Introduction: The Title of this series is: Ecclesiastes: finding _________ to life under the sun.

Ecclesiastes actually has several meanings:

It can mean, _____________. It can mean, _____________. It can mean, ______ ________.

I. An Informative _____________ – 1:1-3

A. ________ wrote this book – 1:1

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem.”

B. The _______ of this book – 1:2

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

Here we have the Preachers theme for the entire book. If we just take verse 1, and verse 2, and put them together we could have the following line: Hi there - life ________!

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The word, “Vanity” is used ______ times in Ecclesiastes. This word means, __________, lacking real substance, value, permanence, worth, or significance.

C. The __________ of the Author – 1:3

“What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?”

II. The Quest for the __________ of Life – 1:4-11:10

A. Life is but a _______ (repetition) – 1:4-11

See the following verses:

Here in verse 9, we have the second usage of the words, “under the sun”. But do you see the words used before those three words, “And there is nothing new…”

B. A search for _______ meaning – 1:12-18 Take a look at verse 13,

“And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.”

C. Is meaning found in __________? – 2:1-11

In verse 1, we read,

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“I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity.”

D. Is meaning found in _______, madness and folly? – 2:12-25

Take a look at verse 12, we read,

Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king? Only what he has already done.

E. Is meaning found in the _________ of life? – 3:1-22

In verse 1, we read,

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

F. Is meaning found in ________ justice? – 4:1-3

In verse 1, we read,

Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter – On one side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.

G. Is meaning found in ________ work? – 4:4-8

I draw your attention to verse 4,

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and grasping for the wind.

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H. Value of ___________ – 4:9-12

I. Is meaning found in popularity? – 4:13-16

Heading reads: ____________ Passes Away.

J. Is meaning found in religious ______ to God – 5:1-7

Here is the Preachers advice. Take a look at verse 1,

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

K. Is meaning found in personal ________? – 5:8-20

Take a look with me at verse 10,

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

L. Vanity of _______ and honor – 6:1-12

The Preacher writes in verse 2,

A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all his desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.

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Conclusion: As we wrap up Part One of this Overview of Ecclesiastes I want to reiterate what the Preacher has told us so far. We have learned: (Take notes here)

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