General Session.

1.     Lesson Eleven – Review.

a.     Secular view – there are no objective, enduring categories of ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’ Right and wrong are determined and defined by the by the authority with the strongest power.

b.     Biblical view – there are objective, enduring categories of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ because of ‘who’ we are and ‘what’ we are as determined by God.

2.     Lesson Twelve – What gives life meaning?

a.     Introduction.

                                                             i.      According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the average life expectancy in the United States is 77.7 years.  What is the significance of these years?  Is life simply time spent foraging for food and providing for the needs of our lives?  What makes life meaningful?

                                                           ii.      In a world that seems to roll around with no thought or care for any person, can we find significance?  Is there any meaning in life?  What gives my life significance on this earth?

b.     Secular View

                                                             i.      There is no ultimate meaning to life.

                                                           ii.      Life’s meaning is what a person is able to create or establish in the time that is available to them on earth.

                                                        iii.      Finding meaning in life becomes the search to meet our needs and ensuring our personal pleasure.

c.      Biblical View.

                                                             i.      Meaning in life is found in the relationship that we have with God and living within His pattern and purpose for us.

                                                           ii.      The events of our lives and our decisions/actions/priorities are anchored in God’s design for humans and His purpose/plan in human history.

Group Session.

1. A coworker, friend, or family member approaches you for an answer to this question – what is the meaning of life?  How would you answer?  Why does your life have any meaning or significance?  Assume the person is not a Christian.  Are there any portions of Scripture that help you with your answer?

2. If death is the end and decay is our destiny, does that have any bearing on the meaning of our lives or our significance?  Why?  Does such a view impact the way a person would live life?

3. Consider the following passages about ‘grass.’  Ps 103:13-16 and Isaiah 40:3-8.  Do they accurately describe the human condition?  If so, how?

4. Consider Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-34.  What is Jesus trying to accomplish?  Does He want His listeners to not give any thought to their next meal or their clothes?  How is Jesus trying to reorient the perspective of His listeners about life and living?  How does Luke 12:13-21 also help in this regard?

5. Consider Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.  Think about Solomon’s life for a moment.  For his time, Solomon was basically the feature segment on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in ancient Israel.  He had the money.  He had the toys.  His material wealth and power rivaled even those today.  Assuming that Song of Songs was written at the beginning of his life and Proverbs was written around the middle of his life, Ecclesiastes was written toward the end of Solomon’s life.  Considering where Solomon is in his life, does this provide any insights into his words that open Ecclesiastes?  What is Solomon’s struggle?

    vi.    Consider Ecclesiastes 2.  What does Solomon consider ‘meaningless?’  Why?

    vii.    Consider Ecclesiastes 5:8-20.  What does Solomon consider ‘meaningless?’  Why?

viii.    Consider Ecclesiastes 7:15.  Is this a common struggle even today?   As Billy Joel once commented, “only the     good die young.”  How does this situation support the notion that “it really doesn’t matter how you live but what you can get away with?”  What may be a Christian response to this idea?

ix.    Consider Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.  Where does Solomon find meaning in life?  How does ‘fearing God’ provide meaning to life?  How does ‘obeying God’s commandments’ provide meaning to life?  How do you restate Solomon’s statement to a friend?  What does it mean for your life?