In this episode Gabe wraps up our series on Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 12 is more of an epilogue. It explains that the words of the wise are like cattle prods; painful but helpful.

What’s your idea of a day with perfect weather? Ecclesiastes says that farmers who wait for the perfect will never plant or harvest anything. In the same way we often wait for circumstances to be perfect before we do anything. But guest speaker, Mike Wozniak, shares his story of how God challenges us to take steps in faith even when circumstances are not perfect. Join the conversation!

As we approach the end of Ecclesiastes, the author challenges us to think about the end. He brings up the grim reality that age and death come for us all. But instead of fearing the end, the author encourages us to consider how focusing on the end of our lives can inform the way we live today. Join the conversation as our very own, Nathan English invites us to consider these challenging realities in light of the gospel.

The great Solomon wrote a proverb which says, “Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.” While this seems overly simplistic and obvious, it carries profound truths about the power of our choices. While we understand it with trees, that whichever direction a tree is leaning it will fall, we often fail to see how the same principle applies to our choices. We think we can make choices that head in one direction and magically get to another destination. Our choices actually have consequences.

Many people say things like, “Everything happens for a reason.” Yet, Ecclesiastes critiques conventional wisdom by saying, “The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.” This gets us to ask ourselves if life is random? But then the author tells the story of a poor man who lived in a small town, and though he had disadvantages he used his wisdom to save his city. This story suggests that although life can be random and we can have disadvantages, it is still wise to take responsibility. The trick is knowing what to take responsibility for. Which leads to the Serenity Prayer, “God give me the courage to change the things I can’t, the serenity to accept the things I can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

In this episode, we cover a few topics from Ecclesiastes 7, which talks about not being overly righteous and wise nor overly wicked and foolish. But instead he suggests temperance, balance, and enjoying your life. It also says not to eavesdrop. We don’t want to be defined by our worst moments so don’t define others by their worst moments either.

In this episode, we cover the end of Ecclesiastes 5 and beginning of 6. Both chapters deal with how we put so much into pursuing our desires and appetites, but all these things leave us empty. We always find ourselves craving MORE, but when Christ is ENOUGH everything else is just EXTRA. Join the conversation!

In this episode, we talk about Ecclesiastes 5, which talks about approaching the Lord, with reverence and being careful with our words. The author cautions us to be careful not to make rash promises.

In this episode Reece shares on Ecclesiastes 3 and how there is a time and season for everything. He also talks about what does it look like to be content in a season, when to change seasons, and ultimately to look to God in every season. Afterwards, Noah shares about Ecclesiastes 4 and the need for community. He also talks about how loneliness and how community is a way we experience God’s love.

In this episode we explore the power of our appetites. Proverbs 27:7 says, “One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.” Then we look at the story of when Esau was so hungry that he trades his birth rite for a bowl of stew. When your appetites flare up what are you tempted to trade?

Have you ever thought about how to date? In this episode Gabe wraps out conversation on relationships. He talks about Stages of Dating, Catching the “Little Foxes”, and not awakening love until it’s time. Join the conversation.

In this episode we hear from a guest speaker, Noel Delgadillo. Noel works for a local college ministry called UCO. Part of Noel’s story is that several years ago he took a vow of celibacy. Listen as he shares his story and thoughts to consider about a life devoted to the Lord in singleness.