Paragon Church

In John 11:25 Jesus says... “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live." What great news for those who believe in Him.

Life is for living! As we wrap up Ecclesiastes by looking at chapters 11 & 12, we have heard over and over again Solomon tell us about the meaninglessness of life... but these last two chapters help us see life in a different perspective. The question of the day is... HOW DO YOU SEE LIFE?

How to survive when life is not fair. Are you living a life "under the sun" or "under the Son?" A look at Ecclesiastes 10 with Elder Reese DeFrees

Solomon says death can be meaningless or meaningful in Ecclesiastes 9... it's up to you.

When looking at the big picture of "life" do you ever ask... who's in charge anyway? The truth of the matter is life is unfair, people are unreliable, the future is unpredictable and death is unavoidable. Basically, we can use the quote from Winston Churchill... life is... "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." - The question is... how do you respond?

Ecclesiastes 7 talks about things that are "better than" something else... but Solomon's things that are "better" might surprise you.

In chapter 5, Solomon brings us the results of wealth... discontentment and disappointment. What's your "number" to be content? What is the standard of living you must meet and how does it compare to your standard of giving? We look at that in chapter 6 as we look at what means to live the good life.

Today, the biggest game of the NFL 2023-2024 season will be played in Las Vegas with the winning team being crowned "world champions." The questions is, what's next? Is that the peak? Is that the ultimate level of success? If so, what happens tomorrow? The same question for anything in our lives... when we reach the peak, what happens next?

Ecclesiastes 5:1 says Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. - How do we approach God? How do we worship? Is our worship meaningless? Are we just going through the motions or is there something more to our time with God?

Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 - So far in the search for meaning, Solomon has taken on a crash course through the meaningless of life... but what about success? In this world, what defines success and what is the cost to get there? How do you WIN at the game of "Life?"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven - What is the meaning of the time we have here? Who is really in control of time? How should that affect how we spend our time?

Life under the sun is busy with things that don’t last. The Preacher of Ecclesiastes encourages us to trade busyness for appreciation for what we have and an abiding in Christ. Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

According to the author of Ecclesiastes, everything in this life is (depending on the translation)... futility, vanity, or meaningless. So why bother? Good question. The truth is, almost every verse in Ecclesiastes shows us HOW MUCH WE NEED A SAVIOR to make all things new.

When Paul addresses the church at Corinth regarding the act of communion, he tells them this in 1 Corinthians 11:28 - "Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup." - As we wrap up 2023 this Sunday and prepare for 2024 with a communion service... we will also take time to examine our hearts by looking at Luke 8 (parable of the soils).

Matthew 1:21-23 - She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” The reason He came is found in the names He was given...

As Ralphie makes it clear throughout A Christmas Story, there is only one gift that would make his life complete. Do you remember what it was that you desperately wanted for Christmas? Carrying over into adulthood, what is it that you are looking for to satisfy you? What is it that you are pursuing with your "all" only to be left wanting even when you get it? Luke 12:15 - He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”

In It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey ponders the thought of "what if I had never been born" - Why are we even here? How much does your life affect those around you? How important is it to use your life for the Glory of God?

At Christmas, we celebrate LIGHT coming into the darkness... we celebrate the truth of LIFE confronting the reality of DEATH. Today's movie (story) is all about repentance and redemption - Today's Scripture... Titus 3:1-8 (paralleled with Zacchaeus in Luke 19)

"This is Christmas! The season of perpetual hope!" Home Alone - Isaiah 53

The Gospel according to the Grinch.