Ecclesiastes 3

TOIL UNDER THE SUN

* Work came BEFORE the fall (Genesis 2:15)
* The fall turned work into TOIL (Genesis 3:17-19)
* But there is a redeemer! Work can be redeemed!
* Work 'under the sun' is toil, work 'in the Son' is worship

Below I have observed 7 thoughts Solomon had regarding 'work under the sun'
And some principles for how we can turn 'work' into 'worship'

1. It can be frustrating and difficult (2:17, 23)
Option #1 Be LAZY (4:5)
Option #2 Be a Work-AHOLIC (4:6b)
Option #3 Be BALANCED (4:6a)
Keep a positive ATTITUDE (by having accurate beliefs)
See the VALUE in difficulty

2. It can feel meaningless (2:17b, 19b, 21b, 23b)
Earn money on purpose
Build relationships on purpose
Stay active on purpose

3. It’s hard to leave a lasting legacy (2:18-21)
Your godly INFLUENCE can live on (3:14a)
Your godly INVESTMENTS can live on (3:14a)
Your godly INTERACTIONS can live on (3:14a)

4. It doesn’t always feel rewarding (2:22, 3:18-21)
It does build CONSISTENCY
It does teach us to SUBMIT
It does get REWARDED

5. It seems so cyclical (3:1-9)
Appreciate the VARIETY (3:11a)
Realize history has a DIRECTION (3:11b)

6. It’s often seems unfair (4:1-3)
The injustice is temporary
Wrongs will, one day, be righted

7. It’s not ultimately fulfilling (4:7-8, 13-16)
Fulfillment is found in relationship (4:9-12)
It can be part of an abundant life

Luke 11:37-12:12

Luke 11:37-12:12
All About Pharisees

You might be a Pharisee if…

1. You’re more concerned with external appearances than with the condition of your heart (11:37-41)
2. You give a percentage of your income based on a sense of obligation, but neglect justice and love (11:42)
3. You love to be the center of attention and need to feel that you are a very important person in town (11:43)
4. You have not invested in the lives of others and so your life has no lasting value (11:44)
5. You love compliments, but can’t take critique (11:45)
6. You point out problems, but offer no solutions (11:46)
7. You claim to be part of a great tradition, but are actually an enemy of that heritage (11:47-51)
8. You’ve convinced yourself that the common people needn’t have access to the information you have (11:52)
9. You’re purpose in life is maintaining your social status and your enemy is anyone who threatens it (11:53-54)

Advice for non-Pharisees…

1. Be on guard against hypocrisy in your own life, realizing that God knows all the secrets of your heart (12:1-3)
2. Don’t fear them, but fear God who values you (12:4-7)
3. Even when pressured, continue to be God-pleasers instead of a people-pleasers (12:8-10)
4. Don’t worry about defending yourself to Pharisees & other authorities. Simply rely on God (12:11-12)

2 Thessalonians 2

“I frankly confess I do not know what he (Paul) means” (Augustine)
“I attempt no interpretation of this passage” (Marvin Vincent)
“So vague that we can hardly hope to clear it up” (Robertson)
“There is an obscurity in the language rendering it difficult” (Gloag)
“Undoubtedly one of the most difficult in all Paul’s writings” (Demarest)

3 Views of 2 Thessalonians 2

The Preterist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ (2:1, 8) refers to the AD70 coming in judgment
2. The term ‘gathered’ refers to the union of Jewish & Gentile believers
3. The phrase ‘day of the Lord’ refers to any period of judgment of sin
4. The ‘day of the Lord’ in 2:2 can’t possibly refer to the final judgment of the world since they were afraid that a letter had told them of it!
5. Paul was assuring them that Jerusalem was still standing (2:2-3)
6. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to 1st century Jewish apostasy
7. The 1st century Thessalonians knew who the man of lawlessness was, but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
8. The 1st century Thessalonians knew what restrained him (2:6), but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
9. The Preterist interpretation is proven by the time indicators in the passage, such as ‘now’ (2:6-7) & ‘already at work’ (2:7)

The Historicist Interpretation
1. Both the early church fathers & the reformers viewed the ‘coming’ as the 2nd Coming & the ‘gathering’ as the final gathering of all believers
2. The Roman Empire was the restrainer, but Paul was being careful
3. The Papacy is the ‘man of lawlessness’ that gained power after Rome fell
4. The 2nd Coming will destroy the Papal System

The Futurist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ described is the 2nd Coming
2. The ‘gathering’ described is the rapture
3. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to a final century Christian apostasy
4. The ‘man of lawlessness’ is the future ‘Antichrist’
5. He is being held back by the presence of the church on earth
6. Once the church is raptured, he will present himself
7. He will set himself up in a rebuilt Jewish temple and declare he is God
8. He will be destroyed by the 2nd Coming

Quotes seemingly supporting the historicist (reformation) view

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way." What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)?
~Tertullian


One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede…But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers
~John Chrysostum

We should therefore concur with the traditional interpretation of all the commentators of the Christian Church, that at the end of the world, when the Roman Empire is to be destroyed, there shall be ten kings who will partition the Roman world amongst themselves. Then an insignificant eleventh king will arise
~Jerome

For what does he mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" [2 Thess 2] I frankly confess I do not know what he means. ... However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, "Only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way," refers to the Romans
~Augustine

“The Roman Pontiff judges all men but is judged by no one. I have the authority of the king of kings. I am all and in all and above all. Wherefore if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, What can you make me but God? Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things…I conclude commanding, declaring and pronouncing to stand upon necessity of salvation that every creature be subject to me.”
~1302 Pope Bonoface

“You know that I am the holy father, the representative of God which means that I am God on earth.”
~1922 Pope Pious XI

“We hold the place of almighty God on earth”
~1897 Pope Leo VIII

We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist.
~Martin Luther

Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy.
~John Calvin

Speaking of the Papacy he said, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
~John Wesley

Song of Solomon 1-8

Possible Purposes for Song of Solomon
1. It's a love story and shows that Christianity doesn't avoid the sexual intimacy
2. It's typological and can give us greater understanding for Christ's love for the church

Romance is in the eye of the beholder
1. I liken you, my darling, to a mare (1:9)
2. Your hair is like a flock of goats (4:1, 6:5)
3. Your waist is a mound of wheat (7:2)
4. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon (7:4)

The Story of ‘Song of Solomon’
It seems this book is a series of flashbacks from the life of Solomon and cherished wife
The flashbacks are not necessarily in chronological order

1. The Wedding Day (1:1-2:7)
2. The Bride remembers the courtship (2:8-3:5)
3. The Betrothal, engagement (3:6-5:1)
4. The Bride’s Troubled Dream (5:2-6:3)
5. The King’s meditation on his bride (6:4-7:10)
6. The Bride longing for her home (7:11-8:4)
7. The Renewal of the vows (8:5-8:14)

Typological value

1. The 1st time the king came, he was feared by the future bride
2. The 2nd time the king came as a lowly shepherd, and was loved by the future bride
3. The 3rd time the king came, again, as himself, and was recognized by the bride

In like manner...

1. The 1st time God came, on Mt. Sinai, He was feared b/c of the law
2. The 2nd time God came, the incarnation, He was loved, as the 'good shepherd'
3. God is coming again, at the marriage supper of the lamb, and will be recognized by the bride

Ecclesiastes 2

PLEASURE UNDER THE SUN

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women
He had seven hundred wives of royal birth
and three hundred concubines,
and his wives led him astray

Types of Pleasure
1. Comedy (Ecclesiastes 2:2)
2. Wining & Dining (Ecclesiastes 2:3)
3. Pet Projects (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6)
4. Accumulation (Ecclesiastes 2:7-8a)
5. Entertainment (Ecclesiastes 2:8b)

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Solomon’s Teaching on Pleasure
1. Pleasure can be found in wickedness (Proverbs 10:23a)
2. Maturity level determines our amusements (Proverbs 10:23b, 18:2)
3. Pleasure must be kept in moderation (Proverbs 21:17)
4. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing (Proverbs 21:17)
5. A fool makes pleasure his purpose (Ecclesiastes 7:4)

New Testament Teaching on Pleasure
1. Pleasures can choke our maturity (Luke 8:14)
2. Living for pleasure isn’t living at all (1 Tim. 5:6)
3. Last days will be marked by love for pleasure (2 Tim. 3:4)
4. Pleasures can enslave you (Titus 3:3)
5. The pleasures of sin last only a moment (Hebrews 11:25)
6. If pleasure is the primary goal, prayer won’t work (James 4:3)

*the following is from Ravi Zacharias
1. Anything that refreshes you w/o distracting you from your final goal is a legitimate pleasure
2. Any pleasure that jeopardizes the sacred life of another is an illegitimate pleasure
3. Any pleasure, however good, if not kept in balance will distort reality or destroy appetite

2 Thessalonians

Below you'll find notes on 2nd Thessalonians in the form of summary, application, and some older notes.

SUMMARY

During the 2^nd Missionary Journey, the Spirit steered Paul and his team to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). Upon reaching the strategic city of Thessalonica, Paul preached the Gospel in the Jewish synagogue. Some Jews believed, but even more God-fearing Gentiles became believers (including a number of prominent women). A church was born!

No sooner than its birth, the church began to face opposition initiated by jealous Jews but eventually including loyalists to Caesar and the Roman Empire (motivated politically or, most likely by economic factors). The missionary team was forced to leave, leaving the fledgling church on its own.

Unable to return to the city for some time (1 Thes. 2:18) and fearing the worst for its congregation (1 Thes. 3:5), Paul’s team sent Timothy to encourage them in the midst of persecution (1 Thes. 3:2). Timothy reported that the church was doing well, prompting the writing of 1^st Thessalonians.

Sometime later, Paul had been given an update on the fledgling church. This report suggested that the faith and love amongst the Thessalonian Christians was growing, but there was also some confusion over a couple of issues. This report prompted the writing of 2 Thessalonians.

In 2^nd Thessalonians, Paul expresses thanks for the congregation and encourages them that the 2^nd Coming will bring ultimate justice (chapter 1), attempts to straighten out some confusion over its timing (chapter 2) and tells them how to deal with disorderly (idle) members (chapter 3).

APPLICATIONS

1.     The entire letter is smothered with prayer (1:3, 11-12, 2:13, 16-17, 3:1-2, 5, 16). The early Christians recognized the importance of praying for one another.

2.     We are promised ultimate justice, but not until the 2^nd Coming. When justice takes place prior to that event, it is evidence of God’s grace in the world and the coming of the Kingdom.

3.     The Thessalonians were confused about the timing of the 2^nd Coming. We get confused too. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is difficult to understand, but has the potential to shed light on the subject.

4.     Our goal is to continue growing in faith and love (1:3) so that God may use us in powerful ways (1:11, 2:17, 3:5) to the point that we actually share in his glory (2:14).

5.     If a Christian brother or sister is unwilling to work, they should not be supported by the church. In fact, the church should lovingly disassociate with them until they start working.

OLDER NOTES

2 Thessalonians 1

Marks of a great church
1. An ever-increasing faith (1:3a)
2. An ever-increasing love (1:3b)
3. An ever-increasing hope (1:5-10)

Three Stages of Works
1. We ask God to bless what we are doing
2. We seek to do what God is blessing
3. God chooses to bless things done with a pure heart (1:11)

“I frankly confess I do not know what he (Paul) means” (Augustine)
“I attempt no interpretation of this passage” (Marvin Vincent)
“So vague that we can hardly hope to clear it up” (Robertson)
“There is an obscurity in the language rendering it difficult” (Gloag)
“Undoubtedly one of the most difficult in all Paul’s writings” (Demarest)

3 Views of 2 Thessalonians 2

The Preterist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ (2:1, 8) refers to the AD70 coming in judgment
2. The term ‘gathered’ refers to the union of Jewish & Gentile believers
3. The phrase ‘day of the Lord’ refers to any period of judgment of sin
4. The ‘day of the Lord’ in 2:2 can’t possibly refer to the final judgment of the world since they were afraid that a letter had told them of it!
5. Paul was assuring them that Jerusalem was still standing (2:2-3)
6. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to 1st century Jewish apostasy
7. The 1st century Thessalonians knew who the man of lawlessness was, but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
8. The 1st century Thessalonians knew what restrained him (2:6), but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
9. The Preterist interpretation is proven by the time indicators in the passage, such as ‘now’ (2:6-7) & ‘already at work’ (2:7)

The Historicist Interpretation
1. Both the early church fathers & the reformers viewed the ‘coming’ as the 2nd Coming & the ‘gathering’ as the final gathering of all believers
2. The Roman Empire was the restrainer, but Paul was being careful
3. The Papacy is the ‘man of lawlessness’ that gained power after Rome fell
4. The 2nd Coming will destroy the Papal System

The Futurist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ described is the 2nd Coming
2. The ‘gathering’ described is the rapture
3. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to a final century Christian apostasy
4. The ‘man of lawlessness’ is the future ‘Antichrist’
5. He is being held back by the presence of the church on earth
6. Once the church is raptured, he will present himself
7. He will set himself up in a rebuilt Jewish temple and declare he is God
8. He will be destroyed by the 2nd Coming

Quotes seemingly supporting the historicist (reformation) view

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way." What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)?
~Tertullian


One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede…But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers
~John Chrysostum

We should therefore concur with the traditional interpretation of all the commentators of the Christian Church, that at the end of the world, when the Roman Empire is to be destroyed, there shall be ten kings who will partition the Roman world amongst themselves. Then an insignificant eleventh king will arise
~Jerome

For what does he mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" [2 Thess 2] I frankly confess I do not know what he means. ... However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, "Only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way," refers to the Romans
~Augustine

“The Roman Pontiff judges all men but is judged by no one. I have the authority of the king of kings. I am all and in all and above all. Wherefore if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, What can you make me but God? Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things…I conclude commanding, declaring and pronouncing to stand upon necessity of salvation that every creature be subject to me.”
~1302 Pope Bonoface

“You know that I am the holy father, the representative of God which means that I am God on earth.”
~1922 Pope Pious XI

“We hold the place of almighty God on earth”
~1897 Pope Leo VIII

We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist.
~Martin Luther

Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy.
~John Calvin

Speaking of the Papacy he said, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
~John Wesley

My Own Interpretation

1. Paul had previously taught the Thessalonians about some of the details of the end-times (5)
2. Someone was persuading them toward a teaching contrary to Paul's teaching (2a)
3. The new/false teaching insisted that the day of the Lord was imminent (2b)*
4. Paul wanted to remind them that 2 things must happen before the 2nd Coming (3)
5. One of the things that would happen first would be a significant apostacy (3, 'the' rebellion)
6. The other thing that would happen first would be the revealing of the man of lawlessness (3)
7. Neither of those things had happened yet... so the 2nd Coming clearly wasn't imminent (3)
8. Currently, the secret power of lawlessness (Satan's Zeitgeist) is at work (preparing the way for the man of sin) (6-7)**
9. At some future point, Satan's zeitgeist will in some way be personified (a counterfeit incarnation) (8)
10. This personification of evil will proclaim deity (4), perform miracles (9), and even deceive Christians (4)
11. The wicked, especially, will buy into this self-proclaimed god (10). God will even assure that this happens (11)***
12. After some time (enough time to deceive many and do miracles, apparently), Jesus will return and gather the elect (1, 8)
13. The coming of Jesus will easily destroy the man of lawlessness (3, 8)
14. The wicked will be condemned along with satan and his system (12)
15. The righteous will be gathered to Jesus (1)

In Sum... The Thessalonians should have known better than to believe that the return of Christ was imminent because Paul had taught them, previously, that certain things must take place before the Lord returns. There had not yet been a significant apostacy. Nor had Satan's systems (for them, the Roman Imperial cult, for instance) given way to a personification of evil. They needed to remain aware of Satan's present schemes, but even more importantly cling to Apostolic teaching.

Over the past 2000 years, we've certainly seen apostacy and even candidates for the incarnation of evil. I believe each time either of these occurs, it should serve as a warning that the end could be right around the corner. We cannot guess when a given apostacy is THE apostacy or when a very sinful man is THE sinful man.

This interpretation avoids the problems of all of the more 'particular' interpretations while potentially including the best of them, it seems to me.

* It seems to be a possibility, in the Greek, that the false teaching did not insist that the day had 'already come,' but that it was already beginning to dawn.
** Yes, I equating the entity 'holding him back' WITH the secret power of lawlessness. This possibility is argued for in Gene Green's commentary. The Greek for 'holding back' or 'restrain' could be taken differently. The current zeitgeist is holding sway now, but will eventually give way to its own personification (Satan is behind all of this, of course).
*** I theorize that this is God's method of clearly and completely separating the wheat from the chaff at the end of the world (since people living at that time won't have as much opportunity to take their beliefs to their conclusions). I think of it almost as God setting up a magnet @ extreme evil... pulling all evil further towards it.

2 Thessalonians 3

1. A good WOMAN isn’t idle (Proverbs 31:27)
2. A good MAN isn’t idle (Ecc. 10:18, 11:6)
3. Idleness is BAD theology (Col. 2:18, 2 Thes. 3:6)
4. Idleness leads to a multitude of SINS (1 Tim. 5:13)
5. The idle should be WARNED (1 Thes. 5:14)
6. The idle should be SHUNNED (2 Thes. 3:6-7, 14-15)
7. God’s workers must exemplify HARD work (2 Thes. 3:7-9)
8. If a man ‘will not’ work, he ‘shall not’ EAT (2 Thes. 3:10-12)
9. Christians should never TIRE of doing good (2 Thes. 3:13)

2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3

1. A good WOMAN isn’t idle (Proverbs 31:27)
2. A good MAN isn’t idle (Ecc. 10:18, 11:6)
3. Idleness is BAD theology (Col. 2:18, 2 Thes. 3:6)
4. Idleness leads to a multitude of SINS (1 Tim. 5:13)
5. The idle should be WARNED (1 Thes. 5:14)
6. The idle should be SHUNNED (2 Thes. 3:6-7, 14-15)
7. God’s workers must exemplify HARD work (2 Thes. 3:7-9)
8. If a man ‘will not’ work, he ‘shall not’ EAT (2 Thes. 3:10-12)
9. Christians should never TIRE of doing good (2 Thes. 3:13)

2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1

Marks of a great church
1. An ever-increasing faith (1:3a)
2. An ever-increasing love (1:3b)
3. An ever-increasing hope (1:5-10)

Three Stages of Works
1. We ask God to bless what we are doing
2. We seek to do what God is blessing
3. God chooses to bless things done with a pure heart (1:11)

Luke 11:14-36

Luke 11:14-36
The Many Response to Jesus

RESPONSE #1
UNBELIEF
Jesus was a Lunatic

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." (Mark 3:21)

JESUS’ RESPONSE
1. Jesus kept the focus on his true family (Matthew 12:46-50)
2. Jesus spoke against ‘special’ attention to Mary (Luke 11:27-28)
3. Jesus admitted that the message was foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18-25, 2:14)

RESPONSE #2
ANGER
Jesus was a Liar

But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." (Luke 11:15)

JESUS’ RESPONSE
1. That doesn’t make any sense (Luke 11:17-18)
2. He could use the same accusation against them (Luke 11:19)
3. Perhaps they are just afraid of admitting the truth (Luke 11:20)

RESPONSE #3
DOUBT
Jesus was a Legend

Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven (Luke 11:16)

JESUS’ RESPONSE
1. A wicked generation seeks after a miraculous sign (Luke 11:29a)
2. God does not reward unbelief (Luke 11:29b)
3. The evidence is there for those who are willing to see it (Luke 11:33-36)

RESPONSE #4
AMAZEMENT
Jesus was Lord

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed (Luke 11:14)

OUR RESPONSE
1. Continue following Jesus
2. Be on guard against the other responses
3. Keep our spiritual eyes healthy

Ecclesiastes 1

SOLOMON’S WISDOM
UNDER THE SUN

Background on Ecclesiastes
1. The author is almost certainly Solomon
2. The book was written at the end of backsliding
3. The book is a philosophical sermon
4. The book includes inspired record of wrongful thinking
5. It is doubtful that his kingdom realized his depression
6. The phrase ‘under the sun’ occurs 27 times
7. He examines extreme wisdom, pleasure, toil, riches
* Matthew 11:25-30

What Do We Find Under the Sun?
1. The depth of meaninglessness
2. The scope of meaninglessness
3. A maddening randomness
4. A sickening cycle
5. A boring repetition
6. Reason for pessimism
7. An ‘ignorance is bliss’ mentality

The Nature of Worldly Wisdom
1. Worldly wisdom changes all the time
2. It is better to be wise than foolish
3. Both the wise and the foolish die
4. The wisdom of this world passes away
5. There is much that we will never fathom under the sun
6. Wisdom is not always rewarded under the sun (9:11)
7. Wisdom is often ignored under the sun (9:16)

“She came from the ends of the earth
to listen to Solomon's wisdom,
and now one greater than Solomon is here”
Matthew 12:42

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:14

The Owner

The Owner

INTRODUCTION
--Quotes (Family, College, Serious)
--Jesus said some startling things

Stewardship-
The process of submitting to the fact
that God is the owner of our lives
and everything attached to them

Many Christians don't grasp this concept
--They think a couple hours a week will suffice
--They think a good dead a day will do
--They think a tenth of their income is enough

So let's look at what jesus said about God's Ownership & our Stewardship

A. DOES GOD OWN YOUR TIME?

Luke 9:57-62 (startling statements)

1. Foxes have holes
--The man wanted to follow Jesus
--Jesus was saying 'are you sure?'
--Jesus was saying 'it won't be easy'
--This was a very unique method of evangelism!
--Jesus was basically seeing if he could talk the man out of it!
--Decisions to follow Christ shouldn't be made in a flippant manner

2. Let the dead bury their own dead
--The father, most likely, wasn't on the verge of death
--The man was saying 'when my life settles down, i'll follow'
--Matthew 10:34-38, Jesus didn't come to bring peace, but a sword

3. If you look back, you aren't fit
--If it's not a full commitment to Christ, is it real?
--There aren't supposed to be 'kinda Christians'

Does God own your time? Can He wake you up in the middle of the night to pray? Can He trust you to take advantage of teachable moments with your children instead of watching another sitcom? Etc.

B. DOES GOD OWN YOUR TALENTS?

Luke 5:1-11 (startling statement)

1. They were expert fishermen
--What must Peter have been thinking in his mind?!?

2. All humans have talents

3. All Christians have spiritual gifts

Will we use them for self or for God

Are you good with your hands? Kids? Food? Teaching? Serving? Creativity? Organizing?

4. God wants to use the talents He has given you
--He wants to turn fishermen into fishers of men
--He wants to turn tent-makers into church planters
--He wants to turn net-menders into problem solvers

C. DOES GOD OWN YOUR TREASURE

Matthew 19:16-29 (startling statement)

1. Jesus knew the 1 thing this rich man was holding back
--Monkey illustration (Jar, fruit, fist, trapped)
--What are you holding back from God?
--Whatever you value most, is your master

2. What do you value most?
--Money/possessions?
--Popularity/family-relations
--Count the cost (Luke 14:25-33)

3. Does Jesus own your treasure
--You can't answer successfully until Jesus IS your treasure
--Matthew 13:44-46
--Juan Carlos Ortiz illustration (from 'Disciple')

CONCLUSION
We must realize that our time, talent & treasure aren't really ours
We are truly His
We must hold, only him, tightly
Gratefully serving our Lord & Savior
We emphasize 'Savior' (sometimes at the expense of 'Lord')
God is our owner

Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13
How to Pray
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
* For the more popular version see Matthew 6:9-13

Context
1. The disciples were almost certainly already men of prayer
2. Some of the disciples had previously been John’s disciples
3. There was something different about Jesus’ prayer life

Principles of Prayer
1. Jesus didn’t say ‘if’ you pray, He said ‘when’ you pray
2. We have access to a personal relationship with our heavenly Father
3. We must pray in humility
4. We must pray for physical & spiritual ‘bread’
5. We must pray for forgiveness
6. We must first forgive others

F- FAITH We must pray, trusting God
A- ADORATION We must pray with praise
C- CONFESSION We must pray with honesty
T- THANKSGIVING We must pray with grateful hearts
S- SUPPLICATION We must bring our requests to God

7. Even an annoyed human friend will respond to repetition
8. God, on the other hand, isn’t annoyed by our persistence
9. How much more willing, then, is God to respond to us

A- ASK A one time request
S- SEEK A short-term matter of prayer
K- KNOCK A long-term matter of prayer

10. Even an evil earthly father knows how to give a good gift to his son
11. How much more, then, is God able to provide for His children
12. The answer to prayer is always the presence of God in our lives

1 Thessalonians Pt. 5

Some final reminders

1. Respect, regard & submit to godly leaders (5:12-13)
2. Warn those who are idle (5:14a)
3. Encourage the timid (5:14b)
4. Help the weak (5:14c)
5. Be patient with everyone (5:14d)
6. Make sure that nobody repays evil for evil (5:15)
7. Be joyful always (5:16)
8. Pray continually (5:17)
9. Give thanks in all circumstances (5:18)
10. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire (5:19)
11. Do not treat prophecies with contempt (5:20)
12. Test everything (5:21a)
13. Hold on to what is good (5:21b)
14. Avoid every kind of evil (5:22)

1 Thessalonians Pt. 4

What happens to believers after they die?
1. They ‘fall asleep’ (their condition is not permanent)
2. Their ‘soul’ goes on to be with the Lord until the 2nd Coming
3. Their ‘body’ is raised up at the 2nd Coming prior to the rapture

What should our response be to the death of a believer?
1. We should not be ignorant about their condition
2. We should not grieve like the rest of men
3. We should grieve with hope in the future resurrection

What will the chronology of the 2nd Coming entail?
1. The Lord will come from heaven to earth
2. The bodies of the deceased believers will rise
3. All believers will meet the Lord in the air

What will the 2nd Coming be like?
1. Unbelieving eyes will not be ready for it
2. Believing eyes will be ready for it
3. We display our readiness through good works

Three kinds of sleep
1. Physical sleep
2. Post-death (laid to rest)
3. Moral/spiritual stupor

Picture

Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38-42
Mary & Martha

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

How did Jesus respond?

41"Mary, Mary" the Lord answered, "you are sitting here, just listening, 42 but many things need done. Martha has chosen what is better, and you should join her in service."

OR

41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Martha
1. Opened her home to Jesus
2. Was distracted by preparations
3. Wondered if Jesus cared
4. Told Jesus to have Mary help
5. Was worried and upset

Mary
1. Sat at the Lord’s feet
2. Listened to the Lord’s words
3. Left Martha to do the work herself
4. Chose what was better

3 Kinds of Christians

1. Work-First People: The tendency is to be like Martha
2. Someone else will do it People: What Martha accused Mary of being
3. Relationship-First People: Still others are like Mary

Mary wasn't the 2nd kind of person
she simply had her priorities right
Spiritual food was more important than physical
If Jesus would have told her to help Martha, she would have

Things to consider when others won’t participate in ‘your’ ministry

1. True ministry isn’t ‘your’ ministry
2. If it is ‘your’ ministry, you should let go of it
3. Maybe you’re not gifted in that area of ministry
4. Maybe that ministry is no longer necessary/beneficial
5. Maybe you’re driven by guilt, not the Spirit
6. Being worried, troubled & critical of others is a symptom of a problem
7. Don’t just assume that other people aren’t as godly/passionate

1 Kings 9-10

SOLOMON’S PEAK

The whole world sought audience with Solomon
to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart
~1 Kings 10:24

Solomon’s 2nd Encounter with God

1. God agreed to consecrate the temple (9:3)
2. God made a promise about the temple (9:3)
3. God made a promise to Solomon (9:4-5)
4. God’s promises are received conditionally (9:4-9)

Solomon’s Great Achievements

1. He was the wisest man in the world (10:23)
Wiser than Ethan (4:31, Psalm 89)
Wiser than Heman (4:31, Psalm 88)

2. He was the richest man in the world (10:23)
He received about 16 tons of gold from Ophir
He received about 4 tons from the Queen of Sheba
He received about 25 tons of gold in taxes
* 45 tons is about $825,120,000 by today's standards

3. He was the most famous man in the world (10:24)

Solomon’s Great Audience

1. Solomon was the talk of the world
2. The whole world sought audience with Solomon (10:24)
3. This was exactly what God had planned for Israel
*But where Solomon failed, we (the temple) must succeed
*We must be a city on a hill, God's light in the world

Titus 2:11-14

Titus was ministering in a century of competition and confrontation
Jews vs. Gentiles
Slave vs. Free
Men vs. Women
Rome vs. Natives
Pharisees vs. Saducees
Etc.

The answer to the conflict was the Gospel
And that's the answer to conflict today
As we saw in the previous study...
Only in the 'new community' of the church
Could this 'competition/conflict' be defeated

For the LAW of God that brings WRATH has appeared to all JEWS
vs.
For the GRACE of God that brings SALVATION has appeared to all MEN

Romans 4:15
Romans 7:8-9
Galatians 3:28

It teaches us to say NO
vs.
It teaches us to say NO and YES

Yes to a righteous life
To victory over sin

Romans 7:14-8:9a

Only if we are people of GRACE
will we experience the attractive community
mentioned in the previous study

"God and Savior, Jesus Christ"
---KJV isn't quite as good here
---Granville Sharp rule
---This verse shows the deity of Christ
Jesus
1. Gave Himself
2. Redeemed us
3. Purified us
SO...We are eager to do good!