Read:  

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Focus:

Growth in our individual practice of fasting requires us to feast at the Lord’s Table in community. Join the church family at one of our campuses to study the book of Ecclesiastes together and hear God’s word for us.

Pray:

As you prepare to gather with the church today, pray that God would give us personally and corporately the willingness and ability to receive what is good for our walk with Him today.

CONVERSATION STARTERS:

These questions help us dig deeper, connecting Sunday’s sermons with our Monday lives. These prompts have been designed to help Community Groups grow in their relationship with God, with one another, and with their neighbors. Please know that these questions are meant to be a resource for you as you think about the Sunday sermon.

In Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, a single summary is given for all that has been shared in the book: though the world offers many attempts at wise living, one can only find it in fearing God and keeping His commandments.

1. What stood out to you from the sermon?
2. Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 aloud and then read the same passage in The Message version. Does The Message version illuminate any part of the text in a new way to you?
3. Since there are so many excellent books, podcasts, blogs etc. around living the Christian life available, to what extent do you lean on these resources vs. the Bible (vs. 11, 12)? How do we find balance here?
4. Share about a time when life events brought disappointment or pain, but you felt God’s care in the midst of the ‘smoke’, even when you couldn’t see or understand why it was happening.

Prayer Prompt:

Ask the Lord to help us cherish the gift of wisdom He has provided in Ecclesiastes and write it on our hearts and minds. Ask the Lord to help us through His Holy Spirit to fear Him and keep His commandments in all our activity and affections.