Sermon Notes 16 January 2021

10.30am & 1.00pm
Ps Dev Menon

Striving After Wind

Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

Introduction

Testing Pleasure

Considering Wisdom

Hating Life

Conclusion

Questions for Reflection

1. What do you remember from the sermon or the passage?
2. What was the preacher’s original goal in life?
3. What was his conclusion at the end?
4. What does that mean for your lifegoals?

---

3.00pm & 5.00pm
Speaker: Ps Vernon Quek

Striving After Wind

Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

Intro: A Meaningful Life?

A Quest for the Meaningful Life (1:12-18)

Led by Qoheleth:

a. The Preacher, the one who speaks to the ekklesia (the Assembly)

• Ecclesiastes = Qoheleth

b. The Wise King (1:1,12,16, 2:9,12)

Qoheleth’s Method: Fulfilment in Pleasure and Enjoyment (2:1-11)

i. The vanity of Wisdom, ‘Madness’, and Folly (2:12-17)

  ii. The vanity of Toil (2:18-26)

Conclusion: For us the ekklesia

• A note on Ecclesiastes and Jesus

Questions for Discussion and Reflection:

1. Do you agree with Qoheleth’s assessment that everything under the sun is a striving after wind? Share why you agree or disagree.
2. Try to summarise how he attempts to persuade us in 2:1-26 that everything is vanity.
3. In what ways have you been finding fulfilment in pleasure, wisdom or work? Has today’s passage changed any of that?
4. How are you feeling about the rest of Ecclesiastes? How are you personally planning on joining Qoheleth in his quest to understand the meaning of life?