Ecclesiastes Archives - Citadel Square Church

Ecclesiastes | Life Under the Sun – Ecclesiastes 1:1-15

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:29 +0000

The book of Ecclesiastes opens with a description of life on earth that seems far from hopeful. Solomon shows us that life under the sun comes with a “vanity” that is inescapable. This news, however, is precisely the thing we need to hear to discover hope elsewhere. In our first message in this series, we ... Read more

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Ecclesiastes | I Tried It All – Ecclesiastes 1:16-2:26

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:25 +0000

As the prototypical human, Solomon experiences and evaluates the pursuits that we believe give our lives meaning. Solomon discovers that they fall far short in the face of the inevitable. He then gives us our first glimpse into finding and experiencing consistent joy during our time on earth.

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Ecclesiastes | Seasons – Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:22 +0000

There’s a time for everything. This phrase permeates the wisdom of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Whether it’s edification or erosion, life is characterized by seasons. It’s precisely the awareness of these reliable seasons that help us live wisely, and help us set our hearts on God, the unchanging one who inhabits eternity.

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Ecclesiastes | Life and the Lonely – Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:18 +0000

Solomon turns his attention to the world of work. The drive to succeed, the rat race, the necessarily commitment it takes to accomplish our vocational dreams turns into an oppressive hunger that only demands more. Solomon shows us that working with and for others protects us, comforts us, and allows us to keep our work ... Read more

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Ecclesiastes | Be Quiet – Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:15 +0000

“Life under the sun” means that we’re often trying to make sense of the connection between our spiritual and physical lives. The first mention of our religious life in this book teaches us that how we pray and what we promise to do for God are two essential spiritual rhythms. These practices are properly informed ... Read more

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Ecclesiastes | Wasting Our Wealth – Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:11 +0000

Solomon turns from our spiritual life to examine the quest for wealth and financial freedom. Bad investments, shady business deals, and covetous hearts all threaten the quest for finding hope in our wealth. Rather than seeking stability and security in our pursuit of wealth, Solomon counsels us to work hard, spend money, be content and ... Read more

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Ecclesiastes | What is Good? – Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:07 +0000

Solomon begins a new line of questions answering the question “What is good for man?” In the shifting sands of life’s unpredictable circumstances, how do we define what is good? Solomon helps us to see the thread of God’s kindness to us in a variety of life’s inevitable events proving that we can indeed “rejoice ... Read more

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Ecclesiastes | Search for Meaning – Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:48:03 +0000

In one of the strangest passages in all Ecclesiastes, Solomon shows both the vanity of striving for wisdom, and the vanity of striving for righteousness. This search ends in a bewildering realization that Solomon cannot discern the deep motivations of the human heart.

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Ecclesiastes | Limitations – Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:47:59 +0000

In the final meditation in Solomon’s search for what is good “under the sun,” we discover that frustrations often come because we don’t recognize our limitations. In light of our humanness, Solomon repeats his counsel to find joy in our work and rest in the inscrutable plans of God.

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Ecclesiastes | Death: The Common Denominator – Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Andrew Dodson — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:47:55 +0000

In the next section of this book, Solomon pushes his introspection further in an attempt to discern what will come after man’s death. Like his previous search for what is good, Solomon confronts our inevitable end with an exhortation to seize the day.

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