Ecclesiastes Archives – Embrace What Matters

The Canon of Scripture

April 12, 2021

Part 5 of the series “Why the Scriptures Are Trustworthy.” How did the individual books in the Old and New Testament come to be included in the Bible we have today? Were the books the selection of men as some believe, or was it the determination of God? This sermon takes another look at the evidence: in biblical scholarship, history, and documentary analysis, to help us investigate whether the books in the Bible we have today can be trusted to be the books God intended us to read and guide our lives by. This journey of evidence isn't enough to bring us to complete intellectual certitude in this area, but there is enough evidence to further strengthen our faith and trust in the integrity of God's written Word.

The Purpose of Art and Beauty

In the Shadow of the Almighty

May 24, 2021

God is beautiful. In everything God has created or touches, there is beauty. This is a message that explores beauty and art in the Christian experience. We can live daily in astonishment and awe amid the godly beauty that surrounds us. We can adorn ourselves and the things we create with the beauty of God. In the shadow of God's sheltering presence, we can bask in the pleasure of eternal wonder and faith.

A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven

What Time Is It Where You Are?

January 3, 2022

(Note: We're taking a break from the "Belonging to Him" series for the holiday season and will pick back up with Part 2 on January 17th. This week, you’ll be hearing the second sermon John shared from the series, "A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven" while pastoring a church in the country of Honduras.) Most every day of our lives, we ask ourselves or others, "What time is it?" We find it important to live according to the expectations of time: minutes, hours, years, holidays, life events, etc. The biblical view of knowing the time is to understand that God uses time to fulfill his purposes, including our purpose under his guidance and care. So, what time is it where you are? Your answer will help you better live out God's purpose in your life.

A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven

Making the Most of Your Time

January 10, 2022

(Note: We're taking a break from the "Belonging to Him" series for the holiday season and will pick back up with Part 2 on January 17th. This week, you’ll be hearing the third sermon John shared from the series, "A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven" while pastoring a church in the country of Honduras.) If you knew you had 24-hours to live, how would you spend it? What if you had 50 years left to live? Making the most of every opportunity involves living with both priorities in mind. We must live in utter dependence upon God's providence over time. And we must step out and take risks in both our daily lives and in our long-term plans to ultimately sanctify time with a view of eternity in mind.

Belonging to Him

The Fear of Jesus

January 24, 2022

Part 16 of 23 in the series, "Belonging to Him." To "fear God" is a recurring commandment in Scripture. But does it sound strange to your ears that we're likewise called fear Jesus? This sermon takes a look at the Jesus of the Gospels and demonstrates that people didn't just encounter the gentle, humble shepherd, but also the Lord of all creation, a person who regularly incited awe, astonishment, amazement...and reverential fear. How well we fear Jesus will affect the quality of our personal relationship with him, and whether or not we'll live in fear of everything else life throws at us from day to day (sermon recorded in 2019.)