REFUGE KENOSHA

WHY EVERYTHING MATTERS // Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

What actually matters? Have we reached the end of Ecclesiastes and realized that nothing in life matters? Is our only hope to try and make sense of the world on our own? As we close out this brilliant book, we are going to find that life with God is actually overflowing with meaning. We will find that because God exists, everything has true significance and meaning.

TO THE YOUNG AND OLD // Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8

Modern culture has bowed down at the altar of the cult of youth. Young and old are most certainly affected by it. For the young, older people can tend to be seen as getting in the way. To the older, you long for youth, investing time and energy to try and hold on to it at all costs. However, the Bible tells us there’s a proper way to embrace both youth and old age. Today, as we look at Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8, we will see how we are called to embrace life responsibly.

EMBRACING FAILURE // Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Failure is simply a reality in life. Even successful business people will tell us that we need to embrace failure. However, when it comes to living the call to make disciples, why are we so crippled by the fear of failure? Today, as we look at  Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, we will look at how we ought to focus on action, and let success or failure rest in the hands of God.

VALUING WISDOM (part 2) // Ecclesiastes 10:12-20

Two relevant challenges for the modern person are the ability to control one's speech, and the ability to avoid laziness. As a culture looking for a quick fix and quick comforts, we can ignore key responsibilities in life, as well as use harsh speech to get us ahead. As we look at both the work ethic and the speech of the fool, we will be challenged to live wisely in this short life that we are given. Pastor Tom finishes off chapter 10 of Ecclesiastes.

VALUING WISDOM (part 1) // Ecclesiastes 10:1-11

In our modern, fast paced culture, we place our highest value on things that bring us enjoyment, free up our time, or simply distract us. What happens when we don’t value the wisdom that God gives us through the Bible? Today, as we start through Ecclesiastes 10, we’ll be looking at how when wisdom is not valued, foolishness (or what the Bible calls folly) will rapidly take its place in our lives.

LIFE BACKWARDS (part 2) // Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

We are in part two of our message “Life Backwards” from Ecclesiastes chapter 9. Today we are looking at two more ways that we are called to live backwards in this life. We often want control over everything in our lives. However, as Christians we have to realize that we are under the control of a God who has all of nature and human history in His hands. How, then, are we to live in light of God’s total control over all things?

LIFE BACKWARDS (part 1) // Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Why do things and experiences not bring us ultimate happiness and satisfaction? Why are we left always wanting more? As we look at Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, we are going to see how humanity is not made for the “stuff” of this life, and that’s why it doesn’t satisfy. Instead, Christians will be encouraged to live life backwards, so to speak, from a world that is living to find ultimate fulfillment elsewhere.

FOCUS ON FEAR [OF GOD] // Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

When you experience troubles with authority, evil, or the unknown, it can take your focus off of the simple fact that God has the might and right to do whatever He wants. In short, we can forget to fear God. So what do we do to bring our focus back on Him when life's hardships get in the way? Today, Pastor Tom takes us through Ecclesiastes chapter 8.

FEAR AND MANIPULATION // Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

What does it mean to fear God? Does it mean that we are scared that He is going to pop out of the closet at night? What happens, even as Christians, when we lose a bit of the fear of God in our lives? We often resort to thinking we can manipulate His purposes through our actions--whether rebellious or seemingly righteous. Today, Tom Dryer looks at Ecclesiastes 7:15-29.

WAIT AND TRUST // Ecclesiastes 7:7-14

Most parents have had to tell their kids to  “wait and trust” for a particular outcome. In the same way, God encourages His own kids to wait and trust Him, specifically in moments of pain and difficulty. Today, Tom Dryer continues through our study in the book of Ecclesiastes.