NOTHING BUT SMOKE (1 OF 9)
by Will McGee
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
This content is part of a series.
Nothing but Smoke (1 of 9)
Series: Beyond the Sun
Will McGee
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
INTRODUCTION
New York is a city where there is a lot of idealism.
- Hundreds of people move to the city everyday... With idealistic visions of what the city can offer them. Fame (name in lights), fortune, sexual opportunity, success, etc.
- People move here all the time... believing that the city can quench that desire for ''something more'' or a ''better life.''
- But it doesn't take long... Living here... To realize that even though there is a lot of idealists... Most New Yorkers end up very cynical.
- There are many idealistic visions that people bring to the city... That very quickly give way to cynicism.
- People expect the city to give them all sorts of things, they grow cynical when the city takes more from them than they expected.
Life is a lot like NYC. Reading the book of Ecclesiastes is a lot like NYC. It shows how idealism can quickly become cynicism when our expectations are unmet. Or when life doesn't quite turn out the way we thought it would.
- Ecclesiastes is a book about life. It is an honest book... about the realities of life...
- Sometimes it isn't pretty... But it is real. Raw.
Earlier this week... Ryan asked what the theme of my sermon was... I told well, ''It is that life is meaningless.'' He said, ''That sounds uplifting...''
- If you are used to sermons ending each week with a gift wrap and bow every week, this book will disturb you...
- Zack Eswine, ''For those who are accustomed to sermons that purpose to ''get us saved'' or that are filled with such phrases as ''God says'' or ''the Bible says,'' Ecclesiastes is strange. If we are accustomed to hearing preachers speak formally rather than personally, or churches that see asking questions as a lack of faith, or a mindset that believers are not to be in the secular world, Ecclesiastes can baffle, flabbergast, and even infuriate us.''
Herman Melville, Moby Dick. Called ...
Series: Beyond the Sun
Will McGee
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
INTRODUCTION
New York is a city where there is a lot of idealism.
- Hundreds of people move to the city everyday... With idealistic visions of what the city can offer them. Fame (name in lights), fortune, sexual opportunity, success, etc.
- People move here all the time... believing that the city can quench that desire for ''something more'' or a ''better life.''
- But it doesn't take long... Living here... To realize that even though there is a lot of idealists... Most New Yorkers end up very cynical.
- There are many idealistic visions that people bring to the city... That very quickly give way to cynicism.
- People expect the city to give them all sorts of things, they grow cynical when the city takes more from them than they expected.
Life is a lot like NYC. Reading the book of Ecclesiastes is a lot like NYC. It shows how idealism can quickly become cynicism when our expectations are unmet. Or when life doesn't quite turn out the way we thought it would.
- Ecclesiastes is a book about life. It is an honest book... about the realities of life...
- Sometimes it isn't pretty... But it is real. Raw.
Earlier this week... Ryan asked what the theme of my sermon was... I told well, ''It is that life is meaningless.'' He said, ''That sounds uplifting...''
- If you are used to sermons ending each week with a gift wrap and bow every week, this book will disturb you...
- Zack Eswine, ''For those who are accustomed to sermons that purpose to ''get us saved'' or that are filled with such phrases as ''God says'' or ''the Bible says,'' Ecclesiastes is strange. If we are accustomed to hearing preachers speak formally rather than personally, or churches that see asking questions as a lack of faith, or a mindset that believers are not to be in the secular world, Ecclesiastes can baffle, flabbergast, and even infuriate us.''
Herman Melville, Moby Dick. Called ...
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