Overview

• Without God, all is vanity.
• The book compares values with ultimate value.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

• There is a time for everything. Discerning the proper time for things is part of wisdom.
• Ecclesiastes 3:11 – God has put eternity into our hearts.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

• See Isaiah 55:8. We only see a small part of the whole picture.
• We must be careful how we speak, especially to God.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

• Wealth is not fulfilling. The more you have, the more you want.

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6

• Listen to the wise. You will never grow listening to people who only tell you what you want to hear. We should seek people who will be honest with us and humble ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

• Be careful what you say and don’t respond too quickly because you have probably said the same or worse yourself.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Be careful what you say about others. Guard your thoughts to help control your speech.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

• Work hard. Work because of how God has blessed you.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

• Don’t be lazy!

Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Fear God and keep His commandments.

Introduction

• Philippians 3:7

Paul had changed masters.

• Galatians 1:1
• Acts 9:1-2, 13 – Paul is using the authority of men.
• Acts 9:3-5, 15 – Paul was now going to do Jesus’ bidding.
• This change of authority changed everything for Paul!
• Galatians 1:6-10 – Paul recognized an authority higher than himself.
• Galatians 2:1-5 – Paul was openly preaching to Gentiles now and defending Titus from being circumcised.
• Galatians 2:20 – Have I changed masters?
• Galatians 5:16-24 – It is our choice which of these things we do.

Paul didn’t let his past stop him from teaching the truth now.

• Galatians 1:11-13, 22-24 – Because of his change, people were now glorifying God.
• I Thessalonians 4:3-5
• Are we afraid to speak out against things we used to do?
• I Timothy 4:15-16 – Paul was a great teacher because of his past and how drastic his change was.
• If only perfect people could teach or advise, who would be qualified?

Deuteronomy 12

• Deuteronomy 12:1-4 – Don’t worship like that.
  • They were effectively cheating on God with false idols.
• Deuteronomy 12:5-32 – The place which the Lord your God will choose.
  • The tabernacle was the place God chose for certain types of worship. (Exodus 40:17)
  • The tabernacle traveled with them in their wandering, even after they crossed into Canaan.
  • See II Chronicles 7:11. The temple built by Solomon replaced the tabernacle.
  • They were to worship in the place that God chose. It was important to God that they worshiped in the right way. It is still important to God that we worship in the right way today.
  • Deuteronomy 12:17-19 – Do not forsake the Levites.
    • Numbers 18:20-21; 35:7
    • Nehemiah 13:10 – The system broke down.
  • Deuteronomy 12:29-31 – Do not worship in all the evil ways the Canaanites did (child sacrifice, etc.).

Deuteronomy 13

• Deuteronomy 13:1-5 – A prophet or a dreamer of dreams.
  • If someone is trying to get you to worship an idol, they are to be put to death.
• Deuteronomy 13:6-11 – Your close family and friends.
  • Compare Matthew 10:34-39 – Don’t let anyone come between you and God.
• Deuteronomy 13:12-18 – Worthless men who seduce a whole city.

Deuteronomy 14

• Reminders of God’s rules for clean and unclean food.

Excuses in the Bible

• Luke 14:15-24
  • Even when God offers blessings, we can come up with reasons not to accept them.
• Genesis 3:8-13
  • Excuses have been around since the beginning.
• II Kings 5:10-14
  • Naaman made an excuse to not follow Elisha’s instructions.

Excuses today

• I cannot understand the Bible.
• Some day but not right now.
  • Luke 9:57-62
  • Luke 12:16-21
• Too much to give up.
  • Matthew 16:26
• I’m good enough now.
  • Romans 3:23
  • Acts 4:12

Conclusion

• Romans 1:21
• Excuses do us more harm than good.
• Philippians 2:12

Introduction

• I Timothy 1:18-20

Keep brethren and sisters at arm’s length but get really close with others.

• Acts 2:42-47 – They wanted to be together!
• Acts 4:23 – They met with other Christians to talk about being persecuted.
• Acts 4:32
• Romans 1:12
• Romans 15:22
• Philippians 1:3
• I Thessalonians 3:6
• Hebrews 10:24-25
• Philippians 1:27
• Deuteronomy 13:6-10 – God warned the Israelites of bad influence.
• Proverbs 12:26; 13:20; 14:7; 24:1-2

Make schoolwork your primary focus.

• I Kings 4:1-26, 32-34
• I Kings 7:1
• I Kings 10:4-5
• I Kings 11:4 – Solomon’s spiritual situation was a disaster.
• Romans 6:19
• Be careful not to measure your success by secular standards.
• Matthew 22:37