Group Discussions: Sept 29, 2024

Sermon Title: "The Vanity of Pleasure"

Text: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Preacher: Alex Hogendoorn
Date: September 29, 2024

Summary Tagline:
"True joy cannot be found in indulgence; it is a gift from God."

Message Summary:
In this passage from Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Solomon tests the boundaries of human pleasure, seeking meaning in laughter, wine, grand works, and indulgence. Alex begins the sermon by sharing the story of a Canadian who invented the foghorn, which was inspired by a song played on a piano whose low notes cut through the fog. Solomon, too, explored life's pleasures, hoping they would break through the mist of vanity. However, his grand experiments in hedonism only led him to the conclusion that all is 'hevel'—a mist or vapor, fleeting and insubstantial.

Like Solomon, we often pursue pleasures—whether through accomplishments, material possessions, or personal indulgence—thinking they will bring lasting joy. However, these things leave us empty, much like Solomon's experience. The preacher explains that true satisfaction comes only when we stop grasping for pleasure and receive joy as a gift from God. Through Jesus, the ultimate treasure, we find the peace, joy, and fulfillment that nothing else in this world can offer. He is the hidden treasure we must “sell everything” we have to gain. (Matthew 13:44)

Group Discussion Guide

Icebreaker Question:
Have you ever gone on a trip or planned an event that you thought would be perfect, only to find it didn’t live up to your expectations?

“These next discussion questions are intended to give us each a chance to engage in the message personally and hear what Jesus is doing in each of our lives too. In this, we all become preachers to one another as we learn to follow Jesus together.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Solomon pursued pleasure in many forms but concluded that it was all vanity. Why do you think pleasure alone fails to bring lasting fulfillment? How have you seen this in your own life or the world around you?
2. The sermon emphasized how we can exploit others in our pursuit of pleasure. How do you see this happening in today’s world, and how can we be more mindful of others in our choices?
3. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above." How does this verse challenge our tendency to take rather than receive? Contract a “receiving” attitude with the entitlement Solomon expressed in 2:10; how does a receiving posture save us from entitlement?
4. Virtual Autism is a condition that can form in children exposed to too much screen time. What signs do we see that might point to a sort of  'spiritual virtual autism,' where we become detached and distracted from God, delayed in our spiritual development? If Virtual Autism can be remedied by removing the screen, how might God remedy our spiritual condition?
5. Matthew 13:44 speaks of the Kingdom of heaven as a treasure hidden in a field. How does this idea of seeking true treasure in Jesus reshape your understanding of joy and fulfillment?

For Further Study:

1. James 1:17 – "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."
2. Matthew 13:44 – "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field..."
3. 1 Timothy 6:17 – "God... richly provides us with everything to enjoy."
4. Psalm 16:11 – "In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
5. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – The pursuit of pleasure and Solomon’s reflection on its vanity.
6. Luke 12:15 – "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
7. Proverbs 27:20 – "Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied."
8. Philippians 4:11-12 – "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."
9. Hebrews 12:1-2 – "Let us run with endurance... looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross."
10. John 10:10 – "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Gospel Connections

Let’s discuss how we can apply this message to our lives as we seek to make the following connections as we follow Jesus:

1. How can we receive joy from God instead of chasing after it in worldly things?
2. How can we, as a church, create a culture that encourages finding joy in serving God and one another, rather than in the pursuit of personal pleasure?
3. How can we, as a group, help one another avoid the distractions and indulgences that pull us away from God's true joy?
4. As we engage with our community, how can we reflect the joy of Christ, showing that true fulfillment is found in Him and not in the pleasures of this world?