Introduction: When I was a young child…

Why talk about ________?

Bible teachers have come up with various views about the content of Ecclesiastes 12. For instance, some teach that this chapter is:

There are three very clear ideas that we are going to take a look at in this chapter. They are:

I. In your ____________ days – v. 1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":

A. Remember _______ your Creator – v.1

I want you to underline the word, “now” used here in our text. You see, _______ is the time to remember your Creator. Not ________, a month from now, or even _____ years from today. Now is the time!

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There is a Creator

Are you aware that the Hebrew word here for “Creator” is plural, and that it is in reference to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? We need to remember now our Creators!

B. Remember now your Creator in the days of your ________ – v. 1

Don’t put off walking with God because you want to go out and sow your wild oats. Don’t put off walking with God because you think He will keep you from having fun. Don’t put off remembering God because you want to fit in some peer group. No, right _____ is the time to remember your Creator.

Matthew Henry wrote:

C. Before the ________ days come,

Young people you are to remember _______ now because there are some “difficult days” that are coming. What are these difficult days? Are you ready for this? _____ ______.

D.And the years draw near when you say, "I have no _______ in them":

Did you hear this?

Young people if I can give you any words of ________ it would be to love God and to walk with Jesus everyday of your youthfulness. Build and establish a relationship with Jesus Christ while you are young, so that it will carry you through this period of time called the “difficult days”. 2

II. During the difficult days – v. 2-5 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

These verses are figures of speech about old age and death.

A. Loss of mental __________ – v. 2

B. Loss of _________ – v. 3

C. Loss of __________ – v. 3

D.Loss of ________ – v. 3

E. Loss of ________ – v. 3

F. Loss of __________ – v. 4

G.Loss of _________ – v. 5

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H.Loss of self-_________ – v. 5

I. Loss of hair ________ – v. 5

J. Loss of ________ – v. 5

K. Loss of __________ desire – v. 5

L. Loss of ______ – v. 5

III. When you face _________ – v. 6-8 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity."

A. The silver _______ is loosed – v. 6

B. The golden _______ is broken – v. 6

C. The ________ shattered at the fountain – v. 6

D.The _______ is broken at the well – v. 6

E. Then the _______ will return to the earth – v. 7

F. The ________ will return to God who gave it – v. 7

G.Life is _______ – don’t forget it – v. 8

Conclusion: What can we carry with us from this chapter? 4

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