Sermon Series Notes

Ecclesiastes, traditionally associated with King Solomon (“the Teacher” or “Qoheleth”), is one of the most honest and searching books in all of Scripture. It wrestles with the deepest questions of human existence: What is the point of life? Why do work, pleasure, wisdom, and success so often leave us empty? Through a sober examination of life “under the sun,” Ecclesiastes exposes the futility of trying to find ultimate meaning in the things of this world.

Throughout the book, the Teacher explores the limits of wealth, achievement, pleasure, knowledge, labor, and human control. Again and again, he returns to the same conclusion: apart from God, all of it is “vanity”—a vapor, fleeting and elusive. Life is unpredictable, death is certain, and many of the things people spend their lives chasing cannot truly satisfy the soul. Yet Ecclesiastes is not a book of despair; it is a book of divine realism. It strips away illusion so that we can see clearly.

As the book unfolds, Ecclesiastes points us toward a life of humility, reverence, gratitude, and trust in God. Instead of trying to master life or squeeze ultimate meaning out of temporary things, we are called to receive life as a gift from God, enjoy His daily provisions, and live in the fear of the Lord. The final message is both simple and profound: true wisdom is found not in controlling life, but in fearing God and keeping His commandments.

At its core, Ecclesiastes teaches that life apart from God is empty, but life lived before God is full of purpose, even in a world marked by mystery, frustration, and mortality. It is a book that confronts our idols, humbles our pride, and calls us to anchor our lives in the One who alone gives meaning.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
- Ecclesiastes 12:13

This is a series of sermons on the Book of Ecclesiastes… If you’re new, please begin listening by scrolling to the bottom, and then work your way up as you go. Also, discover even more exegetical and topical sermons on the Sermons Page.