Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
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INTRODUCTION
THANK YOU
AD
Time away with Elijah, Kirsten in Kyrgyzstan
ECCLESIASTES
We are continuing in our study through the book of Ecclesiastes this morning by looking at Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 verses 1 through 14.
Scripture Journal / Guests
Big Idea: In our never-ending pursuit of fulfillment, we often convince ourselves that life would would be better if...
Better career, more money, new home, new car, new spouse,
Life can feel like were running on a treadmill that getting faster and faster but we still aren’t getting anywhere.
Ecclesiastes is an invitation to to press the emergency red button on the treadmill and stop and listen to the unconventional wisdom of the teacher.
Under the Sun
The Teacher
We step into the teacher’s classroom and find an old man.
Lines on his face that tell untold stories.
We sit a bit out of breath and listen, trying to figure out of the teacher brilliant or mad.
First Day: Vanity, everything is vanity - people come and people go… nothing changes, no one is remembered, we just do the same thing over and over again.
Pleasure: also meaningless.
Those of you out there running on the treadmill of pleasure - from one relationship to another, one partner to another, one porn site to another, one tinder swipe to another - it’s all meaningless.
I had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
- I’ve had more sex than all of you - meaningless, utterly meaningless
Work and Accomplishments - some of you were running on that treadmill weren’t you.
I’ve accomplished more than you ever will.
I planted forests, took 14 years to build my home, built houses for all 700 wives wives.
Meaningless....
Don’t even get me started on money - I made over a trillion dollars a year (according to some calculations) but I can’t even count because silver and gold is more plentiful then stones in Jerusalem.
Meaningless, vapor, vanity - none of it matters.
You won’t get anywhere running on these treadmill if your looking for meaning…
Vanity
He’s done it all
TODAY
We show up for class again today and the teacher seems to be in a different mood
Normally he’s pacing back and forth but today he’s quiet and reflective.
The classroom takes on a hushed tone as the teacher begins....
Let’s listen, and discuss what the teacher has to say this morning...
DEATH IS A TEACHER
PRAY
READ 4
Read a bit
Talk a bit
A GOOD NAME
Better than precious ointment
Character vs Appearance
Imagine stepping into the classroom of the wisest man on earth but you realize that you’ve just stepped off the treadmill.
You’re sweaty, stinky, you’re hair is all out of place and matted to your face.
You were running hard, chasing after the wind...
ve just stepped off
People then respond in different ways:
Some try to cover up their exhaustion with perfume, and nice clothes, a nice hairstyle, or well-groomed beard.
They focus so much on their appearance that they pay no attention to their character.
People may say - oh, they’re beautiful but I can’t stand to be around them.
Others step into the classroom in pursuit of wisdom.
They desire a good name, a good reputation.
Their name means something to them.
Reputation - You are a McKenzie...
I inherit a reputation and will either add to it or take from it.
If you only care about appearing well this morning you will miss the entire point of the message.
This passage is meant to dig beneath the surface and the teacher is like a surgeon this morning and wastes no time making the first cut.
DEATH IS A TEACHER
“Day of death better than the day of birth.”
At first glance we may miss the point
Too quickly assume the poor teacher is depressed and should talk to someone.
Why so bleek - so dark
Yet we discover wisdom in the teacher’s words
Potential vs Fulfillment
Birth - is all about potential
We’ve celebrated numerous new births in the church recently and this is truly a reason to celebrate.
I love newborns because they seem so fragile yet complex.
I think of - God knitting the child together in the mother’s womb.
The details of the face and hands.
Life created by God to reflect his glory.
It’s amazing
Yet - the conversation is often the same
Who they look like
How big or small they are
How they sleep
Parents pray for the children future with hopes and dreams
At this point - Parents can only pray for the child’s future with hopes and dreams.
We pray they follow Jesus.
That they become men or women who surrender their lives to him and follow him with every ounce of their being.
Potential.
Maybe
Death - is the fulfillment of life
Death has a way of focusing priorities.
Let me ask you this - imagine if you knew for certain that you were going to die this coming Saturday.
What would your week look like?
How would you treat your spouse, your children, your parents.
This is it - the end of the race is just around they corner - now what?
Who would you call this week?
Who would you invite out for dinner?
What conversations would you have on Friday evening?
Death is deeper than just how we live.
The last two verses in Ecclesiastes says, “The end of the matter; all has been heard.
fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgements, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
As christians, we realize that death is not the end.
As we breathe our last breath we do not simply cease to exist.
No, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement” ()
Death not only causes focus but also purpose.
Death as end of life
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