Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:1-17:

The Search For Satisfaction Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 22, 2024

We will never find our purpose in life if we put the pursuit of our pleasures above God’s priorities.

The Search for Satisfaction Rev. Brian Bill Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 July 20-21, 2024 According to the 2024 World Happiness Report, the U.S. ranks 23rd on a global measure of happiness across 143 countries in the world. This is worse than last year, when we came in at number 15. Americans under 30 ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From The Cave (1 Samuel 22:1-4)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Sep 1, 2024

David was in the deepest time of his life. He lost his support network and on the run from Saul. He possessed nothing of material worth or value and all seemed lost. He hid in a cave, but it is in the cave where God prepared him for greater things.

In his film, "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", Pastor Greg Laurie described the time where Mr. Cash had reached the lowest point of his life and career. He had become addicted to pills, which lead to an erratic and hostile behavior that cost him his first marriage, a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 61:1-2, 1 Samuel 22:1-4, Job 14:1, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

"all Is Vanity"

Contributed by William Erhart on Jul 27, 2025

The crux of my message is that everything lived under the sun is indeed vain and meaningless, even wisdom, but that done in Christ is eternally valuable.

Now, I want to start today by asking you all some questions. I won't go on for too long, but I just want to make sure everyone is awake because I know what it is like to sit down for chapel in the morning. I will, however, ask that you please spare me your attention for these next few moments ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21, Colossians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 10:31  (view more)  (view less)

Falling Prey To The Popularity Trap

Contributed by James Wilson on Oct 18, 2000

Teach the congregation to break free of the need to please others.

Falling Prey to the Popularity Trip Ecclesiastes 2:14-16 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both. 15 Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1

Denomination: Baptist

A Search For Meaning Of Life

Contributed by Douglas Nieuwstraten on Oct 18, 2000

Introduction Believe it or not, all of us are engaged in a search either for happiness or to find the meaning of life.

Introduction Believe it or not, all of us are engaged in a search either for happiness or to find the meaning of life. Look around you and think about what you see going on. As I look at the media, liturature, and culture itself I notice these six things: 1) A culture attempting to define human ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

When The World Seems Enticing

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Sep 6, 2001

The answer to these questions is clear. Righteousness cannot mix with lawlessness; light can have no communion with darkness; Christ and Belial cannnot be of one accord; a believer cannot have part with an infidel; and there can be no agreement of the te

When The World Seems Enticing Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1 a[serpent] The Serpent of Eden "Serpent" comes from the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7, Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Futility Or Fulfillment

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Feb 22, 2026

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, there was no profit under the sun. kjv

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, there was no profit under the sun. kjv Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard i had worked doing it and I realized that it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-22, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Luke 12:16-20, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Denomination: Adventist

Words Of Wisdom From A Broken Record

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on May 8, 2004

Between what is important, and unimportant, who can understand?

After Wilbur and Orville Wright’s successful flight on December 17, 1903, they joyfully sent a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio. The message read: "First sustained flight, 59 seconds. Home for Christmas." The sister, also elated, ran all the way to the newspaper office with the telegram. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Empthiness Of Good Feeling

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Jan 29, 2004

Just feeling good is not what is all about

"People are just about as happy as they’re willing to be." -- Abraham Lincoln "Don’t mistake pleasures for happiness. They’re a different breed of dog." -- Josh Billings "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -- Eleanor Roosevelt "The problem with the rat race is that even ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Denomination: Wesleyan

Solomon, A Man Who Grew To Hate Life

Contributed by Guy Glass on Aug 20, 2004

As we approach the book of Ecclesiastes, we get a profound glimpse into the later years of the life of Solomon, King of Israel, and gifted by God with intelligence far beyond his contemporaries. Yet, as Solomon aged, his focus changed, he was drawn away

KING SOLOMON A Man Who Grew To Hate Life Ecclesiastes 2 INTRODUCTION: As we approach the book of Ecclesiastes, we get a profound glimpse into the later years of the life of Solomon, King of Israel, and gifted by God with intelligence far beyond his contemporaries. Yet, as Solomon aged, his focus ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Test: Is Foolishness The Better Choice? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 16, 2003

Both foolishness and wisdom fail to satisfy. Both lead us to find the answer somewhere else.

The Test: Is Foolishness the Better Choice? (Ecclesiastes 2) Note: The illustrations in this sermon were mostly borrowed from Sermon Central Intro 1. This is the 100th anniversary of powered flight! It was 100 years ago that the Wright Brothers successfully flew the first airplane at Kitty ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, Proverbs 14:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

For Everything Else There's Mastercard

Contributed by Keith Davis on May 5, 2003

Learning what the vauable things are in life.

Joke: Little boy goes to a new church. He sees a plaque with an American flag and a list of men’s names on it. His asked his dad, “Daddy, what is that for?” His daddy told him, “It was a list of men who died in the service son.” His son looked at him with fear in his eyes and said, “Was it the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Words From A Broken Record

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on May 8, 2003

Can we distinquish between what is important and unimportant? Do we spend our lives working for things that do not matter?

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly-- my mind still guiding ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Chasing After... Career Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 22, 2003

We seek meaning for our lives in the very same places the Teacher looked in Ecclesiastes ... and are all ultimately meaningless without God.

American Idols: #1 Work Ecclesiastes 2:17-23 We’re beginning a new series tonight entitled "American Idols." You may be familiar with the popular Fox television show where contestants show off their singing talents and vie to become the next "American Idol." You’d have to have been on another ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:11-23, Ecclesiastes 4:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Work: Frustration Or Fulfillment

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Aug 30, 2002

God does not divide work between the sacred and secular. According to God’s Word all work is blessed if it does not conflict with scriptures.

Work – Frustration or Fulfillment Matthew 20:1-16 Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 How much do you value your work? Are you bored by what you do? Do you believe that God cares about your work? According to God’s Word, Your work does matter to God. Why do you work? · To find self-fulfillment? · To meet ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Free Methodist