This week, we begin a series on the book of Ecclesiastes. In this book, Solomon isn’t offering secondhand advice; he’s lived it. He’s been where we dream of going, achieved what we only imagine, and done what most people can’t. Solomon isn’t offering guesses; he’s speaking from experience. This week, we will discuss how chasing “more” will never lead to satisfaction.

  1. If you could have unlimited resources to pursue one thing for a whole year (money, time, connections, etc.), what would you chase after and why?
  2. Solomon says everything “under the sun” is like vapor or mist – something that looks solid but disappears when you try to grab it. What areas of life have you found to be like this – promising satisfaction but not delivering?
  3. In the sermon, we heard about Solomon’s four experiments: pursuing pleasure, achievements, possessions, and relationships. Which of these do you see people around you chasing most intensely today?
  4. Read Ecclesiastes 1:2-3. What do you think Solomon means by “meaningless” (or “vanity” in some translations)? Why is this such an important concept to understand for the rest of the book?
  5. Solomon uses the phrase “under the sun” 29 times in Ecclesiastes. How did Pastor James explain this phrase, and why is it significant to Solomon’s argument?
  6. In Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, Solomon shifts from describing what doesn’t work to offering a solution. What is that solution, and how does it change everything that came before?
  7. The sermon outlines four lessons from Solomon’s experiments:
    • Chasing thrills leaves you restless
    • Accomplishing everything doesn’t mean you’ve found anything
    • Filling your hands with more still leaves your heart empty
    • Being with everyone doesn’t mean you’re known by anyone

Which of these four resonates most with your own experience, and why?

  1. Pastor James said, “Your problem isn’t that you enjoy life too much. Your problem is you’re trying to enjoy it without the One who gives it.” How have you felt this tension in your own life?
  2. 1 John 5:11-12 says, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” How does this New Testament perspective complete what Solomon was discovering in Ecclesiastes?
  3. The sermon challenges us to “ask God to show you what wind you’ve been chasing.” Take time this week to identify one area where you’ve been seeking fulfillment apart from God.