If I gain more knowledge, will I be happier? Pastor David tackles this question and more as he continues through the book of Ecclesiastes. Join us in-person or online beginning at 10:30!
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Sermon Audio
Notes
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Not knowing K_________________ Knowing what to do with
what you know
I________________ Knowledge/Info W_______________
-I Kings 4:29-34; 10:1, 3-5, Ecclesiastes 12:9-10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
Q: Is my ultimate purpose on this planet to simply gain more knowledge?
Q: If I gather enough information will I be happy and will life make sense?
THE GOOD NEWS: __________is better than ignorance or foolishness.
-Proverbs 3:13, II Peter 1:5, Luke 2:5, Ecclesiastes 2:12-14a
1. Wisdom can _______________ you. (2:12-14; 7:5)
2. Wisdom can create a positive _______________ (7:11)
3. Wisdom can ____________ you (7:12)
4. Wisdom can __________________ you (7:19; 9:14-18)
THE BAD NEWS: Under the sun, wisdom has its _________________.
-Ecclesiastes 1:16-17
1. Wisdom can be overpowered by _______________. (9:18; 10:1)
Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart. (Ecc. 7:7)
2. Wisdom can’t deter ______________. (1:4,11; 2:14-16;9:14-16)
3. Wisdom can’t stop the _____________ (1:18)
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
4. Wisdom can’t be fully ______________. (7:23-29; 8:16-17; 11:5)
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgements, and His paths beyond tracing out. (Romans 11:33)
The starting point for _____________
is a right relationship with the God of wisdom.
(Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, 12b-13, Prov.1:7)
But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?…it is hidden from the eyes of every living thing…God understands the way to it and He alone knows where it dwells…and He said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (Job 28:12, 21a, 23,28) (Genesis 3:6)
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:2-3) (also I Cor. 1:24)
I KNOW…Job 19:25, Romans 8:28, II Cor. 5:1, I John 3:2, II Tim. 1:12
Digging Deeper
Q1: What percentage of your life is consumed with “information”? Has that percentage gone up or down over the past five years?
Q2: Are you doing something to manage the time you give/waste on information? If so, explain.
Q3: Read Romans 1:18-25. What do these verses teach you about the relationship between man’s search for truth and the God who created him?
Q4: Pastor David said that wisdom is valuable because it provides an inheritance. What valuable wisdom or knowledge did you inherit from your parents or family?
Q5: Study Jeremiah 9:23-24. What principles does that passage teach about what is truly valuable?
Q6: When you are searching for wisdom and counsel where do you go looking?
Q7: Read Ecclesiastes 1:16, 7:16 and 12:12b. Is there anything in these verses that shock you? How do you connect what these verses are saying with a godly pursuit of knowledge and wisdom?
Q8: Why do you think mankind seems to be so set on striving to be “wise” while at the same time pushing the Lord away?
Q9: Pastor David mentioned five things that we can know. Which one means the most to you? Why?