Fbc Warrensburg

Is it ok to have wealth and to have possessions or should we be living out in the woods? The lesson of Ecclesiastes 5 & 6 is that money is a great enigma of life, for while it is the source of many evils it can also bring joy and comfort and yet also bring anxiety and restlessness.

And so what we have then this morning is a little less of the depressing hopeless message he’s been delivering thus far, and yet we may not like what the Teacher has to say to us instead, for he finds us in his crosshairs. This passage teaches us that Our lives suffer and our worship suffers when we become too focused on ourselves than on God. We must take God seriously and engage in who He is and what He is doing.

And so as you see in your outlines this morning, the Teacher essentially raises four points of contention, four things to him about this world that just don’t make sense. Therefore, by exploring these things with him this morning we are able to see that The regular circumstances of life can lead us to question the meaning of life and whether there is any meaning to be found. Only in a complete biblical worldview can we have faith to see God’s control and our purpose in all things.

And so what we’re going to do this morning, friends, is we’re going to stand with the Teacher and ask alongside him, “What is the best use of the times?” Does God indeed have a purpose for our days and, if so, what is it and how may we know it?

What’s the point? Right? There doesn’t seem to be any point. This morning we see that Observation of the world suggests there is no point in this life, regardless of one’s religion. A faithful application of the Bible, however, shows great purpose to be found in all created things.

Many look for meaning or joy from the things of this world. While those things are good as created by God, they ultimately cannot fulfill apart from using them in the fear of the Lord.

If you want to know how to find purpose and fulfillment in your life, what you have here this morning is an example of how not to do it! And so our lesson is simple: Everything in life has meaning so far as it is found and engaged in the fear of the LORD.

Ecclesiastes addresses the perplexity and vanity and enigma that is this so-called life. And so as we begin this quest with Qohelet in Ecclesiastes 1, this morning, he shows us that As human beings we want and need there to be meaning to our lives and yet simple observation of the world seems to suggest there is none.

As Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians we see, this morning, that We are to live and enjoy all of God’s creation in a way that is informed, balanced, and guided by the realities of the City of God rather than the City of Man.

This is an update on how the Albania Mission trip went.

Paul shows us that Our lives are to be ones of pursuing God in Christ Jesus, which will be marked by a life of pursuing the things of Him that we may ultimately attain Him and enjoy peace with Him.

Paul shows us that Kingdom citizenship is a reality accomplished solely through the victorious person and work of Jesus that now must permeate every aspect of the person and work of a Christian.

As we continue through the epistle to the Philippians and define what it means and looks like to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, we see that In the midst of facing various world views that are in opposition to the Gospel, we must daily commit to finding our persons and purpose solely in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul shows us, thus, that what Kingdom citizenship looks like is for Christians to live out their identity in Christ for both the advancement of the Gospel outside as well as inside the church.

Jesus humbled Himself for the glory of the Father and the salvation of others and in that humility and sacrifice He has received now all glory and fame. Paul shows us this morning that contrary to the message of this world, in Jesus alone is seen the fullness of eternal glory and, thus, in Jesus alone must our character and calling be found.

Paul teaches us that it is the way we live together in community, in love and service to one another, that will most demonstrate our heavenly citizenship and will be the most powerful witness and defense of the Gospel. Our passage shows us that as members of the citizenry of heaven, Christians must reflect the Gospel through their corporate witness and unity.

Guest speaker, Craig Coppenbarger, from Valor Church, Knob Noster, Mo, bring a special Memorial Day message

As followers of Jesus we exist ultimately for Jesus Christ to be made known either in life or death, blessing or hardship, comfort or suffering.

Our first step in living out our citizenship begins by simply recognizing who we are in Christ. Paul shows us in the opening of this letter that to belong to Jesus means to receive and live out an entirely new identity in Him that affects how we think and act in everything.

So, start now, this week, moving your household toward mission. I’m going to list here a number of things you can be doing, and I’d encourage you then, this afternoon, whether over lunch or whatever, to meet as a household and start planning on how you will put these into practice.