Week 3: March 16, 2025
Review this week's message
Pastor: Brandon Levering
Series: God in the Vapor
Sermon Title: A House of Cards
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Series: God in the Vapor
Sermon Title: A House of Cards
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Main Point: What you consume, create, or collect was never meant to satisfy your soul
The Instability of All We Consume, Create, and Collect
The Eternal Satisfaction of New Creation in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Be satisfied in Jesus
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matt. 6:28-30)
Be thankful for what you have
“who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:3-5).
Be ready to part with what you have
Mark 8:34-36: If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
The Instability of All We Consume, Create, and Collect
The Eternal Satisfaction of New Creation in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Be satisfied in Jesus
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matt. 6:28-30)
Be thankful for what you have
“who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:3-5).
Be ready to part with what you have
Mark 8:34-36: If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
Talk It Over
Use the content in our Discussion Guide below to help you dig deeper into the lessons covered in the sermons
CONTEXT: “How does this passage fit within the history behind it and verses around it?”
Place the passage within its literary surroundings or historical background as well as consider the circumstances in which it was written (see above for more context questions).
Use the content in our Discussion Guide below to help you dig deeper into the lessons covered in the sermons
CONTEXT: “How does this passage fit within the history behind it and verses around it?”
Place the passage within its literary surroundings or historical background as well as consider the circumstances in which it was written (see above for more context questions).
- Are there any clues about the circumstances in which the passage was written?
OBSERVATION: “What do I see in this passage?”
Examine the passage by making notes, asking questions, and considering the structure, tone, and wording of the passage (see above for more observation questions).
Examine the passage by making notes, asking questions, and considering the structure, tone, and wording of the passage (see above for more observation questions).
- Are there repetitions or multiple instances of similar ideas? Do these repetitions make a particular point, or point to the structure of the passage?
- What images or metaphors does the author use? What do they indicate about God or the other people in the text?
- What is the tone of the passage? What emotions is the author drawing out?
- What is the main point or points?
MEANING: “What does this passage mean?”
Consider the main point or idea that the original human author wanted his original audience to understand in a particular text from our study of context and observation thus far (see above for more meaning questions).
Consider the main point or idea that the original human author wanted his original audience to understand in a particular text from our study of context and observation thus far (see above for more meaning questions).
- Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention any consequence for not following God's commands?
- What does the passage teach us about God, his people, and life in this world?
- How does the passage point forward to Jesus?
APPLICATION: “How should this passage affect me today?”
Define shared principles between the original audience and us today and make a plan to put those principles into practice (see above for more application questions).
Define shared principles between the original audience and us today and make a plan to put those principles into practice (see above for more application questions).
- How does this passage challenge or confirm your understanding?
- Is there some attitude you need to change?
- How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?