Podcasts about scripture ecclesiastes

272- Have you ever told yourself you're stuck… but if you're honest, what you really want is certainty? Like: “I'll take the next step when I'm sure it's the right one.” “I'll move forward when I feel confident.” “I'll start when I feel ready.” In this episode, I'm unpacking a powerful shift that hit me after a chaotic morning. That moment led me straight into Scripture (Ecclesiastes) and a reminder I think we all need: when we chase meaning, security, or certainty outside of God (and outside the truth of who we are), it will never feel like enough. We'll talk about the difference between being stuck vs. needing clarity, what hardship can teach us (if we let it), and how to move forward with intention even when you can't see the whole path yet. I also share a few updates on the podcast and I'm inviting a specific kind of listener into a quick conversation with me (details below). In this episode, we cover: The difference between being “stuck” and wanting certainty How waiting for certainty can keep you from aligned action What Ecclesiastes teaches us about chasing meaning outside of God How hardship can refine you and teach you (if you let it) Podcast updates + what's coming next Quick ask (program research): I'm looking to have short conversations with moms who know their current way of working is no longer in alignment with the way they want to be as it relates to honoring their values and motherhood. If that's you (or you know someone like that) and you'd be open to chatting with me, email me at: angmbarnard@gmail.com Connect with Ang: Instagram: @angbarnard Website: angbarnard.com Email: angmbarnard@gmail.com Love the show? If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review. It helps more people find the show.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8; Series: Meaning(less); Speaker: Monte French, Senior Minister

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16Speaker: Bob SchwartzbeckSeries: Ecclesiastes

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7; Series: Meaning(less); Speaker: Monte French, Senior Minister

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15Speaker: Brandon EggarSeries: Ecclesiastes

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3; Series: Meaning(less); Speaker: Dr. Chad Ragsdale, Chief Academic Officer, Ozark Christian College

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26Speaker: Brandon EggarSeries: Ecclesiastes

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26; Series: Meaning(less); Speaker: Dr. Curtis McGinnis, Executive Director, Crossroads Church Partners

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11Speaker: Brandon EggarSeries: Ecclesiastes

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; Series: Meaning(less); Speaker: Isaac Karow, Associate Minister

Heavenly Father, help me to see this through your eyes.Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1Keywords: Oppression; observe; changed mind; changed heart; compassion.Best of, Summer Edition

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1–11If you feel stuck in a season that won't change, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate way to navigate uncertainty without forcing what isn't ready. We explore:*Emotional stuckness and waiting*Anxiety about the future*Control vs. surrender*Finding peace in the uncertaintyEmail us at info@dralisoncook.com with topics or passages you'd like us to cover! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a time for everything. And in those time we wait, we have hope. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

May can feel overwhelming for moms, filled with endless events, expectations, and emotional moments.Today Karen offers practical wisdom to help you navigate the busyness without losing your joy (or your mind.) From setting realistic expectations to prioritizing what truly matters, this conversation is full of encouragement.Episode Recap:May is just December with sunscreen! (0:30)May feels chaotic with elementary schoolers - how do I get through? (4:40)Sit down with your high schooler and help them prioritize (9:10)Don't be a wet blanket on your high schooler's parade (10:15)Working mom here struggling with school events - help!  (11:15)This season has me emotionally up and down with my Senior(14:35) Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”Discussion Questions: What part of May feels the most overwhelming for you right now?Are you trying to attend everything? What might you need to let go of?How can you involve your kids in deciding what matters most this month?Where are you feeling guilt, and is it justified or self-imposed?What is one small way you can slow down and enjoy this season?Resources:Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insiderPick up Karen's Prayer Journal in the BOAW StoreWant More of This Conversation?In the extended WT+ conversation, Karen and Emily get even more practical. Karen shares her system for breaking down exactly how to prioritize without feeling overwhelmed or stretched too thin. If you're craving less stress and more clarity this month, don't miss this part of the conversation!Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

In this final episode of our Ecclesiastes series, the team gathers to reflect on one of the most sobering and beautiful chapters in all of Scripture — Ecclesiastes 12. After weeks in Solomon's world of vapor and smoke, this conversation asks the question his book has been building toward: How are we actually supposed to live? We open with personal reflections on what this series has meant — and why a book this honest about suffering, aging, and death turned out to be unexpectedly life-giving. From there, we explore the Hebrew word sakar, unpacking what it really means to "remember your Creator" — not as an occasional spiritual check-in, but as a posture of living every moment in the presence of God. The conversation gets practical from there. How do you hold the tension between enjoying today's gifts and planning faithfully for the future without chasing smoke? What do we do with the reality that God will bring every secret deed into judgment — and does the gospel change how that lands?  We close by tracing Solomon's conclusion — Fear God and keep His commandments — through to Matthew 7 and the narrow gate, asking how a wisdom writer from three thousand years ago ends up pointing directly at Jesus.

This week we come to the last sermon on Ecclesiastes. So how does it end and what are we to take away from it? The writer has tried to reason out what he could understand about life if there was no God. Finding life to be meaningless and unfair, he concludes that we need to fear God and keep his commandments and he will make all things in this crazy, broken world right. Listen as we explore how this somewhat surprising answer makes sense of the whole book.Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV

Is power and authority a good thing, or a bad thing? In Ecclesiastes, Solomon observes a hard truth, “man had power over man to his hurt.” We have all experienced authority used well, and authority used badly. But what if the deeper question is not simply who has power, but how power is meant to be used? In this message, we will explore how the Bible reframes power, from God's authority that brings order out of chaos to the way Jesus redefines greatness through humble service. Listen as we discover how even the small influence we carry every day can bring healing, wisdom, and life to the people around us.Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8:9; Psalm 62:11 ESV

What if the anxiety you feel isn't just about the headlines, but about control? In Ecclesiastes 9, we're confronted with a sobering truth, life is unpredictable, and we are not in charge. So why do we keep spinning on the wheel of “Am I getting it right?” or “When is it going to happen?” The Preacher shows us a surprising way forward, not through denial, but through surrender and enjoyment. What if fighting fear begins with trusting God's sovereignty and rediscovering joy in His ordinary gifts?Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12 ESV

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Most of us would say that if we could choose between being wise or being foolish, we would like to be a wise person. But how do we become wise? The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom, and as we continue our walk through the book of Ecclesiastes, we find many calls to grow in wisdom, and many proverbs about wisdom, but not a clear statement on how to do this. In this message, we explore wisdom and try to answer the question: How can we make wise decisions?Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:11-12

Why does a good God allow a world that hurts so much? In this message, we will wrestle with one of life's most difficult questions, what Christians have long called the problem of evil. Ecclesiastes refuses to give easy answers to this problem (or question), and instead meets us in the tension between pain, humility, and hope. If you've ever struggled to understand suffering, injustice, or silence in the middle of prayer, you are not alone. Together, we will explore why our hearts long for justice, why our understanding is limited, and what God promises to do about evil.Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1 ESV

Parenting doesn't end when your kids turn 18. In many ways, it gets more complicated! Today Karen and Erin are joined by longtime parenting expert Jim Burns for a wise and honest conversation about parenting adult children. They talk about releasing control, shifting your role, navigating boundaries, resisting unsolicited advice, and discerning the difference between helping and enabling. Whether your kids are still at home, newly launched, or already raising families of their own, this episode will help you parent with clarity, peace, and long-term perspective.Episode Recap:Jim is the founder of Homeward Ministries (3:06)When our children become adults, we have to give up control (4:43)What does it look like to embrace a new “job description” as moms? (7:00)How can we offer wisdom to our adult children or do we just bite our tongues? (11:37)Resist the urge to become a “one topic” parent (13:15)What's the difference between helping your kids and enabling them? (15:45)How do we place good boundaries when adult kids move back in? (19:10)What does it mean to, “wear beige and keep your mouth shut?” (24:00)Can you cast vision for the grandparent years? (28:00)Continue this conversation on WT+ at the link below (32:00)Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) –  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”Discussion Questions: What part of parenting adult children feels most difficult for you right now? If you don't have adult children yet, what fears or worries do you have about that season of life?How can you shift from giving advice to asking permission before speaking?Is there an area where helping may have crossed into enabling dependency?What expectations need to be clearly communicated in your family right now?How can you focus on relationship building rather than behavior correcting?Resources:Listen to the rest of our conversation with Jim over on WT+: boaw.mom/insiderGrab a copy of Jim's new book, Doing Life With Your Adult ChildrenConnect with HomeWord Ministries onlineCheck out Jim's podcast and his recent episode on Long Distance GrandparentingCheck out our BRAND NEW Bible study: How To Teach Your Kids the BibleWant More of This Conversation?Wire Talk+ listeners get extended conversations every week! Today we go deeper into parenting wayward adult children, setting boundaries, and navigating complicated family dynamics.To become a Wire Talk+ Insider, head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3v11

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”Teaching Points: • God moves in divine timing not chaos, but rhythm. • Worship synchronizes our hearts with the rhythm of Heaven. • Prophetic musicians must flow, not force, the beat. • Rhythms of prayer, praise, rest, and response reveal Heaven's pulse.Activation:→ Tap your hand or foot as you pray in tongues and feel the rhythm of the Spirit guiding your intercession.https://worshipingmusician.org

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 12 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 11 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 10 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 9 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 8 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 6 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app here: […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 4 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 3 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app here: […]

Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1 Mary is reading Ecclesiastes 1 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11, Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 29:11,The Pulse WV LiveA Network That Beats To The Heart Of GodTopic: Trusting God's Timing And Plan Part 4Host: John FowlerMonday, September 29, 2025https://linktr.ee/thepulsewvWebsite: johnfowler.org

The Ecclesiastes writer says, “I have sought to construct meaning in life.” He takes the view of a practical secularist—that we don't know for sure if there's a God, and that this life is all there is. And then he asks, “If this life is all there is, does that make life meaningless?” He tells us in Ecclesiastes that he tried to construct meaning by being a cause-based person who fought injustice. He tried to construct meaning by seeking pleasure and beauty. And next, he tries a work-based life, making career and achievement the organizing principle of life. In exploring a work-based life, he finds three things: 1) a life of work is not worth it, 2) why it's not worth it, 3) what is worth it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 27, 1998. Series: When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17–26, 4:4–8. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

When you go on a spiritual search, there are problems people always run into. One of them is the problem of pain. But there's also the problem of pleasure. I don't think I've ever really talked to anybody who said, “I have trouble believing in God because of pleasure. Why is there pleasure in the world?” But my thesis, and the Ecclesiastes writer's thesis, is that it should bother you, because pleasure is a huge problem.  The Ecclesiastes writer teaches us three things about pleasure: 1) what pleasure promises, 2) why it fails, and 3) how it points beyond. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 20, 1998. Series: When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1–11, 3:10–14. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Happiness is not found in the noise of the world, but in the quiet strength of family and the bond with true friends. In good times they celebrate with us, and in hard times they hold us up. As Proverbs 17:17 reminds us: "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Let's be intentional in treasuring our relationships, standing by the people who stand by us. That is where happiness and resilience begin. If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // Ecclesiastes 4:8-9 (NIV) // There was a man all alone;     he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil,     yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked,     “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—     a miserable business! Two are better than one,     because they have a good return for their labor.

If you're on a spiritual search, there's no better place to go than the book of Ecclesiastes. In the entire Bible, it's the only book written from the viewpoint of a skeptic. The writer of Ecclesiastes asks, “If this life is all here is, what meaning is there in life?” To explore that, he looks at several questions we all have to answer in some way. The first of these is how we deal with the injustice and suffering we see in the world. How do you deal with injustice? The Ecclesiastes writer 1) refuses to let you avoid the question of injustice, and 2) gives us clues to two answers for how to deal with injustice. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 13, 1998. Series: When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:2–16. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

We're surrounded by endless input of feeds, highlights, viral clips, and constant updates. Yet even after hours online, the emptiness lingers. Ecclesiastes names this feeling well: “All is vanity.” True fulfillment isn't found in an endless stream of content but in the living water of Christ, who offers rest for our weary souls. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1–14; 12:9–11 Reflection Question: What “feeds” do you turn to most often when you're tired or stressed? How could you begin turning to God instead?

Ecclesiastes is one of the most confusing books in the world. It depicts a very disillusioned man. And you may be saying, “Is the Bible really saying all human life is pointless?”  To understand what's going on here, we need to keep two things in mind. The author of Ecclesiastes is called qoheleth, which basically means professor. And he's doing a thought experiment. So Ecclesiastes is a set of thought experiments in which the professor is saying, “Let's imagine living like this. Does that work?” If we want to understand what Ecclesiastes is after, we need to look at its thought experiments. So let's look at it this way: 1) there's a major thought experiment, 2) with a lesson, and 3) there's a small thought experiment, and then 4) an arrow or a pointer. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on October 6, 2013. Series: A Public Faith. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:9-26. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

From the message, "Let Your Words Be Few."Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Speaker: Matt Thornton

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Challenge: Do your words (and the lack thereof) demonstrate that you fear God? Speaker: Matt Thornton, Pastor Date: August 3, 2025

What can the music of John Coltrane tell us about the relationship of  art to God, and of our own work in general to God? We can all learn quite a lot from Coltrane, actually. And what we can see in his approach to his music applies not just to musicians and artists, but to us all. In this open forum, 1) Tim Keller shares two things we can learn from Coltrane, 2) John Patitucci, a jazz bassist and composer, discusses Coltrane's music, and 3) Keller and Patitucci hold a question-and-answer time with their audience. This talk was given by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 9, 2007. Series: Redeemer Open Forums. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

In Ecclesiastes, the author takes the position of a practical secularist. And he asks, “If this life is all there is, then is life meaningless?” The writer says if this life is all there is, if there's no God and no meaning that you have to submit to, then you're free to construct your own meaning. And so, he sets out to build meaning by living a cause-based life, and then by living a pleasure and beauty-based life. When he finds those both to be meaningless and burdensome, he decides to create a work-based life, to let work and career be an organizing principle in his life. In doing this, he finds three things: 1) that a life of work is not worth it, 2) why it's not worth it, and 3) what is worth it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 23, 2003. Series: When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve were created in a manner which was upright and perfect. However, in a short period of time, as the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689), puts it; “Satan used the craftiness of the serpent to seduce Eve, who then seduced Adam. Adam acted without any outside compulsion and deliberately transgressed the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit.”As a result, all mankind is bound in sin by the implications of Adam's fall. Today, we discuss what this means for us as Adam and Eve's progeny, and how the Lord has purposed for sinners to be made whole. Scripture:Ecclesiastes 7: 29, Genesis 3: 6-8, Romans 7: 14-25, 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21, Genesis 8: 20-22PBHB GIVEAWAY: https://www.stayreformed.com/giveawayAdditional References:Buy A Puritan Catechism: ⁠https://a.co/d/esRURdt⁠Read A Puritan Catechism: ⁠https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/cwpr.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOop_iUZJzFz_3HbHFqJUqPMbSUhhfZUx9FY_-KuyKA9_kwqb8Kh6Milk for Little Ones: https://brokenwharfe.com/product/milk-for-little-ones-the-baptist-catechism-for-children/The Second London Baptist Confession (1689): https://founders.org/library-book/1689-confession/https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/lbcw.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOorAi1b6iCPqv94DjBcMhSSpcDOGwJrb9hXJSlgqxrFSgo9ofc0-Social Media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StayReformedTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/stayreformedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayreformed/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stayreformedpodcast/Website: https://www.stayreformed.com/Email: contact@stayreformed.com

God sees our life through an eternal lens. Keywords: Eternity; heart; wisdom; meaning; purpose; trust.Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11 Resource: Prayer Starters: Talking with God About Hard Times by Suzanne Eller(Available where books are sold)