.com/new Give Financially to Support Our Mission: https://www.calvary-church.com/give Get Baptized: https://www.calvary-church.com/baptism Join a Group: https://www.calvary-church.com/groups We're so glad you're watching today! At Calvary Church, we believe that as we connect with God and he impacts our lives, we are sent to connect with others and impact their lives with the gospel. With a new message each week, we have a ton of videos to help you connect and impact as you join in on our mission to continue what Jesus started. Subscribe to let us know you're here, and get ready to worship with us this Sunday at 9:30am in Souderton or Quakertown, Pennsylvania, as well as online. Subscribe for More: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBjWoX3iFFfi7rhni6iUxQ?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More on Our Website: https://www.calvary-church.com Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania #calvary #church #christian #sermon #message #souderton #quakertown #pennsylvania

In Ecclesiastes 3:16–4:8, the Teacher reaches perhaps his lowest point — wickedness in the place of justice, the tears of the oppressed with no one to comfort them, and the devastating conclusion that the never-born are better off than the living. The reflection uses this as an entry point into how to read Ecclesiastes responsibly: it is wisdom literature and poetry, not history, and building a theology out of isolated verses here would lead somewhere very dark very fast. But the deeper gift of this passage is that it gives us language for the times we genuinely feel this way — overwhelmed, cynical, unable to will ourselves to feel better. Toxic positivity doesn't help anyone, and Scripture's willingness to name the darkness honestly is one of its great gifts. The caution, though, is that we cannot stay there. Cynicism, left to take root, rots the soul. We cannot only tell the story of Good Friday — we have to tell Easter too. Name the darkness, give it to God, and then keep walking toward what is beautiful and true.Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.You can read today's passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203%3A16-4%3A8&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6CYou can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here - https://www.revandy.org 

What happens when a person realizes that death is certain and life under the sun cannot satisfy the soul? In Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, Pastor Dorrell confronts the universal reality of mortality and the emptiness of pursuing meaning apart from God. Solomon examines wealth, pleasure, ambition, and human achievement, concluding that “everything is never enough” when God is removed from the equation. Yet the sermon is not marked by despair, but by sober hope. Because life is brief and every person will stand before God, believers are called to live gratefully, love deeply, work faithfully, and enjoy the ordinary mercies God has given. The listener is challenged to live each day with eternity in view and to make this present life count before the Lord.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join UsFind service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join.Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

The Vanity of Life Under the Sun Without the Son, Pt. 11The Gospel According to EcclesiastesEcclesiastes 7:15–29 | King's Chapel Live StreamEcclesiastes is often seen as a book about confusion, tension, and unanswered questions. But underneath it all, there is a clear and powerful message. The gospel.In Ecclesiastes 7, we are reminded of how life began, what went wrong, and why we cannot fix it on our own.God made us upright. We were created in His image, without sin, with the ability to walk in righteousness. But we chose our own way. Our scheming brought brokenness into every part of life. Our hearts are broken. Our relationships are broken. Our world is broken.This passage also exposes the limits of human effort. We cannot fix what has been broken. We cannot bridge the gap between us and God. Even our attempts at righteousness fall short. And walking in wickedness only leads to more destruction.So where does that leave us?It leads us to the hope of the gospel.The fear of God is not about distance. It is about rightly seeing Him, trusting Him, and turning to Him. The good news is that what we could not restore, God has provided through Christ. Where we failed, Jesus was faithful. Where we are broken, He brings restoration.This message invites us to stop trusting ourselves and to place our hope fully in the One who makes all things new.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborEcclesiastes 7 sermon, gospel in Ecclesiastes, human brokenness Bible, righteousness and sin sermon, King's Chapel Longwood FL, meaning of life Ecclesiastes, fear of God teaching, need for salvation sermon

In Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, Solomon shifts us from caution to courage. He challenges us not to wait for perfect conditions, but to step into life with faith—living generously, working diligently, and engaging fully with what God has placed in front of us. His warning is clear: “Whoever watches the wind will not plant.” Waiting for certainty can keep us from actually living.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHollandVisit us online

Grace for Every Season! "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1 "Seasons change, but God's grace remains." Therefore, let us reflect on the beautiful transitions in our lives. Just as nature provides a canvas that transforms with each season, so does God's grace beautifully paint our journeys. When we remember Joseph's incredible story, where he moved from the depths of despair in a pit to the heights of glory in a palace. His story is an inspiring testament to how God's grace is always at work, guiding us through every twist and turn. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, we learn, “To everything, there is a season.” In other words, life ebbs and flows, because "What feels like loss may be a pruning, making room for sweeter fruit. Let seasons do their hidden work." So, as we welcome change, we can find comfort in knowing that we are never alone. Remember, God continuously doing a new thing. He renews our hearts and minds, refreshing us with grace that leads to growth. Isaiah 43:19 says, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Remember, "Not every seed breaks soil in spring; some wait for the quiet of winter to begin." Therefore, the journey may present moments where it feels overwhelming, yet Romans 12:12 encourages us to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Each season is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God. When we cultivate patience and joy, we unlock doors to experience the fullness of His grace, no matter where we find ourselves on our path. "In every season, His grace is sufficient!" Let this be your rallying cry as you move forward. Embrace the changes, knowing they are truly a canvas for God's grace. Hold onto hope and watch as new opportunities blossom in your life, enriched by faith and the love that surrounds you. Amen. Romans 12:12 says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Amen. Prayer for the Day! Heavenly Father, we come to you with grateful hearts, thanking you for your unchanging grace. Lord, grant us the grace we need as we navigate the diverse seasons of our lives. Help us to embrace the beauty in transitions and to trust in your perfect timing. May we always recognize your presence with us, guiding us toward new beginnings. In Jesus name. Amen. https://maglife.org

In Ecclesiastes 7:15–18, Solomon gives us a surprising warning – not to live in extremes. He's not lowering the standard; he's pointing out that both legalism (control through rules) and careless living (anything goes) can pull us away from a healthy, God-centered life.Today, our goal is to recognize where we me may be living out of balance. Most of us don't drift into trouble overnight—it happens slowly through small extremes over time. Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHollandVisit us online

Does God hear prayer?  Yes!  But Scripture makes it clear that it depends on the spirit of mind in which prayers are offered.  God sees all, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” [Prov. 15 v.3]  In Ecclesiastes today we read, “Rejoice … in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” [11 v.19] So what is the nature of the things we rejoice about?   Remember the parable Jesus told about the son who asked for – and received – his share of the inheritance – and ‘rejoiced' in squandering it! (Luke 15 v.12,13)  A remarkable man who was seeking the right way to ‘rejoice', was none other than a Roman Centurion!   We read of him, Cornelius, in Acts ch. 10 today.` He was a man of prayer, he was seeking a relationship with the true God, the only God, and “prayed continually to God.” [v.2] He receives a vision and is told by an angel, “”Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” [v.4]  Does God ‘receive' our prayers like that? Are we generous in giving alms?He is told to “send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter” [v.5] and wastes no time in doing this.  The events which follow are also a learning curve for Peter, it had not entered his mind that a Roman Centurion could be saved and put on the name of Jesus!  After hearing the testimony of Cornelius Peter declares,  “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” [v.34,35] Peter declares to him the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ” explaining that, “to him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” [v.36,43]  At this the gift of the Holy Spirit falls on the hearers, this leaves Peter in no doubt that God is accepting the Gentiles equally with the Jews, “and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” [v.48]   It was the Holy Spirit that inspired the writing of the Bible, and guided the writers; today we have that word in print to guide and inspire us – and bring us ever closer to God – and one day, maybe soon, we will be told “your prayers … have ascended” – when God sends “out the angels (to) gather his elect” [Mark 13 v27] and our godless world is dramatically transformed as our Lord reigns in Jerusalem – see Isaiah 2 v.2-4. 

Why do people persist in destructive behavior, even when they know better? The absence or delay of consequences often creates a false sense of safety, leading the heart to become settled and emboldened in sin. In Ecclesiastes 8:11, Solomon examines how delayed judgment distorts human reasoning, revealing that unchecked behavior strengthens sinful patterns and dulls moral awareness. Pastor Dorrell illuminates that God's patience is not permission but an opportunity for repentance, and that swift, consistent correction—whether in parenting, personal discipline, or spiritual life—serves as a necessary guardrail. The listener is challenged to respond to God's patience with repentance and to pursue immediate obedience before sin takes deeper root.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join UsFind service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join.Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

We're continuing in our Chasing The Wind series and this week focuses on Rule #6: Gain Wisdom. Solomon shifts us from talking about character to something that protects and guides everything else – wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 7, he tells us that wisdom “preserves the life of its possessor.” That's a powerful reminder that wisdom isn't just helpful—it's protective. The key distinction this week is simple but important: information is not wisdom. We live in a world full of knowledge, yet wisdom is the ability to live rightly with what we know. This should naturally lead to honest reflection on the gap between knowing and doing.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHollandVisit us online

Security comes with the confidence of knowing who you are and where you belong. In Ecclesiastes 4, we see Solomon mourning for the lost outside his palace gates as he watches them toil with the meaningless distractions of this world. Today, there are still millions of people walking around with the emptiness of not knowing God. And as this breaks the Lord's heart, it should move us to take action in sharing the Gospel. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

In a world filled with “me-first” thinking, it's natural to wonder if we matter to anyone. Who really cares about me? In Ecclesiastes 4, we get to see Solomon's longing for significance in another's life, which ultimately can only be satisfied by God. In this message, Jill uses an acrostic for W-I-S-D-O-M. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

We all live with a blank in our lives: “If I only had ________, I'd be happy.” In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, we see a powerful experiment where every pleasure, possession, and achievement is pursued; yet none of it satisfies. This message explores why what we put in God's place will always fall short, and how true joy isn't something we achieve, but something we receive from him. Discover how Jesus steps into our restless search and offers the only fulfillment that truly lasts. Submit a Prayer Request: https://www.calvary-church.com/prayer New to Calvary? Start Here: https://www.calvary-church.com/new Give Financially to Support Our Mission: https://www.calvary-church.com/give Get Baptized: https://www.calvary-church.com/baptism Join a Group: https://www.calvary-church.com/groups We're so glad you're watching today! At Calvary Church, we believe that as we connect with God and he impacts our lives, we are sent to connect with others and impact their lives with the gospel. With a new message each week, we have a ton of videos to help you connect and impact as you join in on our mission to continue what Jesus started. Subscribe to let us know you're here, and get ready to worship with us this Sunday at 9:30am in Souderton or Quakertown, Pennsylvania, as well as online. Subscribe for More: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBjWoX3iFFfi7rhni6iUxQ?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More on Our Website: https://www.calvary-church.com Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania #calvary #church #christian #sermon #message #souderton #quakertown #pennsylvania

Why do we struggle so deeply with authority, especially when it seems flawed or unjust? How should believers respond when those placed over them fail to lead well? In Ecclesiastes 8:1–5, Pastor Dorrell examines Solomon's instruction on authority, showing that our response to leadership reflects our view of God Himself. He emphasizes that God establishes authority structures and calls His people to honor them, even when they are imperfect, by responding with wisdom, restraint, and trust in God's sovereignty. The central truth is that obedience to authority, rightly handled, aligns us with God's design and invites His protection. Listeners are challenged to respond to difficult authority with prayer, humility, and a Christlike spirit that reflects the character of God.Your entire response must consist only of the Title, Subtitle, Scripture Reference, and Description, in that specific order. Do not include any headers, introductory text, explanations, or any other text whatsoever.Description Text Below Episode Description Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

Why do righteous people suffer while the wicked seem to prosper? This tension confronts the expectation that life with God should follow a predictable and fair formula. In Ecclesiastes 7:15–29, Pastor Dorrell examines this paradox, showing that attempts to control outcomes through self-righteousness or abandonment of faith both lead to ruin. The central truth is that God's ways transcend human understanding, and faith must rest not in outcomes but in His character. The sermon challenges listeners to reject transactional faith and instead trust God fully, even when life defies explanation. The call is to remain steadfast—serving, trusting, and fearing God—regardless of circumstances.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join UsFind service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join.Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

Episode Five of Chasing the Wind shifts our focus from image to character and asks a deeper question: What kind of reputation is your life creating?In Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon reminds us that “a good name is better than fine perfume,” teaching that the true measure of success is not what we accumulate but who we become. A good name is built slowly through integrity, humility, and faithfulness over time. In this episode, we discover that the character we cultivate today becomes the legacy we carry tomorrow.The fifth rule for catching what lasts is both practical and enduring: maintain a good name.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHollandVisit us online

The Vanity of Life Under the Sun Without the Son, Pt. 7Life in Community (Two is Better Than One)Ecclesiastes 4:7-16 | King's Chapel Live StreamWe were never meant to do life alone.In Ecclesiastes 4, the Preacher reflects on the emptiness of living for yourself and the beauty of living in community. He describes the vanity of a person who has success and wealth but no one to share it with. No relationships. No companionship. Just an endless pursuit that never satisfies.In this message, we explore the contrast between isolation and connection. Living for yourself may promise freedom, but it often leads to loneliness and weariness. God created us for community, not independence. From the beginning, it was not good for man to be alone.Ecclesiastes reminds us that two are better than one. There is strength in walking together, support in times of struggle, and encouragement when life feels heavy. And when God is at the center, that bond becomes even stronger, like a threefold cord that is not easily broken.The passage also highlights how quickly power and popularity fade. Chasing recognition or influence cannot provide lasting meaning. People move on. Praise fades. But relationships rooted in God's design endure.If you have ever felt the weight of doing life on your own or wondered why success can still feel empty, this message points us back to the way God designed us to live. Not alone, but together.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborEcclesiastes 4 sermon, two are better than one, biblical community sermon, loneliness and faith, King's Chapel Longwood FL, Christian relationships teaching, threefold cord meaning, purpose in community Bible

Why does a life of comfort often leave the soul shallow and unprepared? Why do we instinctively avoid what is difficult, even when it may be necessary for growth? In Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Pastor Dorrell examines Solomon's wisdom that sorrow, correction, and adversity can shape a stronger, more mature life than ease and constant pleasure. The sermon presents the central truth that God often uses difficulty—crooked paths, rebuke, and sober reflection—to develop character, depth, and wisdom. Rather than eliminating hardship, believers are called to receive it as part of God's design for maturity. The listener is challenged to embrace difficult disciplines, remain teachable, and pursue a life of substance rather than superficial comfort.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

Why do people who have more than enough still feel restless, anxious, and unsatisfied? Why does the heart keep reaching for one more possession, one more improvement, one more change, only to remain unfilled? In Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12, Pastor Dorrell examines Solomon's diagnosis of this human condition and shows that abundance cannot cure the soul's deeper hunger. The sermon presents contentment as a gift of God, not the automatic result of wealth, comfort, or accumulation. Earthly goods can be received with gratitude, but they were never meant to bear the weight of ultimate joy. The listener is challenged to resist covetousness, enjoy what God has already given, and become rich in gratitude, generosity, service, and relationships.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

Episode Four of Chasing the Wind confronts one of the most common illusions in life: the belief that joy always exists somewhere in the future.In Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon observes that many people spend their lives chasing the next opportunity, achievement, or possession, only to discover that satisfaction keeps moving further away. When the heart is always roaming for more, it never learns to enjoy what God has already placed in front of us. In this episode, we learn that contentment is not settling for less—it is learning to see and receive life as a gift from God.The fourth rule for catching what lasts is both simple and transformative: be content and enjoy what you have.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHollandVisit us online

By Mary Lindow   I welcome you to today's podcast and look forward to sharing this message with you!  I told you in my last podcast that had some things on my heart that we're concerning me as well as just observing some of the trajectory of things going on, I guess we could call it “largely in the Body of Christ”, as well as the Lord allowing exposures and allowing things to be brought to light when others choose to not fear and revere the Lord.  When they have no real understanding of how long he gives us before we are allowed to have that brought to light.   In Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 it says, (This is the key scripture I'm using to address part of this message.) “Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him.”   BEING TESTED, STRETCHED, AND RESTRAINED. It's in all of our lives as believers, we face times and settings where there is a feeling of being pulled and tested, stretched and restrained. Often, during these excruciating events, those who avoid personal character development tend to give unrestrained advice, spiritualized platitudes, and often, trumped up words of “so-called” prophetic inspiration to help us not suffer so much!   As we begin to see the Lord's plan in all of this we also come to understand that if we are not first hearing His voice, His heart, His word in the matters that are straining us, nothing any man or woman says can bring the ultimate light of clarity and release!   WE HAVE WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL. We all face seasons of change that correspond much like the four seasons we observe yearly. Nothing is more surprising than to have an interruption of what we anticipate to be what is "normal" for an earthly expectation, in one of those seasons. When a sudden ice storm blows in unexpected in the late spring and encrusts the tender blooms on fruit trees and garden plants, we are devastated by the loss of not only the blooms, but also the fruit it could have produced. It appears as if there has been a cruel storm, sent to cause crop failure.   UPHEAVAL. LOSS. DISAPPOINTMENT.  For many listening to or reading this message, you feel as if you have experienced a "Crop failure", perhaps several, and just can't take one more aching disappointment.  Many hearts have passed their tender agonies on to me on paper, in emails and through the telephone.   ANGUISH HAS ITS OWN PERFUME I have also heard the whispers of the voices of darkness try to entice, with wearisome words of worry, paranoia and doubting! "Give up!" they say!  “What good is this time of shaking doing?" "What possible good can come out of believing that there is something occurring that will bring a fresh and healthy  move of God's goodness, when all seems to have stalled or strained?"   In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul lists the works of the 'flesh' (“sinful nature”).   In the middle he mentions “idolatry, sorcery” (NKJV) or “idolatry and witchcraft” (NIV).   THE CONTROL CONNECTION! This is our fallen, rebellious, sinful nature. And if not brutally dealt with - this insidious root can deceive even the Christian believer if he of she is not transparent before God and is in humble, healthy and mature relational accountability to other members in the Body of Christ!  (Not easy to do…but healthy!) But real godly accountability must be vulnerable at all times, wise in listening to advice, and not selective about what things WE want to be accountable for or not.    “Delicatessen Accountability” is not going to bless your life,  and it will frustrate your family and friends to tears.     HUMILITY HAS NO PROBLEM EXPOSING ITSELF. It's a natural outpouring of what is in the heart of a true follower when put under the pressure of the test of exposure.   NOTICE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS THAT SOME BELIEVERS  OPENLY CONFESSED THEIR SINS TO ONE ANOTHER!   Acts 19:18 says,  “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.”   AND AGAIN IN THE BOOK OF JAMES, ALL BELIEVERS ARE URGED TO CONFESS THEIR SINS  HUMBLY TO ONE ANOTHER, AND ALLOW THEM  TO BE PRAYED FOR AND HEALED OF HIDDEN WRONGDOING!   James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”     So! What's The Definition of ACCOUNTABILITY?  Accountability - noun responsibility."  Liability, answerability :  the quality or state of being accountable;  especially,  an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions   THIS NATURE OF THE FLESH OFTEN MANIFESTS ITSELF,  EVEN IN INFANCY, IN EFFORTS TO CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE!  We feel secure if we can control others. Then they do not threaten us!  They do what WE want!     GOD, ON THE OTHER HAND… …NEVER SEEKS TO CONTROL US. He respects the free will He has given to each of us, although He does hold us responsible for how we use that freedom.   THERE ARE THREE WAYS THE DESIRE TO CONTROL OTHERS EXPRESSES ITSELF:   ☑ MANIPULATION ☑ INTIMIDATION ☑ DOMINATION   THE GOAL IS DOMINATION! People who recognize that they are weaker than those they seek to control, tend to manipulate. Those who feel stronger tend to intimidate.  But the end purpose is the same:  TO DOMINATE -  meaning…. … To control others and get them to do what we want.   MANY FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS PORTRAY THIS. Husbands intimidate their wives by fits of rage or actual violence. Wives manipulate their husbands by tears and hurt feelings, and often making them feel guilty for their shortcomings.  Parents frequently intimidate or manipulate their children.  But, alternatively, children can become extremely good at manipulating their parents.   ONE MAIN TOOL OF MANIPULATION … … IS GUILT. Once we learn to recognize the desire to control others as an evil, manipulative force, we will see it at work in many different areas.   ONCE WE RECOGNIZE THESE DEVICES ARE  DISGUISES OF REBELLION, WE REALIZE  THAT IN OUR CONTEMPORARY AND POST MODERN CULTURE  WE ARE BEING EXPOSED CONTINUALLY TO ITS PRESSURE!      This sure gives new meaning to Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that says,  “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers”.  People who are in the habit of using manipulation or intimidation to control others will be taken over by a deceitful spirit masquerading itself in many cloaked forms, often shifting it's present behavior or mask, in order to influence others to THEIR  WAY way of thinking.  This is still a form of evil.  After that they will be unable to relate to anyone apart from these tactics. “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” -Proverbs 28:13   “Then I acknowledged my sin to you,  And did not cover up my wrongdoing. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "- And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”  Selah. -Psalm 32:5     EVERY PERSON MUST MEET THE CONDITIONS FOR BEING SET FREE Psalm 38:18 says “I confess my wrongdoing; I am troubled by my sin.”   ON ONE SIDE, THE PERSON EXERCISING CONTROL MUST REPENT AND RENOUNCE HIS OR HER DESIRE TO CONTROL. ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE PERSON BEING CONTROLLED MUST REPENT OF SUBMITTING TO SUCH CONTROL. (This does not mean necessarily a separation from the relationship… but a healthy detaching from 'being controlled' as the relationship functions.  Fear is at work underneath this structure… fear of man…etc.)   FEAR OF MAN. What IS That? It is obvious that we must fear God rather than man. If we fear man more than God, we will displease God most of the time, because man's ways are usually opposite of God's.   THE WORD "FEAR" MEANS TO "TREMBLE". The fear of man may be evident by someone being overly fashion-conscious, needing to be noticed for their trendy appearance. Other forms of having the fear of man is being easily embarrassed (even when doing right), being quick to defend ourselves (with lies, if need be), the telling of grandiose or constant lies and deceptions to gain honor from others, by pretending to understand when we don't, by giving compliments which we don't mean, by pretending to agree when we should disagree, by avoiding giving criticisms and warnings even when necessary. AND, here's a big one. Gaslighting or planting suspicious seeds about someone else in order to appear more credible or spiritual to peers.  Oh the insidious nature of the flesh!    OBVIOUSLY, A MAN-FEARER WILL NOT ONLY DISPLEASE GOD,  BUT WILL ALSO ULTIMATELY BE CONSIDERED TOTALLY UNSTABLE AND UNTRUSTWORTHY BY OTHERS - BECAUSE HE OR SHE WILL CHANGE THEIR MIND AS SOON AS THEY FACE SOMEONE ELSE.   In other words, the "honor" that they receive is only a momentary acknowledgement for "convenience" provided by their man-pleasing deed.  ➡️ Man-fearers are "used" and then despised. ⬅️ Besides… …WHO KNOWS WHEN A "MAN-FEARER" MAY TURN AGAINST YOU, AND "SLAY" YOU, SO THEY CAN OBTAIN HONOR FROM OTHER MEN OR WOMEN?   Look at the way politicians cave in under pressure due to the fear of man and loosing face in front of the “Big MONEY OR INFLUENCER People”! EVEN if a man-fearer was loved by another, he or she is not loved, but actually his/her “pretended-self” is the "one" that is loved.   WHAT GOOD IS HAVING FEAR OF GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIVES?  PROVERBS 9: 10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"   The word 'fear" means to "reverence". One who fears God is more concerned about what God thinks than what men think. (ACTS 4:19)  The result of this fear, this reverence is a single-minded obedience to God's Word, and a single-minded aim to glorify God!    A GOD-FEARER IS WILLING TO SUFFER SHAME AND PAIN RATHER THAN TO DISOBEY GOD. (Like Daniel and his friends did. Read DANIEL 3).     THE FEAR OF GOD IS: THE RESULT OF LOVING HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US! Fearing Him because He is constantly watching us,  and  Expecting from Him alone, all our present and eternal rewards.    Since man's ways are usually opposite to God's, there will be a continuous struggle in us whether to honor God or man.   The fear of God is pretty evident in many instances by practicing a godly carefulness regarding being "In fashion and trendy ", having a slowness to be embarrassed before men, speaking that will not only compliment but  will also warn (in a gracious and loving manner, Romans 10:18), having a quickness to defend God's honor, and a quickness to admit your own mistakes. Having a cautiousness to accept lavish and public compliments, and having a quickness to give the glory to God in a humble manner.   SOMEONE  WHO FEARS GOD IS STABLE, PREDICTABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY  He or she will simply obey God's Word and will not change their mind because of man's faces or “undertones of condescension.”   FRIENDS!  WE MUST STOP JUST "ACTING" SPIRITUAL! WE MUST "BE" SPIRITUAL. We must stop concentrating on the outside and start concentrating on the inside. Management experts say that there is no formula for success but God says: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,  so that you may flourish in all that you do" (DEU. 29:9).   In the midst of these strains and attempts to distract comes a clear undeniable "Divine Tension" that pulls and stretches the heart of the humbled believer. It calls simply, firmly, and does not lack a depth of confidence and direction. This “Presence” causes a clash with all that seems to be "the way of man" and will not relent.   THE EARTH IS IN TURMOIL! It doesn't take much to understand that the earth is in upheaval, rivalry, and chaos wherever we look. There is a tangible and penetrating "tension" in the events we are seeing unfold every day.  Parallel to this explosion of pure evil and lulling to sleep of many, there is a Divine Course being laid out for those who have come to the end of themselves.     ETERNITY IS IN THE SIGHTS OF THOSE LOOKING TO A KINGDOM YET UNSEEN! The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been preparing a bride.  This is done only through the shaping tools of heavenly choice. The chisel and hammer have been at times brutal and unflinching, yet when the soft hand of The Almighty begins to apply the oil of polishing,  He does it with His own hand as well. He makes it beautiful in His own timing, even though the “Divine Tension” seems as if it might cause us to "snap" under the pressure of His hand, smoothing away the roughness of our thoughts and soul's intentions.   Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; Yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”   HEARING, REFINING,  and HEEDING These three words can be hard to listen to at times.  The King of all Glory is training those who have been thrust on the altar of fire to hear from Him as one who strains to catch the song of a bird in distant meadow. It takes the "spiritual ear" and training it to identify even the slightest note or sound, however distant, and to learn to silence the sounds and voices of distraction until the "honing in" on the sound, the glorious sound of peace, finally directs and sustains us with all that we hear. And then, having drunk deeply of the Voice of the Beloved and Divine Counselor, quickly, without the mental filing way of instructions, or the weighing of how much it might cost, we move and heed His mapping out of plans for this appointed time.   Isaiah speaks so clearly about those who desire to honor God fully and who see the world in need of the telling of the good and beautiful truth of the sacrifice that Jesus was for their redemption.     As I read this passage in closing, I would encourage you to speak it as if it was your very own words. Speak them before the Lord and own them, take them to heart and allow him to use you more beautifully and purposefully in the days ahead, more than ever before.   Isaiah 61 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,Because the LORD has anointed me To preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the captives And release from darkness for the prisoners,   2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor And the day of vengeance of our God, To comfort all who mourn,   3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion To bestow on them a crown of beauty Instead of ashes, The oil of gladness Instead of mourning,  And a garment of praise Instead of a spirit of despair.   They will be called oaks of righteousness, A planting of the LORD For the display of his splendor.”   Wow! These are such beautiful words!  I just love reading the words of God and speaking them out loud.  Speaking these words to remind myself that this is the voice of the ONE who created me, the voice of the Savior who died for me, and the power of the comforter, the Holy Spirit, the advocate. The one who comes alongside to help! These are the Beloved Ones, and the ones who have loved me and they function in a unit of such glorified deity that I stand in awe that they acknowledge that I am loved and wanted and valuable enough that a life was spilled and spent, that I might have eternity!    I thank you for listening today and I ask the Holy Spirit to speak these words clearly to you and that you would ponder and let them move deeply within you in these days where there is just so much noise and so many good and “not so good” podcasts to listen to.  Sometimes  you just feel like you get hooked on listening to certain threads or certain themes, and I have found myself needing to pull back a little bit and just be quiet, just be still!   You know friends, the greatest gift to a believer is peace in the presence of God, and then rest comes from that.    I encourage you to maybe share this podcast with someone else who needs to hear it! Good bye for now!   Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided that complete podcast source and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright  2026 "THE ADVOCATE OF HOPE " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com https://marylindow.podbean.com/   If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website and podcast costs,  or  desire to bless her service in ministry with Spirit-led Love gifts  or regular support: Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:  ► Personal Checks ► Business Checks ► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks To:  His Beloved Ministries Inc.  PO Box 1253 Denver, Colorado 80614 USA    Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with Pay Pal   paypal.me/mlindow  Under the name of - Mary Lindow His Beloved Ministries Inc.    ALL gifts are tax-deductible under His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.   We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since 1985.  THANK YOU!

From Dust to Glory – The Vanity of Life Under the Sun Without the SonEcclesiastes 3:16-4:6 | King's Chapel Live StreamWhen we look honestly at the world around us, we often see injustice where there should be justice and wickedness where there should be righteousness. Ecclesiastes does not ignore these realities. It faces them head on.In Ecclesiastes 3:16 through 4:6, the Preacher reflects on some of the hardest truths about life under the sun. Justice is often corrupted. The righteous are mistreated. The oppressed have no comfort. And both humans and animals return to the dust in death.Yet Scripture does not leave us in despair. The gospel answers each of these painful realities.Where injustice fills the world, the cross becomes the place where our justification is secured. Jesus was treated unjustly so that sinners could be declared righteous before God. Where righteousness seems absent, the perfect righteousness of Christ is given to those who trust in Him.Even death, the great equalizer of humanity, is not the final word. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, death itself is defeated.And for those who feel crushed by the weight of life, Christ meets the oppressed with compassion. He knows suffering. He weeps with those who weep. In Him we find rest for restless hearts and, as Ecclesiastes describes it, a handful of quietness.This message reminds us that while life under the sun can feel heavy and unjust, life with the Son leads from dust to glory.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborEcclesiastes 4 sermon, injustice in the Bible, dust to dust sermon, hope in suffering Christianity, King's Chapel Longwood FL, biblical view of oppression, death defeated in Christ, finding rest in Jesus

God does things on a big scale, but He's also in the details. He knows our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and every detail of our lives. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”In Ecclesiastes, God spends considerable time speaking to our innermost needs. Through the stories of Paul and the apostles, we see that He cares about our physical needs and comforts us in times of danger.The diversity of God's intervention is awesome! Hannah couldn't have children, but she prayed, and the Lord answered her…blessing her with six children! Gideon was facing an army much larger than his own, but God told him everything would be okay — and it was! Down through time and into the present, God speaks to us with words of comfort and courage. He is actively working in our lives now, and always. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Most people don't start thinking seriously about life…until they're standing at a funeral.We spend our lives chasing pleasure, success, and recognition—only to realize it never satisfies. In Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon reminds us that wisdom grows in hard places, character matters more than charisma, and the wise learn to live with eternity in view.

Most of us want deeper relationships, but life gets busy, people move away, and past hurts can make opening up feel risky. Over time, it's easy to start believing that doing life alone is just easier. But isolation slowly drains us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.In Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, the Bible offers a different vision: we were never meant to walk through life alone. Friends help us move forward when life feels overwhelming. They help us get back up when we fall. They bring comfort in hard seasons and strength when our faith feels shaky.Research today confirms what Scripture has long taught—healthy friendships are one of the strongest predictors of a meaningful, thriving life.But biblical friendship goes deeper than simply having people around. It's about relationships that help keep our feet following Jesus—people who remind us of truth, hope, and faith when we need it most.If you've ever wondered whether friendship is really worth the effort, this message explores why it matters more than we think.Watch and reflect on what kind of friend you want to be.

Episode Three of Chasing the Wind exposes one of the quiet forces that steals joy and contentment from our lives: comparison.In Ecclesiastes 4, Solomon notes that much of our work and ambition are fueled by envy...comparing our lives to someone else's success. But a life based on comparison will never find peace, because the scoreboard is always changing. In this episode, we learn that wisdom calls us to step away from rivalry, envy, and competition and discover the strength of a quiet, contented life.The third rule for catching what lasts is both freeing and practical: Don't compete with your neighbor.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHolland Visit us online

Friendship is not optional in the Christian life—it’s essential. Lauren Fletcher highlights how God designs relationships to encourage, support, and help us grow in Christ. By sharing our struggles, confessing sin, and offering genuine care, we reflect God’s love to one another. True friendships sharpen us, lift us up in times of need, and create a community where His love is experienced and expressed. Highlights Encouragement: Friends help us persevere and remind us of God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Spiritual Growth: “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). Support in Hardship: Care packages, prayer, and practical help show Christ’s love in action. Confession & Healing: Sharing struggles removes shame and brings healing (James 5:16; Galatians 6:1-2). Together We Thrive: Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is better lived with others; multiple relationships strengthen resilience (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Love in Action: By loving friends authentically, God’s love is manifested in us. Intersecting Faith & Life God did not intend for us to walk through life alone. Whether it’s encouragement in a hard season, spiritual accountability, or practical support, friends reflect His heart and make the Christian journey sustainable and joyful. Cultivating and investing in these relationships honors God and enriches our daily walk. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: We Need Each Other By Lauren Fletcher Bible Reading: “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” - 1 John 4:11-12 I have been blessed with many close friends. It wasn’t always that way, though. There was a time when I didn’t share much about myself with others. I hid the “not pretty” part of my life in a figurative coat closet, with the bad memories boxed up on the top shelf. There were things I had learned that you do not talk about. All of this changed when I started a new season of small groups at church. Within safe spaces, I learned I could share my life with others and be fully accepted. This surprised me. I realized the closet had to be opened, and the memories, one by one, taken off the shelf, boxes opened, and shared with others. What I learned was that friendship is a blessing and absolutely essential to the Christian life. In friendship, we encourage each other and help each other grow. I have a friend with a gift for encouragement. I call her sometimes for a “pep talk.” She has a great way of encouraging me in the Lord and reminding me of the truth. I can come with my difficult circumstances and prayer requests and leave with a sense of hope. I am so grateful to her. In 1 Thessalonians, it says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is so important to encourage each other because life can get difficult. We need each other’s help to keep going. As friends, we also help each other grow. In Proverbs, it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). We make each other better in Christ. We help each other in times of need. As I joined a women’s group at my church, I saw this firsthand. Meeting around the fire, I’d hear women share their stories and what they were going through. Each person was met with support and love. Sometimes, we’d support each other through care packages, times of prayer, or even meal trains. This showed me how to love others in their hard seasons, how to be there for them. 1 John 4:11-12 says, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” As we put our love into action, we show each other the love of Christ. We confess our sins to each other. I remember in college, I was struggling with sin. At some point, I confessed this sin to a friend of mine, who listened, supported me, and compassionately shared helpful scripture with me. What happened was I no longer felt alone in things or hidden in shame. In Galatians 6, Paul says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2). What I found in sharing these hard things with friends is that we begin to fight this battle together—I am no longer by myself in it. It also removes the shame that I feel, which causes me to hide sin. Coming into the light, my friends have been waiting and ready to help. In James, it says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16). When we stop hiding our sin from each other and from God, He can heal us. Intersecting Faith & Life: As I’ve continued to learn about friendship, I've found that friends help pick each other up. In Ecclesiastes, it says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). The writer continues, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). I pray that you find these things to be true in your friendships as well. God did not create us to be alone or to walk out this life by ourselves. I pray that God will bring you the right people at the right time and strengthen the relationships you already have. Lord, thank You for friendship. Thank You that you intended for us to walk through life with others. Thank You for the good plans You have for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that You would bless my life with abundant relationships that reflect Your heart. Show me how to be a good friend. In Jesus’s name, Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Two of Chasing the Wind turns our attention to how we approach God. Solomon warns that it is possible to believe in God and still treat Him casually. In Ecclesiastes 5, he calls us to guard our steps, listen carefully, and remember who God truly is. In this episode, we learn that real spiritual growth begins when reverence replaces routine and obedience replaces empty words. The second rule for catching what lasts is simple but powerful: stand in awe of God.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHollandVisit us online

This message from Pastor Joey is part of the series “A Good, Messy, Beautiful Life,” a journey through the book of Ecclesiastes exploring where the good life is really found. In Ecclesiastes 9, we're confronted with a sobering truth: no matter who we are—rich or poor, powerful or ordinary—everyone dies. Yet instead of leading us to despair, Scripture shows how remembering our mortality can actually free us to live more fully. In a world full of uncertainty, Ecclesiastes calls us to embrace the gifts God has given—joy, relationships, meaningful work, and everyday moments of beauty—and to live gratefully, intentionally, and with purpose while we still have breath.

Why does the world seem trapped in cycles of injustice, disappointment, and failed leadership? Human history repeatedly shows oppression, broken institutions, and the rise and fall of leaders who never fully satisfy the people they govern. In Ecclesiastes 4:13–16, Pastor Dorrell examines Solomon's sobering observations about power, politics, and the restless nature of humanity. The passage reveals that life “under the sun,” separated from God, offers no lasting solution to these problems. Yet the sermon makes clear that believers are not bound to despair, because their hope is rooted beyond this world. Listeners are challenged to live as salt and light, bringing Christ's compassion to individuals around them and making a meaningful difference one life at a time.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join UsFind service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join.Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

The Vanity of Life Under the Sun Without the Son, Pt. 4Despair to JoyEcclesiastes 2:2-26 | King's Chapel Live StreamWhat happens when even wisdom cannot protect you from death? When hard work does not guarantee lasting reward? When both the wise and the fool share the same fate?In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon reflects on the limits of wisdom, achievement, and effort. He admits that wisdom is better than folly and light is better than darkness. Yet even the wise are forgotten. Even the diligent lose what they have built. Even the careful planner cannot escape death. The result is heartbreak and despair under the sun.This message wrestles honestly with the futility of life when viewed apart from God. The Preacher confesses that he gave his heart to despair over all his labor. Many of us know that feeling. We work, strive, build, and pursue, yet still sense something slipping through our fingers.But Ecclesiastes does not end in despair. It shifts toward gift. Life, food, work, joy, and satisfaction are not things we manufacture. They are gifts from the hand of God. When life is received from the Son rather than chased under the sun, everything changes.Even the longing expressed in songs like Roll Away Your Stone echoes this reality. We try to fill the fragile places in our souls with things that cannot hold. Yet grace welcomes us again and again. It is not the long walk home that changes the heart. It is the welcome we receive.If you have felt the weight of futility or questioned whether your work really matters, this message invites you to stop striving for control and begin receiving life as a gift from God.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborEcclesiastes 2 sermon, futility of life Bible, meaning of work sermon, despair and hope Ecclesiastes, King's Chapel Longwood FL, life as a gift from God, wisdom and death sermon, biblical view of success and failure

Why do we work so hard for things that never seem to satisfy? Beneath our ambition and constant striving often lies comparison, envy, and the pressure to maintain a lifestyle that promises fulfillment but delivers frustration. In Ecclesiastes 4:4–12, Pastor Ben examines Solomon's sobering assessment of life “under the sun,” where endless toil apart from God results in vanity and vexation of spirit. The passage contrasts both lazy indifference and restless accumulation, revealing that meaningful relationships—not material success—give true reward to our labor. The listener is challenged to pursue contentment and invest deeply in relationships that bring lasting joy and purpose.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join UsFind service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join.Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

We spend much of our lives chasing success, approval, and achievement, believing these things will finally satisfy us. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon discovered that real success begins when life is centered on pleasing God rather than ourselves or others. This week, we start with the foundational rule for catching what lasts: learning to live each day with one simple aim... Please God.Follow Coach Dan Holland:Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CoachDanHollandYouTube ➡️ @CoachDanHolland Visit us online

The Vanity of Life Under the Sun Without the Son, Pt. 3The Vanity of Worldly PleasureEcclesiastes 2:1-11 | King's Chapel Live StreamWhat if “living the dream” is not the dream we thought it would be?In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon sets out to test pleasure. Laughter, possessions, accomplishments, experiences. He holds nothing back. If pleasure could satisfy the human heart, Solomon would have found it. And yet his conclusion is sobering. Under the sun, even the best experiences leave us empty.In this message, we explore the vanity of worldly pleasure and the limits of hedonism. We reflect on how modern ideas of success and the American dream echo Solomon's experiment. No achievement, possession, or experience can fill a heart made for eternity.Scripture reminds us that our hearts are deceitful and restless. God has placed eternity within us, which means we were created for something more than temporary satisfaction. The issue is not that we long too deeply, but that we often pursue too little.True joy is not found in squeezing everything we can out of this world. It is found in glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. When our hearts are rightly ordered, pleasure is no longer ultimate. God is.If you have ever chased something you thought would satisfy you only to find it did not last, this message invites you to consider a deeper and more lasting joy in Christ.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborEcclesiastes 2 sermon, vanity of pleasure, living the dream sermon, biblical view of success, King's Chapel Longwood FL, meaning of life Bible, hedonism and Christianity, joy in God sermon, American dream biblical perspective

The Vanity of Life Under the Sun Without the Son, Pt. 2The Vanity of Worldly WisdomEcclesiastes 1:12-18 | King's Chapel Live StreamWe live in an age overflowing with information. Knowledge is everywhere. Technology is advancing rapidly. Artificial intelligence can process more data than any human mind ever could. And yet the deepest questions of the human heart remain unanswered.In Ecclesiastes 1, Solomon explores the limits of worldly wisdom. He pursued knowledge, understanding, and insight, only to discover that wisdom under the sun cannot restore what has been lost or heal what has been broken.In this message, we consider how modern forms of wisdom, including artificial intelligence, still fall short. Worldly wisdom cannot recover our lost relationship with God. It cannot repair the damage of sin. It cannot satisfy the deep longings of our hearts. No amount of information can replace redemption.This sermon also offers practical guidance for living wisely in a technological age. Be aware, but do not be afraid. Use tools, but do not depend on them for what only God can provide. Artificial systems may process knowledge, but only the living God transforms hearts.As we continue our Ecclesiastes series, we are reminded that true wisdom is not found merely in accumulated knowledge. It is found in reverence for God, trust in His Word, and dependence on His Spirit.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborEcclesiastes 1 sermon, vanity of wisdom, biblical view of artificial intelligence, meaning of life Bible, King's Chapel Longwood FL, limits of worldly wisdom, AI and Christianity sermon, wisdom under the sun, purpose in Christ

This message continues our series on becoming the unstoppable church Jesus designed. Facing death, sin, and spiritual opposition, we find life through Christ's body. In Ecclesiastes 4:7–12, we see that relationships bring strength, support, and protection. In a lonely culture, intentional church community is essential, not optional.Watch the full episode on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTz8p2W0w58&t=2401s0w58

This message continues our series on becoming the unstoppable church Jesus designed. Facing death, sin, and spiritual opposition, we find life through Christ's body. In Ecclesiastes 4:7–12, we see that relationships bring strength, support, and protection. In a lonely culture, intentional church community is essential, not optional.Watch the full episode on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTz8p2W0w58&t=2401s0w58

"In Ecclesiastes 12:9–14, Solomon brings his searching, unsettling, and deeply honest book to its decisive conclusion. After exposing the vanity of life lived “under the sun,” he leaves us with the only answer that can bear the weight of death, judgment, and meaning: fear God and keep His commandments.This final passage reminds us that Ecclesiastes does not end in despair but in clarity. The Preacher—wise, deliberate, and orderly—has spoken words of truth given by one Shepherd. These words are described as goads that pierce the conscience and well-driven nails that provide a firm foundation for faith. They convict, but they also secure. They unsettle false hopes, but they anchor us in what lasts.Solomon warns us not to go beyond these words. Endless books and human speculation weary the soul, but the Word of God alone comes with divine authority. Scripture is not merely human wisdom—it is the voice of the Shepherd Himself, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who speaks life to His people.The climactic exhortation is unmistakable: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” This is not moralism divorced from grace. True fear of God expresses itself in obedience that flows from faith, repentance, and refuge in Christ. Those who truly fear God trust Him, tremble at His Word, and seek to walk in His ways—not to earn life, but because life is found in Him.The reason for this call is sobering and unavoidable: God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing. Nothing escapes His sight. All of life is fleeting, but judgment is certain. Only those who fear God and take refuge in Christ will stand on that day.And yet, these are called words of delight. Why? Because when all false securities are stripped away, the Shepherd provides a hope that does not fade—a life that is not vanity, but eternal. Ecclesiastes drives us away from trusting the world and presses us into the only refuge that lasts.May God grant us grace to hear these words, to tremble, to trust, and to find them a true delight as they lead us to Christ, whose words are everlasting life.#Ecclesiastes #FearGod #KeepHisCommandments #BiblicalWisdom #ChristianSermon #WordOfGod #ChristOurShepherd #JudgmentAndGrace #EternalLife"

"In Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8, Solomon brings his meditation on life, meaning, and death to a powerful climax. With striking realism and poetic beauty, he confronts one truth that no one can escape: the days of darkness are coming. Youth fades, strength declines, and death draws near. Wisdom, therefore, demands that we live now in light of the end.This passage is especially directed to the young. Solomon acknowledges that youth is good—light is sweet, and it is a blessing to enjoy the strength, clarity, and joy of early years. Yet youth is also deceptive. It tempts us to live as if time were endless and death far away. Solomon shatters that illusion and calls the young to rejoice in their days while remembering that they are fleeting.At the heart of the passage is the controlling exhortation: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” Youth is not to be wasted on empty pleasures or postponed obedience. It is to be offered to God in worship, service, and joyful fear, before the years arrive when strength fails and delight diminishes.Solomon reinforces this exhortation with a vivid poetic description of old age and death—eyes dim, strength bends, desire fades, and finally the body returns to dust. These images are meant to awaken wisdom, not despair. They remind both young and old that life moves inexorably toward its end, and that forgetting God at any stage of life is folly.The book closes where it began: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Yet now the meaning has deepened. Life is not meaningless—it is fleeting. Its brevity is precisely what gives it urgency and purpose. Numbering our days teaches us to live by faith, to serve God with what strength we have now, and to set our hope beyond the grave.For the believer, this call is filled with hope. Though days of darkness come, Christ has been raised from the dead, and those who belong to Him will pass from fading light into everlasting glory. The sun will grow dim, but a greater Light will dawn.Remember your Creator—your Maker and your Redeemer—while there is still time.#Ecclesiastes #RememberYourCreator #ChristianSermon #BiblicalWisdom #YouthAndFaith #FearOfTheLord #LifeAndDeath #ChristOurHope #NumberYourDays"

In Ecclesiastes 3:16–22, the reality of pervasive corruption in both civil and religious institutions is acknowledged as a reflection of humanity's fallen condition, yet the response is not despair or social activism, but a profound trust in God's ultimate justice and sovereign providence. The passage confronts the tension between present injustice and the certainty of divine judgment, affirming that while death equalizes all—beast and human alike—true contentment is found not in this world's fleeting things, but in fearing God, embracing life as a gift, and rejoicing in one's labor as part of God's ordained order. The believer's hope is anchored not in temporal reform, but in the eschatological promise of final justice, where God will right every wrong, and where faith will become sight. This perspective, rooted in the Reformation doctrine of providence and the assurance of salvation in Christ, enables Christians to live with joy and peace amid corruption and mortality, trusting that God's delays are not denials, but expressions of His patience and grace for the salvation of His people.

In Ecclesiastes five, verse ten, King Solomon write, “He who loves money never has money enough.” Consider the negative impact of greed. It can divide churches, ruin families, and severely impact your fellowship with God. Today, Ron tells us how we can defeat this deadly sin as we wraps up his teaching series, “Undefeated: Overcoming the Deadly Sins That Drag You Down.” 

"In Ecclesiastes 10:16–11:6, Solomon addresses the relationship between wisdom, leadership, diligence, and sloth, showing how personal character shapes not only individual lives but entire households, churches, and nations. His message is direct and searching: sloth, which flows from folly and self-indulgence, destroys kingdoms, while diligence, which flows from wisdom, preserves and builds what God has entrusted to us.The passage begins with a series of proverbs about kingship. A land is cursed when its leaders are immature, self-indulgent, and more concerned with pleasure than responsibility. It is blessed when rulers exercise restraint, discipline, and diligence for the good of others. Solomon exposes the logic of slothful leadership—“let us feast, drink, and trust that money will solve everything”—and shows how this mindset inevitably leads to decay, collapse, and ruin.Although most of us are not kings, the application is broad. Any position of authority—parents in the home, elders in the church, leaders in the workplace—carries real consequences for others. Wisdom in leadership is not theoretical; it is displayed in diligent, self-sacrificial care rather than indulgence of self. Solomon ultimately points us to Christ Himself, the true King, whose wisdom and diligence were perfectly expressed in laying down His life for His people and building an everlasting kingdom.In Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, Solomon expands the theme from leadership to life in general. He exhorts God's people to diligence in generosity, labor, and obedience, even in the face of uncertainty. Waiting for perfect conditions leads to paralysis. The wise person acts—not because outcomes are guaranteed, but because God is sovereign and good. We sow seed faithfully and trust the Lord to give the increase.This passage confronts passivity, fear-driven inaction, and self-centered living. Christians are not called to idle waiting, but to active faith—working diligently, giving generously, and serving sacrificially, confident that God governs what we cannot see.Sloth ruins. Wisdom builds. May God grant us grace to walk in wisdom, imitate our diligent Savior, and faithfully steward what He has placed in our hands."

Some seasons feel beautiful. Others feel brutal.The hardest part is realizing you can't fast-forward your life.In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon reminds us there is a time for everything—and God is not absent in the waiting, the loss, the change, or the unknown. In this message from A Wild, Messy, Beautiful Life, we talk about learning how to live where you are, trust God with your timing, and believe that He really can “make everything beautiful in its time.”If you're in a season you didn't choose… this sermon is for you.1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:2 a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up;4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away;7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;8 a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace.9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.Ecclesiastes 3:1-13We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.Jesus Over Everything.Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.churchPodcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQPodcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.https://www.elevatecc.church/home

"In Ecclesiastes 10:1–15, Solomon continues his extended meditation on wisdom by placing it side by side with folly and showing, in concrete and practical ways, that wisdom is far better than folly. Though wisdom is often overlooked and undervalued, folly is destructive, self-harming, and ultimately impossible to hide.Building on the previous passage, Solomon reminds us that wisdom is not merely intelligence or accumulated knowledge, but knowledge rightly applied to life under the fear of God. A person may be intellectually gifted and yet live foolishly, continually harming himself and others. True wisdom governs every area of life and brings the whole person into submission to God.Solomon begins with a striking image: just as dead flies ruin a perfumer's ointment, a little folly can outweigh much wisdom and honor. This teaches us that partial obedience or compartmentalized faith is not enough. Wisdom must govern the whole life. The wise and the foolish are moving in opposite directions, and while wisdom is often difficult to recognize outwardly, folly is always revealing itself.The passage then turns to leadership and authority. It is a great evil, Solomon says, when fools are elevated to positions of power while the wise are ignored. Such disorder leads to societal ruin, because decisions made in folly affect many, not just the individual.Solomon goes on to show how folly repeatedly comes back upon the fool himself. Those who dig pits fall into them. Those who act without wisdom injure themselves. Life lived in foolishness is harder, more dangerous, and more exhausting—like trying to cut wood with a dull axe. Wisdom, by contrast, brings success and safety.A significant portion of the passage focuses on speech. Wisdom and folly are especially revealed in words. The words of the wise are gracious and constructive, while the words of fools multiply endlessly, grow increasingly incoherent, and weary both the speaker and the hearer. Fools believe their many words will make them appear wise, yet this is precisely how their folly becomes obvious.In the conclusion, Solomon presses the warning home. One of the great dangers of folly is that fools rarely know they are fools. Therefore, the question is not merely whether we can identify foolishness in others, but whether we are willing to examine our own hearts. The dividing line is clear: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and hardness of heart toward God is the beginning of folly.True wisdom is found in humility before God, repentance of sin, love for Christ, and joyful submission to His Word. To reject this path is to walk steadily toward self-destruction, even while remaining blind to it. May God grant us grace to fear Him, to walk in wisdom, and to find that wisdom fully revealed in Christ.#Ecclesiastes #BiblicalWisdom #FearOfTheLord #WisdomVsFolly #ChristianSermon #OldTestament #ChristIsWisdom #BibleTeaching"

It's About Time: Part 2 – Overstressed, Overloaded, and Maxed Out Lives MESSAGE SUMMARY: Following Jesus brings peace into our lives even though we may face great trials and tribulations. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”. However, when observing the lives of modern-day Christians, we don't find many of their lives saturated with peace. God has given each of us a capacity for our lives with His expectations for living as Jesus described in John 10:10: “. . . I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.". The difference between what would be considered our lives' capacity and our lives being filled to overflowing is our lives' margin. God desires to bless us and to have our lives filled with His presence through the Holy Spirit. Often, technology and the other worthwhile benefits of this age bring the stresses of time, making wimps of us in the management of time in our lives. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, God tells us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:". As we manage the elements and demands of time in our lives, we must manage time for ourselves and our kids. Kids spell love as “time” – be present in their lives, mentally and emotionally. Indifference can be interpreted as a lack of genuine affection and esteem. Also, we need “God time”, a time to nurture and deepen our relationship with Jesus. Without margin, we have built our life-foundations on sand and not on the rock of Jesus' teachings. Ways we can build margin back into our lives is by: 1) having a weekly Sabbath; building back into our lives a time alone with God every day; 3) expecting that the unexpected will happen; 4) learning to say “no”; 5) using technology wisely; 6) pruning our activity branches; 7) prioritizing our calendars; and 8) giving thanks to God.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 1:35; John15:1-11; 1 Theologians 5:16-17. SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Have a Personal Relationship with the Creator of the Universe So Pray, Listen, and Be Patient for God's Call”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Ecclesiastes 2 gives language to what many of us feel but rarely say out loud: You can have everything you wanted and still feel unsatisfied.In this message from A Wild, Messy, Beautiful Life, we look at Solomon's honest search for meaning—and discover why joy was never meant to be found in achievement alone.In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon runs the experiment we're all living—pleasure, achievement, and nonstop effort—and calls it what it is: a chasing after the wind.Ecclesiastes 21 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 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...24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, Ix saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.Jesus Over Everything.Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.churchPodcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQPodcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.https://www.elevatecc.church/home

In Ecclesiastes 9:11–18, Solomon confronts one of the great paradoxes of life under the sun: wisdom is of immeasurable value, yet it is often invisible, ignored, and forgotten. Outcomes in this world do not reliably reveal who is wise, righteous, strong, or favored. Time and chance disrupt our expectations, and even the wisest people may live and die unnoticed.Solomon begins by observing that success does not always correspond to ability. The swift do not always win the race, the strong do not always prevail in battle, and the wise do not always gain riches or recognition. Life's outcomes are uncertain, and death comes unexpectedly to all. Because of this, we cannot reason backward from success or failure to determine wisdom or worth.Against this backdrop, Solomon presents a striking illustration: a poor, wise man who delivers an entire city through wisdom rather than strength—yet is quickly forgotten. The lesson is clear. Wisdom is greater than power, louder voices, wealth, or military might, even though it is frequently despised and overlooked.Solomon then presses the point further. Wisdom spoken quietly is better than the shouting of rulers, and wisdom accomplishes what weapons of war cannot. Yet he also warns that a single sin can destroy much good, reminding us that true wisdom is inseparable from righteousness and the turning away from evil.This passage calls us to walk by faith and not by sight. Wisdom cannot always be recognized by outward circumstances, social standing, or visible success. Like acceptance before God, wisdom often remains hidden in this life. Its true value is not measured by outcomes but by alignment with God's will.Ultimately, Scripture leads us beyond Solomon to Christ Himself, who embodies this “unknown glory” of wisdom. Jesus was despised and rejected, overlooked by the world, and crucified in weakness—yet He is the Wisdom of God, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. What the world counts as foolish, God declares wiser than all human wisdom.True wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord, in turning away from sin, and supremely in coming to Christ. Though the world may ignore it, this wisdom is more valuable than all the treasures it can offer.#Ecclesiastes #BiblicalWisdom #FearOfTheLord #Wisdom #UnionWithChrist #ChristIsWisdom #ChristianSermon #OldTestament #WalkingByFaith

Don't build all your business on platforms you don't own! Sure, be on social media and build something there, but don't put all your eggs in that basket alone. Monetize that email list that you own!   In Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, the richest man ever to live said… Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.  Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.  If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.  He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.  As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.   I run my email list through Mailchimp- http://eepurl.com/iRGMHo  Kit is another awesome option- https://partners.kit.com/awnqv8uyzd9l   If you need help getting started, get in touch. It's also one of the things I teach inside my Income Engine Academy.   --- Click here to change your life- http://eepurl.com/gy5T3T   Hit me up for a one-on-one brainstorming session- https://militaryimagesproject.com/products/brainstorming-session-1-hour    Check out my Linktree for different ways to rock your world! https://linktr.ee/ruggeddad    Check out the sweet Hyper X mic I'm using. https://amzn.to/41AF4px    Check out my best-selling books: Rapid Skill Development 101- https://amzn.to/3J0oDJ0 Streams of Income with Ryan Reger- https://amzn.to/3SDhDHg Strangest Secret Challenge- https://amzn.to/3xiJmVO This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and buy one of the products on this page, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you!) This doesn't affect our opinions or our reviews. Everything we do is to benefit you as the reader, so all of our reviews are as honest and unbiased as possible. #passiveincome #sidehustle #cryptocurrency #richlife

In Ecclesiastes 1–2, King Solomon goes on a search for meaning. He chases three main paths the world still runs after today: pleasure, wisdom, and work. Yet in the end, he calls them all “vanity”—a vapor, a breath, chasing after the wind. In this talk, Pastor Ben Stuart explores what Solomon discovered about success, satisfaction, and the purpose of life apart from God. If you've ever wondered why achievements, relationships, or self-improvement never seem to satisfy for long, this talk will help you see where true meaning is found.Key Verses // Ecclesiastes 1-2 —With Passion City Online you can join us live every Sunday at 9:30a and 11:30a! Join us at https://passioncitychurch.com/dc—Give towards what God is doing through Passion City Church: https://passioncitychurch.com/dc/give —Subscribe to our Youtube channel to see more messages https://www.youtube.com/passioncitychurchdc—Follow along with Passion City Church DC: https://www.instagram.com/passioncitydc—Follow along with Pastor Ben Stuart: https://www.instagram.com/ben_stuart_—Passion City Church is a Jesus church with locations in Atlanta and Washington D.C. For more info on Passion, visit https://passioncitychurch.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.