Remember

Passage

Ecclesiastes 11:7 - 12:14

‍Sermon Summary

The Preacher's final summary of Ecclesiastes in 12:13-14 seems to suggest, "get your act together or God will smite you!" But that is not what he means. 11:1-8 remind us that enjoyment of God's gifts is one of the things he will judge us for. 12:1 specifically calls us to "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." Having a Creator means we are finite creatures, precious in his sight and also limited. This simple truth is so easy to to forget! And "the days of your youth" are all the days we have until the final decline toward death. As long as we have time and energy to love and serve God, he wants all of us. The Good news of Jesus is that God will do whatever it takes to have all of us, all the way to the cross and the empty tomb.

‍Discussion Questions (choose any—you don't have to answer them all!)

1. [Optional starter question] What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
2. How did the sermon stretch or challenge you idea of God as a judge we are called to fear?
3. Name a specific gift that God has put in you life that you don't adequately enjoy. What can you do this week to enjoy it as a gift from him?
4. Walter said, "Wisdom sings and wisdom stings." Use ithis pair to evaluate a particular piece of wisdom that you hear people using
5. What is your experience with old age and dying, either personally or with someone you care about?
6. How does the fear of God uniquely release us from the impulse to control? 
7. Do you believe "fearing God and keeping his commandments" is what it looks like to be a whole person? Why or why not?
8. Read 1 John 4:18-19. How does the Gospel of Jesus free you from the fear of punishment—or do you still doubt it? Discuss.

Prayer Prompts

• Thank you, Father, for these gifts from your hand 
• Forgive me, Jesus, for forgetting that I am a creature and you are my Creator, when I __________
• Help me, Holy Spirit, to more consistently enjoy  __________

Resources Consulted

Reccommended for laypeople:

• Everything is Never Enough, Bobby Jamieson
• A Table in the Mist, Jeffrey Meyers
• Rcovering Eden: The Gospel According to Ecclesiastes, Zack Eswine
• Living Life Backward, David Gibson
• The Message of Ecclesiastes, Derek Kidner
• The Bible Project videos on Ecclesiastes

Other resources consulted

• Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo
• NICOT Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Tremper Longman
• Reason for Being, Jacques Ellul
• A Time to Tear Down & a Time to Build Up, Michael V. Fox
• Ecclesiastes for Everyone, John Goldingay
• NIV Application Commentary on Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs, Ian Provan
• The Wisdom Books translation and commentary, Robert Alter
• How to Inhabit Time, James K.A. Smith
• Solomon Among the Postmoderns, Peter Leithart