Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind

Sermon Title: If Only We Lived for the Good of One Another

Passage: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Preacher: Ashley Herr

He Saw Oppression (4:1-3)

The first result of living for good of the ‘me’ over the ‘we’:

1. We use our power to pursue our own good at the expense of another

He Saw Envy (4:4-6)

The second result of living for good of the ‘me’ over the ‘we’:

2. We compare ourselves to others, competing w/ others

When we compare ourselves to others, competing with others:

• We view the relationships we have as rivalries

• We view the resources they have with resentment

Let’s not over-react, doing nothing, because:

• Laziness is self-destructive (v5)

• Complacency is self-deceptive

He Saw Hoarding (4:7-8,13-16)

The third result of living for good of the ‘me’ over the ‘we’:

3. We accumulate more to satisfy ourselves, rather than to share w/ others

Another Perspective (4:9-12)

Three results of living for the good of the ‘we’ over the ‘me’:

• Provision (v10)

• Presence (v11)

• Protection (v12)

Reflection

Ask yourself, “How have I been living for my own good, seeking the good of the ‘me’ over the ‘we’? Think about:

• how you use the power and influence you have, using it for your own good at the expense of others

• why you are doing what you are doing, why you are working as hard as you are, what is motivating you

• who you are doing all of this for, who is benefiting from your work

Read Galatians 5:13-16,22-26; 6:2-3,9-10

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind

Sermon Title: If Only Justice Prevailed

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Preacher: Ashley Herr

What He Saw (3:16)

We see a system that:

• fails to prosecute those who harm others

• fails to protect those who have been harmed by others

“When pain and suffering are conjoined w/ the monstrous mystery of evil, we come to a crossroads from which there is no turning back.” - Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust

What He Knows (3:17)

• He knows WHAT will happen

• He knows WHO will make it happen

• He knows HOW it will happen

• He has no idea WHEN it will happen

What He Thought (3:18-20)

The conclusion he came to (3:18)

The evidence he collected (3:19-20)

Being created in the image of God uniquely shapes:

• who we are, our identity

• what we do, our vocation

• how we relate to God and to others

Sin has

• distorted that image

• destined us to death

What He Hopes (3:21,22)

Another Perspective (3:22)

How will you respond to the brokenness and injustice?

• Will you take matters into your own hands?

• Will you give up and retreat?

• Will you trust God? Trusting that:

  • Jesus will return in glory

  • Jesus will resurrect our dead bodies

  • Jesus will judge both the righteous and the wicked

  • Jesus will restore all that is broken

Reflection

• What is your cry that you need God to hear, to know, to see - trusting that God hears your cries?

• Read Psalm 9:9-12,18

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind

Sermon Title: If Only I Knew When

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Preacher: Ashley Herr

A Poem on Time (3:1-8)

There are beginnings and ends to all things, a seasonality to them

• Some seasons only happen once - while others happen again and again

• Some seasons are within our control, they are something we choose - while others are outside of our control, they are chosen for us

• Some seasons we see coming - while others sneak up on us

There is an appropriate time for all things, a right time to do them

• That’s true of the emotions we feel, the decisions we make, and the actions we take

A Reflection on Time (3:9-11)

Rather than asking “When will Jesus return?”, we should be asking “How will I live until Jesus returns?”

Another Perspective on Time (3:12-15)

1. Find Joy (v12-13)

• in what you already have been given

• in Who has given you all you have

• in what you already do

• in where God already has you

2. Do Good (v12)

• Meeting the physical, relational, and spiritual needs of others

3. Trust God (v14-15)

Reflection

Ask yourself:

• How will I live until Jesus returns?

• How will I use the time I have been given?

• How will I find joy in what God has already given me, where He has already led me?

• How will I do good to those He has brought into my life and placed in my path?

• How will I trust Him regardless of the circumstances I’m facing and the emotions I’m feeling?

Read Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind

Sermon Title: If Only I Had More

Passage: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11,18-26

Preacher: Ashley Herr

The Quest (2:1a)

The Conclusion (2:1b)

1. If only I could enjoy life more (2:2-3)

2. If only I could accomplish more (2:4-6)

3. If only I could acquire more (2:7-8)

Reflection (2:9-11,18-23)

Another Perspective (2:24-26)

• Find enjoyment in what you already have

• Find enjoyment in what you already do

Reflection

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind

Sermon Title: If Only I Knew Why

Passage: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18,2:12-17

Preacher: Ashley Herr

The Quest (1:12-13a)

The Conclusion (1:13b-14)

Three reasons why knowing the ‘why’ behind every ‘what’ won’t provide the contentment you’re chasing or the satisfaction you’re searching for:

1. You still cannot fix all that’s broken (1:15-17)

True of the brokenness that exists within the world, as all of creation. has been subjected to futility (Romans 8:20), as we seldom agree on:

• the severity of the problem

• the cause of the problem

• how to fix the problem

• who is responsible for fixing the problem

True of the brokenness that exists within you, as all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), as we fail to

• acknowledge the severity of our sin and the damage it has caused both to others and ourselves

• take responsibility for our sin

• understand the cause of our sin

• thinking you can atone for your sin

2. You become more aware of the brokenness that exists (1:18)

3. You cannot prevent your death (2:12-16)

Another Perspective

What do we do when we don't know the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’, when we don’t understand it, or agree with it? We trust the One who does!

• We trust that God sees all that is broken in our world

• We trust that God will fix all that’s broken in our world

• We trust that death will not be the end for those in Christ Jesus

Reflection

What will you do when you don’t know the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’? Weill you continue to trust God with your unanswered questions? Read Proverbs 3:5-8.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Blessings Upon Blessings

Sermon Title: Blessings Upon God’s People

Passage: Numbers 6:22-27

Preacher: Robin Philip

What Is Blessing?

Blessing is God imparting His favor, giving of Himself, making us conduits of His grace, goodness, and glory.

What is Spiritual Blessings?

Spiritual blessings are God-given realities that come through the Spirit of God and transform our relationship with God.

How do blessings work?

God provides His blessings as we abandon our own security and follow Him in faith.

What does it mean to bless the Lord?

Blessing God means to intentionally and joyfully respond to God’s grace from the deepest place within us.

God’s Blesses His People With

1. His Protection (v24)

2. His Presence (v25)

3. His Peace (v26)

4. His Name (v27)

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Blessings Upon Blessings

Sermon Title: Blessings in Trials and Temptations

Passage: James 1:12-17

Preacher: David Bronsveld

What Is Blessing?

Blessing is God imparting His favor, giving of Himself, making us conduits of His grace, goodness, and glory.=

Blessings in Trials and Temptations

1. God gives us everything we need to faithfully endure the challenges of this life

2. As we endure, God promised us eternal life with Him forever.

What God Gives Us in Trials?

• Hope — God is with us and in control.

• Comfort — God sees, hears, and understands our suffering.

• Courage — God is with us as we obey Him, through opposition.

• Strength — Trials may shake us, but they cannot break us.

• Wisdom — God gives wisdom generously when we ask.

• Peace — Christ has overcome; our trials are not the end.

What God Gives Us to Overcome Temptation?

• The Holy Spirit — Teaches, reminds, and transforms us

• God's Word — Gives us wisdom, truth, and examples

• The Fruit of the Spirit — Produces Christlike character

• The Church — To encourage, sharpen, and pray for one another

• Prayer — Direct access to God for strength, wisdom, and help

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Blessings Upon Blessings

Sermon Title: The Blessing of Knowing God

Passage: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Preacher: Alvin Thomas

What Is Blessing?

Blessing is God imparting His favor, giving of Himself, making us conduits of His grace, goodness, and glory.

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Blessings Upon Blessings

Sermon Title: Blessed to Bless: Experiencing the Transformative Goodness of God

Passage: Genesis 12:1-3

Preacher: Ben Barney

What Is Blessing?

Blessing is God imparting His favor, giving of Himself, making us conduits of His grace, goodness, and glory.

Blessed to Bless

1. God provides as we surrender to His leading by faith

2. God promises to transform us to be like Him

3. God protects His people as we entrust our entire lives to Him

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: Blessings Upon Blessings

Sermon Title: Every Spiritual Blessing

Passage: Ephesians 1:3-10

Preacher: Robin Philip

What Is Blessing?

• Blessing is God imparting His favor, giving of Himself, making us conduits of His grace, goodness, and glory.

What Is Spiritual Blessings?

• Spiritual blessings are God-given realities that come through the Spirit of God and transform our relationship with God.

1. The Spiritual Blessing of the Past (v4–6)

2. The Spiritual Blessing of the Present (v7–8)

3. The Spiritual Blessing of the Future (v9–10)