That's Life - Message 2 - Under the Sun - Eccl. 1:2-11
Outline:
An Apologetic Discourse on the Secular Worldview
I. The Problem – vs. 2-3 – Futile, Fleeting, Unfathomable A. Life is Pointless – all earthly experience is completely meaningless – Job 7 B. Work is Unprofitable – for all man’s activity, what remains? Do we make the world a better place? – Jer.16:19; Hab. 2:13; Psa. 127:1 C. Under the Sun – “the whole world, with all its pleasures, profits, honors, endeavors, business, and events – it is not just vain, it is vanity itself” (Bridges)
II. The Perspective – vs. 4-11 – Nihilism – an endless cycle of meaninglessness A. Repeated Futility for Generations – the “weary-go-round” (Bridges) (vs. 4-8) B. The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same (vs. 9) C. It’s Not New, We Just Don’t Remember (vs. 10-11)
III. The Path A. Unbelief to Death – Rom. 6:21; 2 Pet. 3:10-11 B. Belief to Life – 2 Pet. 3:13
1. History is controlled – Psa. 106; Amos 3:6; Gen. 50:20; Job 42:2; Jer. 25:9; Isa. 45:1 2. History is headed toward a goal – the Day of the Lord – Isa. 43:19; Joel 2:1, 11 3. New comes from above – Psa. 62; Psa. 22:30; 96:1; Rev. 14:13 4. A Biblical Worldview, OT Perspective: “OT believers loved creation and saw in it the majesty of God’s name, looked with wonder at the skies, pondered the lessons taught by animals, wind, grass, trees….and sang to the glory of God because of what they saw and heard.” (Eaton) |