Things the Small Church Is Great At: The Family Feel

One of the things the smaller church is good at.... Family Feel

Small testimony - Scott, Sheila, Twila, Brad, Ben, Doug… When I first got saved, they were my family. My 2 favorite verses.

Ecclesiastes 4 ESV

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Romans 8:15 ESV

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 8:15

Psalm 68:5 ESV

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

Mark 3:35

Mark 3:35 ESV

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

One of the first things I learned as a Christian was that Christians are to be a family.

on the Cross...

John 19:26 ESV

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

Tonight's Passage

Read it

We will take it apart a little at a time. I will ask questions and hopefully we will talk about it.

Ecclesiastes 4:1–3 ESV

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Ecc 4:1-3

In what ways is this passage like today? Give examples.

Ecc 4:4

Ecclesiastes 4:4 ESV

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

What is Vanity?

Why to we gather skill and work so hard?

Ecclesiastes 4:5–6 ESV

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:5–6 ESV

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

Ecc 4

Ecc 5:

What does it mean to “Fold his hands”

Proverbs 6:10 ESV

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

Prov 6:10

Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 ESV

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Why does this person toil?

When will he finish his work? - Why?

Ecclesiastes 4:13–16 ESV

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecc 4:13-16

Describe the King. Where does he come from? Why does he not listen anymore? What is his end?

How is he like us today? How do we get better?

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 ESV

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecc 4

Review the reasons why work and laziness and the king were all vanity.

having as much as your neighbor

the accumulation of stuff.

knowing so much you don’t need advice.

In verse 9, we hear that toil is not always in vain. However, if toil’s vain return is stuff, having more than your neighbor, knowing so much that you don’t need advice anymore.. If all that is vanity… what is the good reward.

Using verse 11… how close should a friend be. You literally should be willing to bare it all for the sake of friendship. It takes a willingness to be intimate (not sexually)

Using verse 12 - how many is too many?

how do we apply this to our life and our church.... Right now.