The Bible with Beth

Good morning, we're concluding our study of Ecclesiastes and one of the things I've been repeatedly struck by is just how relevant such an ancient book is for our lives today. Over and over, our preacher has looked at different aspects of life under the sun, viewing life from a secular perspective, and concluded over and over that life without Christ is meaningless.

He's used four arguments that we've looked at to support his conclusion. The monotony of creation in life, the vanity of earthly wisdom, the futility of wealth, and the certainty of death. But being quite a wise man, our preacher goes back and takes another look in these last two chapters, and this time brings God into the picture, and that makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it?

Today's scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8.

Christ is risen; He is risen, indeed! Today we’re celebrating the greatest day in the history of the world, Christ’s resurrection Easter morning. But what actually happened Easter morning, why is it significant, and what does this mean for our lives 2,000 years later? 

Today's scripture: John 20:1-10.

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! Today we celebrate Christ's official entry into Jerusalem and the events that set into motion the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

The account of the triumphal entry is found in all four gospels, and I've chosen John 12:12-19 this morning for us to look at. Coupled with our week's Bible study, which is 1 John 2:2-11. They're fascinating to consider together.

I love the way all of God's word is one continuous message of his redemptive love in Jesus Christ.

So how does John's account of Palm Sunday in this section of chapter two of First John, help us better understand Christ as our sacrifice and our savior? That's our question for today.

Today's scripture: John 12:12-19, 1 John 2:2-11, Psalm 118:26, John 11:16, John 1:49, Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Psalm 119:34, Psalm 118:22-24.

Good morning, today I've entitled our message, Wisdom for Life. Our author has given us quite a bit to think about, hasn't he, with his descriptions of life's vanities. The tedium, the endless treadmill of creation that constantly repeats itself. Season after season, year after.

Repeatedly he's talked about the uselessness of worldly wisdom and knowledge. The fleeting value of prosperity and wealth and God's gifts when they're used for the wrong purposes and viewed in the wrong ways.

If we accept God's gifts but complain about them, we're guilty of ingratitude. If we hoard His gifts and will not share them with others, we're guilty of indulgence. But if we yield to His will and use what He's given us for his glory, then we can enjoy life and be satisfied.

This morning we turn to chapter 7, verses 1 to 14, to the topic of wisdom. Now the preacher gives us a positive side of wisdom. Has he changed his mind? Does wisdom have value after all, or is it simply just another vanity?

Today's scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Proverbs 27:9, 27:17, Romans 8:28.

Our message this week I've entitled Satisfaction Guaranteed. And the questions we're answering this morning is who or what matters most, God or money? What should our attitude as Christians be towards money and prosperity?

In today's scripture we're examining the topic of wealth in what our preacher calls vanities, the things in life that are meaningless and transient, empty and temporary apart from a personal relationship with the Lord.

Verses eight to nine, we'll consider wealth and poverty on a national level. In verses 10 to 17, the preacher really starts to meddle in our business as he exposes our attitudes towards money. In the final section in verses 18 to 20 he shows us a better way to live.

We've talked a lot in our class about meditating on scripture. Pondering, personalizing, and practicing God's word. These passages in Ecclesiastes are extraordinary ones to ponder. Challenging, but wonderful and rewarding in what matters most.

Today's scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20, Philippians 4:11, Hebrew 13:5, Luke 12:16-21.

This week we're looking at wickedness, injustice, and death. Those are not cherry topics, are they? But they're part of life. And one of the things that has most impressed me studying the book of Ecclesiastes is how honest, how ruthlessly honest, our preacher is. 

Life without a personal relationship with Christ isn't pretty, it's prone to heartache and troubles. And folks who don't know Christ and His love have nowhere to take their fears. They have nowhere to turn for spiritual comfort and no hope of everlasting peace. 

So before we delve into today's passages, what about you? What are you afraid of? Where do you turn when troubles come? 

Today’s scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22, Galatians 4:4, Acts 17, Genesis 18:25, Matthew 25, Revelation 21:4, II Peter 1:3.

In our study of Ecclesiastes, our author claims to be a son of David and a king of Jerusalem. He's wealthy, brilliant, creative, successful beyond measure, and today he shares with us his extensive search for fulfillment and satisfaction.

But what did his wealth, success, and achievements truly bring him? Were they enough, or has he missed something that no earthly treasure can bring him?

Today's scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:18-24; 3:1-11, Proverbs 9:10, Galatians 4:4.

Good morning, I have been looking forward to studying the book of Ecclesiastes with you all. I've entitled our six week series, What Matters Most because the writer of Ecclesiastes does a masterful job identifying what matters most in life and eternity and what doesn't.

And he comes to two life-changing conclusions, which you and I will spend these next few weeks exploring. First, if the Lord has blessed you with wealth, wisdom, meaningful work to do, family and friends, these are all blessings from his hands and he means for us to enjoy them. However, if the very same things are all you have and you don't have a relationship with the Lord, are they enough?

Today's scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18, Mark 8:36.

 I can't believe it, but here we are at the last chapter of 1 John. This morning we're looking at the five certainties of faith with which John leaves us. Is truth relative? Can we believe anything we want to and ignore the things that are difficult or challenging? What can we as genuine Christians know for sure? Are there truths from the Bible that Christians can build our lives upon with confidence? Those are the questions we're considering today. 

Today's scripture: 1 John 5:6-21.

I found a great quote to begin our study with this morning, "the road to love is paved with faith in Jesus Christ." That's our main principle for this morning. The road to love is paved with faith in Jesus. Where are you? On your life's journey today, how do you plan to get there? Those are the questions we want to consider today as we look at one of the most important themes in the entire Bible, which is God's love. 

Today's scripture: 1 John 4:7-21.

This week, John returns to the topic of Christian's love for one another. Discover the meaning and the fruit of God's love in Christian living, but has our love for Christ found practical experience expression in our relationships with other believers? How can God's call to love one another affect our lives as well? 

Today's scripture: 1 John 3:11-24.

In today's lesson, John revisits his cycle of the three tests of Faith for a second time. We know these really well by now, don't we? In our passage this morning, John explains that genuine Christians not only have fellowship with the Lord on a deeper level, we are now God's beloved children, and he is our heavenly Father. How does knowing that help us face each day's challenges with confident faith and growing holiness? Does the Lord really expect us to act like Jesus every day? 

Today's scripture: 1 John 2:28-33, 3:4-10.

This week we're looking at the test of truth, the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Plenty of people in the world claim to please God by paying lip service to justice and love, but John says that's not good enough. There's one more test for us to discover, one more crucial proof that a person really does have fellowship with our Lord. 

Today's scripture: 1 John 2:18-27, 4:1-6.

Discover the Apostle John's challenge to us to walk in the light, reject the darkness of sin, and maintain close fellowship with our Lord as we journey through 1 John 1:5 through 2:2. But how will this transform our lives should we have the faith to accept it? 

Today's scripture: 1 John 1:5-2:2.

Welcome to the prologue to First John, and John's personal testimony to the reality of Jesus Christ, the word of life.

Last week we began our study with an overview of the epistle, and we saw that John's focus in his letter is assurance of faith. The word "know" interestingly is used thirty times in the book of John, and John tells his readers that we can know that Christianity is true and we can know with certainty that we are Christians.

God intends for Christians to have full assurance of faith, full conviction, and a settled understanding. And this is to be true for all Christians throughout history, not just during John's era. We belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

In a world filled with confusion and doubt about what's true and not true, this assurance of our faith is immensely comforting and encouraging, isn't it? And John gives us three tests in his epistle to assure us that our faith is genuine. The test of faith, righteousness, and love.

Today's scripture: 1 John 1:1-4.

I've so looked forward to beginning our study of 1 John with you, and discovering the assurance of our salvation through Christ. As we read through 1 John, we will find we can be truly confident that we are born again and eternally secure in Christ because of the way we now live. But how can we reflect Christ's character of faith, holiness, and Christ's sacrificial love on a daily basis? 

Today's scripture: 1 John 5:11-13.