Part 3 – The Good Life
Leader Guide
King Solomon spent his life pursuing wisdom, purpose, and meaning in his life. We can “foolproof” our lives by applying the knowledge he gained (without having to live through all the messy experiments!). Let’s dive into what we can learn from Ecclesiastes.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 and 8-9. Who is the writer of Ecclesiastes and what do you know about him? Does that matter? How would you describe his state of mind? When do you fall into these types of attitudes and thoughts?
Leader’s Note: King Solomon was wealthy, had power, and had everything that most people would ever want. Yet in his writings, he seems cynical, bored, depressed, and apathetic. We can fall into these thought cycles when we are physically exhausted, chronically ill, or have a horrible boss. But these external circumstances don’t have to determine our attitudes.
2. Read Ecclesiastes 2:1 and 2:24. What does “the good life” mean to you? What is the difference between going “looking for the good life” and “enjoying the life you have”? What simple points came out in the message about specific ways to find satisfaction? How does verse 24 clarify the mind shift we need to make?
Leader’s Note: Trying everything we can to please ourselves is vastly different than enjoying the blessings God has already given us. One is narcissistic, selfish striving and the other is contentment. The end of verse 24 helps us know it has gone from being all about him to recognizing God as the meaning of life: any enjoyment apart from Him is meaningless. Three sermon points: Enjoy food and drink; enjoy the simple pleasures of life; find satisfaction in your work.
3. Read Ecclesiastes 2:25. Have you ever gotten to the point where you had “enough” but like the Teacher, you did not enjoy it? What is the difference when you are living life apart from Him? Read Luke 6:20-23. From these verses, what do your circumstances have to do with your satisfaction in life? How are you abiding in Christ?
Leader’s Note: Ask your group to consider where they are focusing their efforts? Be intentional about what you pour your life and efforts into. The spiritual kingdom matters more than our limited time here on Earth. Meek, poor, persecuted: no matter the circumstance, the Lord still blesses and rewards with joy, satisfaction, even laughter.
4. Read Ecclesiastes 4:4, Matthew 16:26, and Proverbs 14:30. What is one of the most destructive emotions you can harbor? What does this create in your life? If you “ruthlessly eliminate” it, what does this produce in your life? How can we find contentment when nothing goes to plan?
Leader’s Note: Envy will steal joy and satisfaction and “rots” the bones. Yet a “heart at peace gives life to the body.” Enjoying every moment, slowing down, finding contentment and balance, finding soul rest from Jesus, living at peace with everyone, realizing less is more, making wise decisions, etc., will bring satisfaction and enjoyment of life to us.
5. Action Step: “Once you have enough, ‘more’ quits working.” How can you enjoy life without striving? What do you need to find more: balance or contentment? Read these verses and choose one to memorize this week. Write it out. Put it on your bathroom mirror, on your dashboard, or at your desk. Read Ecclesiastes 3:12, 4:6, Philippians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Ecclesiastes 5:10, 6:8, 5:18.
Leader’s Note: The happiest person in the room is the person who is happy with what God has given them. This is your action step this week! Choose to practice gratitude, contentment, and balance. The verses above are all great verses to remind us to thank God!
The Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. Reinhold Niebuhr
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
6. Read Ephesians 5:15-17 and Ecclesiastes 2:9-11. List what is important (according to Ephesians) and what is unimportant (according to King Solomon in Ecclesiastes). Now read Ecclesiastes 3:11. Consider this question: “Will this matter in 100 years?”
Leader’s Note: Ephesians tells us that understanding and doing God’s will is what is most important. Solomon says he attained everything you could ever desire: power, riches, wisdom, plus every pleasure and success he could achieve. Yet he found it all to be in vain. If your goals, aspirations, and desires are not in God’s plan and will for your life, they will not satisfy and they will not stand the test of time. Enjoying good things is NOT sinful but are blessings from God. Seeking these things rather than pursuing God is the sin. Ask your group to add to the word “this” in the last question with hobby, pursuit, worry, goal, or other word that they want to substitute.) Being led by the Holy Spirit and having an eternal perspective are all that matter.
7. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. This is one of the most famous passages in Ecclesiastes. Do you think teamwork is valuable? Why is unity important to God? What can you personally do to promote unity in your family, workplace, marriage, serving team, etc.?
Leader’s Note: We must realize that stuff does not satisfy; we were created for relationships. To live in pleasing, joyful companionship, we must take a stance of humility and assume the mind of Christ. We are to serve one another. When we do, we too are blessed. God loves unity and it is a key testimony to the world that He is love and that He changes lives.