Sermon Tone Analysis

A couple had been married for 50 years.

"Things have really changed," she said.

"You used to sit very close to me."

"Well, I can remedy that," he said, moving next to her on the couch.

"And you used to hold me tight."

"How's that?" he asked as he gave her a hug.

"Do you remember you used to nudge my neck and nibble on my ear loves?"

He jumped to his feet and left the room.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back," he said.

"I've got to get my teeth!"

Anne Widdecombe, Shadow Home Secretary in the British House of Commons - Let's face it, we are not a happier society as a result of the liberalisation of the seventies.

We have record rates of divorce, record rates of suicide, record rates of teenage pregnancy, record rates of youth crime, record rates of underage sex.

We should invite people to recognise that the Great Experiment has failed.

You cannot have happiness without restraint.

It is amazing.

We just can seem to be happy the way we are today.

Just cant be content.

Blondes want to be brunettes, brunettes want to be blonde, tall people want to be taller, short people want to be tall.

People wish they had a different name, different eye color and for our purposes today… young people want to be older and older people want to be younger.

Young people wish that they were older so that they could do more, experience more, even young girls and guys even try with makeup to make themselves look older.

The young are in such a hurry to grow up.

And the grown ups?

They want to do all that they can to be young.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, surgeons perform more than ten million cosmetic procedures each year, almost none of them medically necessary.

One of the reigning idolatries of modern times—the cult of youth.

For people who know they are getting older, worshiping this god or goddess demands endless efforts to stay young.

Whether we are young or old, somewhere in between, Ecclesiastes brings us wonderful insight here.

Solomon urges us to celebrate the joys of life at any age.

No matter what age we are today Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

Whether she knows it or not, Teitell is confronting one of the reigning idolatries of modern times—the cult of youth.

For people who know they are getting older, worshiping this god or goddess demands endless efforts to stay young.

But many young people worship the same deity.

Rather than respecting their elders, they look down on people or ideas that seem old-fashioned.

They want everything new and trendy.

It is hard for them to imagine that they will ever grow old.

Given the choice, some would rather die first.

Whether we are young or old or somewhere in between, Ecclesiastes can help us.

The Preacher who wrote this book teaches us to celebrate the joys of life at any age.

But he is also honest about the troubles that come with growing old.

By the wisdom of the Spirit, he gives a series of calls that can help us live well, however young or old we happen to be—two calls to rejoice,

Ryken, P. G. (2010).

Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p.

263).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Ryken, P. G. (2010).

Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (pp.

263–264).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Ryken, P. G. (2010).

Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p.

264).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

Good Advice for the Old

Good Advice for the Young

Good News for Us All

The first thing we will explore in this passage is the exhortation and warning given to those who have lived many years.

The second thing we will uncover is the exhortation and warning given to those who have not lived many years.

Finally in light of all the good advice given to us, it is clear that we will find the greatest reason to rejoice is not in good advice, but the good news of the Gospel of Jesus.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause some of us to be discontent with our season in life, but it is because of the Light of Jesus that we can find life and life more abundant no matter what the time in life, over the hill or not, we always have the wonderful news of the Gospel.

I. Good Advice for the Old

- What a Joy it is to live many years.

A. The first exhortation

The first call is to rejoice in the goodness of life, even though life is vanity.

Yes, “Light is sweet.

Ecclesiastes 11:7

Ryken, P. G. (2010).

Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p.

264).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

B. This call is especially for the older—people who have lived “many years.”

It is good to find joy in the pleasures of life.

Many things in life are “sweet,” like the taste of golden honey, sweet cream ice cream from cold stone, the sweet spot on the golf club when you hit the ball perfectly, the sweet spot in a room when the music sounds the best or the act of someone sewing patches on your jujitsu gi.

Yes many things in life are also bright—the first ray of sunshine that hits the water of Makapu’u beach in Hawaii, a full rainbow shining against dark clouds in the smokey mountains, the bright blazing campfire on a warm summer’s night at Maroon Bells Colorado, or the twinkling Christmas lights of home after a long day of shopping.

How sweet life is, and how bright are its many blessings.

This call is especially for old people—people who have lived “many years.”

It is good to find joy in the pleasures of life.

Many things in life are “sweet,” like the taste of golden honey or the soft fold of skin on a baby’s neck or the sound of the sweet spot on a baseball bat when it connects for a home run.

Many things in life are also bright—the first shaft of morning sunshine over a shimmering sea, a full rainbow against dark clouds, a blazing campfire on a warm summer’s night, the twinkling lights of home after a long journey.

How sweet life is, and how bright are its many blessings!

C. What a joy it is to live for many seasons in life—not only because we have more time to serve the Lord in sowing and reaping for the kingdom of Christ, but also because we have more opportunity to enjoy the goodness of life.

Hear the words of one old saint who was feeling the effects of his age.

When worried that he might be discouraged, he said, “Not at all, because with the Lord, life gets better and better!”

!

Ryken, P. G. (2010).

Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p.

264).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

D. So what should we do with long life?

The right way to respond is to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

What a joy it is, therefore, to live for many years—not only because we have more time to serve the Lord in sowing and reaping (see ), but also because we have more opportunity to enjoy the goodness of life.

I often remember the words of one old saint who was feeling the effects of his age.

When I worried that he might be discouraged, he said, “Not at all, because with the Lord, life gets better and better!”

For the faithful believer, long life is a blessing from God ().

Ryken, P. G. (2010).

Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p.

264).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

- Praise God for the goodness of life and life more abundant that we have been given.

- Praise him for everything sweet and yummy we eat and everything light and bright we see.

E. The living God is the Lord of light.

When he said, “Let there be light!”

there was light, and that light has been shining ever since.

According to the prophets...

F. Now the God of light deserves our praise and he is worthy of our praise.

G.