Wisdom’s Vexation and Value (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)

If you read the book of Ecclesiastes you might be tempted not to do anything in this world.  The reason that we might be tempted not to do anything is because you will probably lose or experience frustration so why press forward?   Or we might think that we work hard and then we die so what is the point?  However, the preacher wants us to see that there is a value and there is something that is worthwhile in our working.  So, why press forward in life?  Why manage our money?  Why do anything under the sun if this world is in a curse? 

Let Us Eat and Drink for Tomorrow We Die (1 Corinthians 15:32; LD 17)

Many times when we think of the resurrection we think that it is a doctrine that merely is the last part of our salvation. In other words the resurrection only matters for us to be raised.  Have we ever stropped to think about what would happen if Christ was not raised?  Would that resurrection have an impact besides not securing our physical resurrection? 

Random Musings (Ecclesiastes 10:1-20)

The preacher in Ecclesiastes as been accused of being a cynic.  It is easy to pick a few passages and claim that the preacher is undermining wisdom.  We can see that the preacher does not believe you can put God in a box, but does the preacher esteem wisdom?  Is there a benefit to pursuing and desiring wisdom?  Or is the preacher one who really believes that wisdom is just a waste of time? 

Hell’s Descent (Matthew 27:46; LD 16)

The Apostles’ creed states that Christ descended into hell.  This is a statement that concerns people including Calvin.  I do grant that it is confusing to speak of Christ descending into hell, but at the same time when we understand the intention of the statement it is something I would say is unclear, but also communicates something very significant.  What is so significant about Christ bearing hell?  Why does Christ have to endure hell’s suffering to accomplish redemption?

Wisdom in Strange Places (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)

One would think that if they were saved from a dire consequence the amount of gratitude would be overwhelming.  Now, if our house was in danger of being destroyed you would think that we would be consumed with joy if someone saved it.  What if we liked our town and someone saved it?  We would probably want to have a parade and name a day after the individual who saved it all.  However, there is in instance where that did not happen.  Why was someone so significant forgotten?  What does such forgetting have to do with wisdom?

Cursed for Our Redemption (Galatians 3:10-14; LD 15)

Our redemption is something that is very dramatic.  Jesus Christ enters history by taking on the flesh through the virgin Mary.  He then lives a perfect life and dies on the cross.  The cross is something that is very offensive in terms of its design in history as it was engineered to dehumanize anyone executed by the means of crucifixion.  So, if the cross is so offensive then why does Christ die on the cross?  Why all this drama for such a simple goal to redeem the seed of the woman?  So, why was Christ cursed for our redemption?

Why Do Professions of Faith? (1 Timothy 6:12)

Paul exhorts Timothy to fight the good fight.  The motivation for this fight is that Timothy will then be able to take hold of eternal life.  So, does this mean that Timothy needs to work really hard to get to the goal of heaven or to receive the blessings of heaven? What does Timothy standing in the midst of the witnesses have to do with this this good fight?  What implications can we draw from this public testimony as well?

A Necessary Birth ( Luke 1:26-38 ; LD 14)

Why do we speak of a virgin birth?  Is this something that is really so essential for the Christian faith? 

Life Has its Benefits (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12)

There is the temptation to read Ecclesiastes and think that maybe there is not much of a reason to live.  The preacher seems rather cynical when he talks about life under sun.  Such negative talk could leave someone with the impression that there is no reason to live nor are there any benefits to life.  Is this really what the preacher is saying?  Should we really think that there are no blessings of life under the sun?

Why the Only Begotten Son? (John 1:1-18; LD 13)

The Apostles’ creed uses the language, “Only begotten Son” when it refers to Christ.  This is language that could be confusing because it almost sounds as if Christ was created at some point.  In other words tic could sound as if there was a moment when Christ was here and then another moment prior when Christ was not because the Father produced an heir.  Why would the creed use such language?  Why do we want to use such language?  How does this language communicate that Christ is from eternity rather than Christ having some sort of a beginning?  How does this distinguish Christ’s Sonship from our sonship?

The Folly of Short Term Gains (Ecclesiastes 8:10-17)

When we go through this life it might look like it is wise to please man because then one will receive more in return.  If man is pleased with you then it seems you will go far because people will promote you, remember you, and help you advance through life to greater amounts of success.  So, it seems that there is a great advantage to keeping up appearances.  So, is there a downside of trying to keep up an appearance before man?  Why would the preacher in Ecclesiastes say that such a view of life is short sighted?  What is a a view of life that is much wiser?

Why Are You a Christian? (Ephesians 6:10-20; LD 12)

The weapons listed for our Christian armor are mostly defensive weapons.  If these are defensive weapons what are we defending ourselves from?  How hard can it be for us to go about this age if we are grounded in Christ?  If we are already called a Christian then why such a struggle? So, why are we called Christians that is anointed by Christ if we are just walking through this world? 

Approaching the King (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9)

Rulers and superiors are people who have authority.  This is an authority that can make things rather stressful for us if we try to enter into their presence because they have power to hire, fire, and even sentence.  How will they receive us?  How will they receive criticism if we have to give some? What will be the potential consequence for appearing to challenge their authority?  These are the sorts of things that the preacher in Ecclesiastes teaches us about in his sermon.  So, how do we approach the leaders of our day?

The Danger of Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:15-29)

We know that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.  If we are consistent it would seem that it is better to go through life being wise rather than being a fool.  So, why does the preacher warn us not to make ourselves too wise?  Is he contradicting the wisdom tradition or is he communicating something that is essential for us to remember as we pursue wisdom?

Edified by Providence (Romans 8:18-30; LD 10)

The providence of God is something that is magnificent to see that the Lord continues to care for us and watch over us.  This almost sounds as if God is meddlesome.  Is he?  Why would we want this God to interact with our lives?  How does His personal involvement improve our lives rather than harm our lives? 

Israel’s Christmas (Matthew 2:13-23)

So, Herod is trying to maintain his power and usurp the living God.  Herod is a wise ruler and has many years of experience.  He knows how to rule by his will to power.  Can he overrule the plan of the Lord?  Can the worldly ruler claim his power and see to it that the the Lord is not able to establish His rule and His kingdom? Is Herod then stronger than the Lord or does the Lord remind us why He is called the King of kings?

Christmas Commendation (Matthew 2:1-12)

So, there are travelers that come to see Jesus.  This is not something that should surprise us because He is the Son of God and the king of this creation.  It makes sense that people would come out to see Jesus.  However, we would expect that they would come out to see Jesus after He has done some teaching, or maybe after he has gained some sort of following.  We would not expect Jesus to be worshipped as a child who is 2 or a little under2.  So, why do strangers come from the east to worship this 2 year old child? 

God and His Providence (Acts 17:22-33; LD 9)

The providence of God is a very humbling doctrine.  It is a doctrine that compels us to see that we are those who are not as self reliant as we think we are.  God is the one who provides for us and for those who are not His people.  All creation finds the substance in Him and in Him alone. This is also a doctrine that commands us to see that the Lord provides for His people. 

Christ's Birth (Matthew 1:18-25)

Many times we think of the birth story of Jesus as being a nice story.  It is a nice story, but what is so nice about it?  Do we ever stop to consider what is so nice about the story of Jesus? What is so humbling to us to embrace a savior who is named Jesus?  What is significant about His name and why does Matthew call attention to the name Jesus?  Why does the angel insist that the name of this child is to be Jesus? 

God as Savior (Titus 1:1-4; LD 8)

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most confusing doctrines that we have in Christianity.  This is one of those doctrines that really distinguishes Christianity from all other religions.  So, we can see or understand the significance of this doctrine because it defines our God as being very distinct from all other gods.  However, if this doctrine is something that is so divisive how do we know that it is really in scripture?  Is this doctrine so essential for us understanding our Lord?