In Sermon Illustrations: "- Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23"

Writing In A Recent Issue Of Focus On The Family ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2001

Writing in a recent issue of Focus on the Family magazine author Stu Weber illustrates the need for a Christian "buddy" to help us survive the tough times. In 1967 a grizzled old noncom at Fort Benning, Ga. taught [the soul-buttressing impact of "mutual mentoring"] ... to a formation of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Passing The Torch: Lessons From Castro  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 1, 2001

PASSING THE TORCH: LESSONS FROM CASTRO In August, President Fidel Castro celebrated his 75th birthday. The Cuban dictator came to power in 1959, after overthrowing former dictator, Fulgencio Batista. On the eve of his birthday, Castro made a powerful gesture. He publicly handed a Cuban flag to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1

Tags: Devotion, Parenting, Zeal

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Billy Graham Was Driving Through A Small ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Apr 3, 2003

When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:8

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

In 1971 Jane Fonda And Donald Sutherland Starred ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 8, 2003

In 1971 Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland starred together in a movie named “Klute”. It was about a small town detective who had come to the big city in search of a killer, who coincidentally was stalking Jane Fonda’s character. At one point in the movie Donald Sutherland’s character, Detective ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:6-14

Tags: Holiness, Wisdom

Denomination: Orthodox

Enjoy Them All! (07.04.05--Joy Every ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 30, 2005

Enjoy Them All! (07.04.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 11:7-10) Only a dozen or so years and then, sweet, sweet retirement. Having worked for over 35 years, my time of hope and sweet happiness is now firmly planted on the horizon. In but a decade or so, I could be retired. No more getting up at ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 4, 2005

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 5:1-9) When I was younger I remember being moved on more than one occasion, either by laziness or a predisposition to want to do something more “rewarding” on a Sunday morning, to prompt my dad with this question: “Why do we have to go to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Tags: Worship Purpose, Worship Benefits

Denomination: Lutheran

Too Easily Pleased! (07.06.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 5, 2005

Too Easily Pleased! (07.06.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 9:7-10) I was happy with things the way they were. Why should I go to any great length to make them any better when, as it were, I was contented with how my car looked and drove? This was my response about a year ago when my wife ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

The Time Is Now! (07.07.05--Joy Every ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 5, 2005

The Time Is Now! (07.07.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 7:13-14) I stood in front of the used book shelf for what seemed like the longest time holding two books. The one, an anthology in nearly new condition seemed too good to pass up. Even though it contained much of the same material that ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

Tags: Poverty, Human Body

Denomination: Lutheran

Let Go Of That Balloon! (07.08.05--Joy Every ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 6, 2005

Let Go of That Balloon! (07.08.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 11:1-6) Carpe diem! Engraved in the keystone of the old fellowship hall I passed every day on my way to the office, I had glanced at it countless times. But on this particular day, with my youngest daughter in the car, her question ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

The Bigger Picture  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 23, 2005

Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset one of his star players, Reggie Jackson, because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10-11

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

D.l. Moody Tells The Fable Of A Pheasant Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Apr 15, 2006

D.L. Moody tells the fable of a pheasant who was envious of another that could fly better than he could. One day this pheasant saw a hunter with a bow & arrow and said to him, "That pheasant flying right above you would provide great food if you could shoot him down." The man said, "Well, I could ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4

Tags: Friendship, Envy

Denomination: Christian Church

When We Are Rightly Related To God, Life Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"When we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Tags: Christmas Eve

The Real Persuaders Are Our Appetites, Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10-11

Tags: Cynicism

African Proverb

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

African proverb: If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, go together. (From a sermon by Anthony ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Life Eternal

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

LIFE ETERNAL Someone named, James Langdon Hill, once said, "Life Eternal! How shall I express my thought of it? It is not mere existence, however prolonged and free from annoyance. It is not the pleasures of the senses, however vivid. It is not peace. It is not happiness. It is not joy. But it is ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Tags: Immortality

John F. Kennedy Questioned By Coal Miner About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

John F. Kennedy Questioned by Coal Miner About His History of Work In 1960, John Kennedy was running for the presidency, and was campaigning near a coal mine in West Virginia. One of the miners put a series of questions to Kennedy: "Is it true that your father is one of the wealthiest men in the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Tags: Workplace, Work Ethic

D.l. Moody's Thoughts Before His Death Illustrate ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

D.L. Moody’s Thoughts Before His Death Illustrate an Important Habit--Begin with the End in Mind Steven Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, states that one of those habits is to “Begin with the end in mind”; for the final days and hours of a man are often some of the most ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:1-2

Tags: Death Nearness

There's A Cartoon With The Picture Of A Woman ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 15, 2010

There’s a cartoon with the picture of a woman bringing flowers to the cemetery, and she comes to her husband’s tombstone which reads like this: R.J. Harwell, born 1935. Gave up smoking, 1964. Gave up alcohol, 1975. Gave up red meat, 1983. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:2

Tags: Death

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Fix  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

When God fixes a fix to fix you, and you fix the fix before it fixes you, God has to fix ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:14

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Cliff Barrows' Honeymoon ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010

Cliff Barrows’ Honeymoon Service Dr. James Dobson wrote a book entitled When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and in his book he shared an illustration that is very applicable to the point being drawn from this particular verse. Take a moment and reflect upon the following story: In 1945, a young ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:6

Tags: Servanthood, God's Sovereignty