GOING DEEPER
UNDER THE SUN | 06.04.2017
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Breaking Ground
From last week’s message: “vapor” is practically anything that we experience “under the sun”. Our jobs, our dreams, our relationships, our plans, our created experiences. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes declares EVERYTHING that we experience in this world as “vapor”.
What kind of “vapor” tends to distract you?
The Dig
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
What strikes you about this passage? Does it seem positive or negative?
Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-11
What does it mean that God has placed “eternity in the human heart”?
How can we experience this “eternity”? Have you ever experienced it?
How do you navigate the tension in this verse? How do you navigate the “eternity” available to us all with the the idea that we cannot fathom or understand what God is doing in totality? To put it another way, how do you respond when you ask “Why?” and the answer is either not understandable? (Or not present at all?)
According to the deep wisdom of the Bible and of faith, while we are not required to be “grateful” for suffering in our life, we ARE invited (and able) to be grateful in the MIDST of suffering and sadness.
Have you been able to do this in your life? If so, how?
Read John 14:27
How would you describe “Jesus’ peace”? What do you think it’s like?
Have you ever experienced it? How were you able to access it?
Getting Out of the Hole
Remember to “Stop, Look, and Go”.
Stop: Slow down and quiet down during your day; eliminate distractions for a brief time so you can see what God is doing.
Look: Where in your life is God moving? In what ways is God GIVING to you, right now? Can you say, “Thank You” to God right now?
Go: What is the “Next Right Thing” to do. What opportunities—to serve and be helpful—is life giving you right now?