ANNOUNCEMENTS
You will have an information sheet in your box this Sunday regarding the Transform event, Saturday, September 28 at First Baptist Nashville.
This is our last training event for 2012 and it's FREE!
It is our gift to you because we believe in you and affirm your commitment to teach.
We do need to know if you are going to attend so we can purchase a space for you. Please let us know whether you are or are not able to attend by returning the registration card you will find in your box this Sunday.
Take Note:
- Next quarter's Bible study resources will be available this Sunday. You teacher material will be with your Connect Group box in the resource room. We will place your study guides (quarterlies) in each room in your storage area or on a table.
- Fall Festival is coming - Sunday, October 27. Mark your calendar and begin praying about how your group can help us as we reach out to our neighbors through this very important ministry.
Target: Focus on what adults should leave knowing, understanding and doing.
Your goal this week is to challenge adults to
revere and obey God as their greatest goal.
Suggested Resources:
Look for examples of "terms and conditions". Examples could include "terms and conditions" for using a web-site, signing up for a service, downloading a document, etc. It is suggested that you use "terms and conditions" as an example throughout the suggested teaching ideas.
Use the following trivia about age when teaching Ecclesiastes 11:9-10. Click on each link. Better yet, look for other topics on age to share with your group!
LOOK UP: "Soft methods" to draw attention to the study as adults are arriving, visiting, and gathering for Bible study.
Option One:
Write the words, "I agree to the terms and conditions" on the markerboard. After most adults have arrived, ask the group to discuss when they have had to agree to a set of terms and conditions (i.e.: applying for a credit or debit card, getting a driver's license, signing up for something on line, registering for a prize, signing a contract, opening a checking account, etc.)- How serious do we take the terms and conditions to which we agree?
- How do these terms and conditions make us accountable?
- Most of us have some accountability to someone or something else.
- Few people can say that they have no responsibilities to anyone.
- Even having a driver's license includes an agreed behavior and an accountability to the laws related to driving and the use of a vehicle.
- What does it mean to be accountable to living a life that honors the Lord? How do you determine if your behavior shows accountability?
Option Two:
Display a "Terms and Conditions" web-page. Use Option One content to guide the conversation once most adults have arrived.
Transition and Context:
As believers we are accountable to live lives that honor the Lord and bring glory to Him. When we accepted Christ we in essence, agreed to the terms and conditions. We will be accountable for how we live our Christian lives.
That is how Solomon ends his book of wisdom. He shares with his young constituents some final thoughts about life; how and why we should live it in such a way to honor God.
LOOK IN: Ideas for Unpacking the Text
Invest in Life
Someone read: Ecclesiastes 11:1-5
Explain:
Solomon emphasized wisely investing in wealth and resources in these passages. He even emphasized taking wise chances. He advised his readers to make sound investments and to diversify their investments.
In previous passages, his experience and observations revealed two unhealthy extremes when it came to money . . .
- First, people who are consumed with increasing their wealth have a serious sin problem. In essence, money is their god. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul warned that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (see 1 Tim. 6:10).
- Second, the complete lack of money generated unbearable pain and suffering. Therefore, laziness is equally wrong in the eyes of God. Again in the New Testament, Paul rebuked the irresponsible behavior of Christians who had quit their jobs in order to await the Lord’s return. He warned that if they did not work they would not eat (see 2 Thess. 3:10).
In these passages he does not discount wise financial investments that were made with the proper motivation. He wrote that we never know what to expect in life, so we should be prepared, both physically and spiritually.
Discuss:
- What wisdom did Solomon offer in these verses about preparing for the future? (Invest for the future - "Send your bread . . ." Diversify your investments - "give a portion to seven, or even eight . . .")
- What advice have you heard about investing money? (i.e. Diversify your investments, don't panic, etc.)
- How do the practices such as savings, life insurance, and 401K accounts support or contradict Solomon's advice to invest in life?
Supplement discussion with the following information as needed:
Verse 1.
The imagery of casting bread on the surface of the sea points to investing for the future. Many biblical scholars believe that the proverb refers to commercial enterprises involving overseas trade. Under King Solomon’s leadership, the kingdom of Israel assembled an extensive merchant marine fleet (see 1 Kings 9:26-28). Other Bible scholars do not emphasize the connection to Solomon’s maritime trade. Instead, they point out that the emphasis of the Teacher’s statement was on the fact that the bread returned. The water was a secondary feature of the imagery. Still, both explanations of the imagery conclude that if people invest in a wise business venture, they have a potential for making a profit. But if they fail to invest, no profit is possible.
Verse 2.
Some disagreement among Bible commentators also exists on the meaning of Ecclesiastes 11:2. Some have applied it as a rationale for charitable giving. While the Bible clearly teaches that God’s people should be generous in benevolence, the context favors a reference to business ventures. The numbers seven and eight represent diversifying one’s investments. Since risks are inherent in every investment, a wise investor will not put every asset into one undertaking. A portfolio with multiple investments offers an individual more protection in case one or more enterprises fail.
Explain:
Life comes with uncertainties, good and bad. Solomon reminded us in verse 3 that we can expect setbacks or difficulties. When the conditions are right for it, we cannot avoid the rain that falls. Again, we should not assume a fatalistic attitude because of this. He then explains how we should approach investing in life in verses 4-5.
Discuss:
- How do verses 4-5 relate to verses 1-2? (If we do nothing then we will reap nothing. A farmer can't predict the weather. He plants in faith, hoping all things line up so he can reap a harvest. He can't see what is going to happen nor can he predict it. That is why a lot of people can't be farmers today. They can't control what is going to happen.)
- Every investment comes with risks. What are the risks involved with a financial investment? How does that compare with investing in life?
- Is it possible to eliminate all risk before attempting any new thing? How do you handle the fear of risk associated with investing your life in something?
- Discovery Study Guide, p87: What opportunity do you regret letting pass you while you embraced a wait-and-see attitude?
Scenario Activity:
- What if a farmer said, "We had so much rain this year that my crops were ruined so I am not going to plant anything next year. I don't want to lose another crop." How successful would that farmer be?
- What if a scientist said, "I tried this experiment once and it failed, so I am going to give up on experiments." How successful would that scientist be?
- What if a Christian said, . . . . (Ask the group to complete the statement). How successful would that Christan be in living his/her faith?
Discuss:
- What kind of wise investments should we make? (money, life insurance, taking care of family, spending time with family, taking care of our health, helping the church, helping others, sharing the gospel, growing spiritually, etc)
- What is keeping you from pursuing investing in someone's life?
- What risks keep you from investing?
- What modifications do these verses suggest you need to make?
Transition:
Solomon’s point was this: Doing nothing is foolish because it produces nothing. Likewise, making excuses for not investing in life according to God’s revelation is foolish. Jesus spoke to this issue with His parable of the talents (read Matt. 25:14-30). In the parable, one of a master’s three servants failed to invest the money left in his care while the master was away on a journey. Instead, the foolish servant hid the money in the ground, fearing that he might lose it and incur the master’s wrath. On his return, the master rebuked the lazy servant for failing to at least invest the money with bankers.
Solomon now turns his attention to his younger audience as he gives wisdom related to setting boundaries in our life.
Work Within the Boundaries
Illustration:
- Did you know? Share trivia about the oldest football player, average age of NFL player, average age of baseball players, oldest baseball player, etc.
- The older ages have fewer and fewer people participating. Why is this?
- As people get older, physical attributes such as eyesight and hearing decline. Reaction time slows. Therefore, individuals need to enjoy playing some sports while their body can still function at the level necessary for that activity.
Someone read: Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
Discuss:
- Why is it important for young adults to enjoy life?
- What guides our decisions and our response to life? (our heart and our eyes)
- Our culture today talks about, if you can justify what you are doing then you are o.k. Solomon does say that we should walk in the ways of our heart and in the sight of our eyes, but he also reminds us of something very important--God will bring you to judgement.
- What conclusion should we make about our heart and our eyes? (We better be seeking to do what is right in God's eyes since we will ultimately be judged for our actions.)
- Our boundaries are set by the fact that God will judge us.
Explain:
Solomon employed typical biblical language to drive home his point.
- Rejoice
- Let your heart be glad
- Walking is a figure of speech referring to living one’s life—life being the steady progression of time. The word ways literally means “roads” or “pathways.” Life is a journey. But the road we travel is impacted by the choices we make. The heart represents the seat of human volition or will. The decisions we make affect the directions of our lives.
- This is not a justification for reckless behavior because we will be held accountable for our behavior.
Discuss:
Why should we remove sorrow and pain when we are young? (As we grow older we could grow grow bitter or even mean based on how we respond to life's difficulties we faced as a young adult.)
- Life will contain some sorrow. People sometimes cling to sorrow. Because they will not let it go, it clouds their judgment; they make decisions that can lead to more sorrow.
- Life is short and the period of youth and vigor is only a fraction of it. People should take advantage of the time God gives them. We should use our time wisely! We should choose that which is pleasing to God, not wasting valuable time with vexation about matters over which we have no control. Rather we are to spend our time doing that which causes God and us to rejoice. ?
Discovery Study Guide, p88:
- When you look back on your youth, do you consider it well lived or misspent?
- How could regrets affect your life now?
- What can you do, while still acting your age, to enjoy life in the way a young person can?
Transition:
Young people need to enjoy the experience of being young. It is a period in life where a person discovers what they are best suited to do in life. Therefore the Teacher encouraged them to follow the choices that motivate them and attract their interest.
By doing so, they will enjoy the best life possible when they grow older.
Too often people are dissatisfied with their age. Teenagers want to be adults. Median adults want to be young again. Solomon taught that such dissatisfaction with one’s age was a waste of time. Rather than wishing we were some age other than what we are, we should accept the reality and enjoy the present.
Revere and Obey God
Someone read: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Discuss:
- What produces fear of God in our lives?
- Fear is the natural first response to the revelation of God’s presence and power (see Isa. 6:5; Ezek. 1:28; Rev. 1:17).
- He is perfect and infinite.
- Humanity is sinful and finite.
- The two natures are incompatible, and mortal human beings are helpless before the awesome supremacy of God.
- However, this initial terror is not what this phrase emphasizes most.
Explain:
To fear God is to live one’s life with the keen awareness of God’s nearness and with an understanding of His character. This awesome realization that God is holy and humanity is sinful dominates the one who fears Him. Even more significant for Solomon and his contemporaries was the knowledge that God had chosen ancient Israel to be His covenant people.
As New Testament believers, we who are Christians should possess an even greater awe in our relationship with the Lord. We have come to know Him for salvation through Jesus, God’s Son. By faith, we have been made alive by the Holy Spirit and have been sealed as God’s people for all eternity!
The devotion of believers who fear God forges their attitudes and behavior. To revere and obey God sums up our duty of human beings made in God’s image. We are to revere God and obey Him throughout life; for that is the purpose for which He created us.
We should always be reminded as well that every deed and thought will be exposed before Him. No secrets will remain. Everything will be known. And the Lord God Almighty will compensate each act and word appropriately. Evil will be punished and righteousness rewarded. Therefore, even common sense dictates that a person should revere and obey God throughout life.
Bottom Line:
- In the end, life’s meaning isn’t about what you know but Whom you know and how we revere and live for Him!
- Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we be set free from the futility of sin and come to know, trust, and revere God as He truly is.
LOOK OUT: Hitting the Target and applying it to Daily Living.
Refer back to the statement, "I agree to the terms and conditions." on the markerboard.
- Solomon gave us some important advice regarding our life goals in the verses today - Invest in Life, Work within Boundaries, and Revere and Obey God.
- If these were points in a terms and conditions document, what content would need to be included under each point based on Solomon's advice
- What do you need to adjust, tweak, or align in your life so that you can live by these terms and conditions?
- Ask the group to share or write down their responses.
Our commitment to Christ comes with a terms and conditions document. It explains how we should live out our commitment. Although our eternal destiny is guaranteed at the point of salvation, we are still bound to live by a set of terms and conditions. The contract can't be revoked but we can surely mess up our lives and we will be judged by our actions as believers.
As Solomon pointed out, we must live in a way that honors our proclaimed relationship with Christ. We live our lives in a way that shows proper respect for the God who created us, the Christ who saved us, and the Spirit who keeps us.
