Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:12-23:

Work: The Achievement Syndrome Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Sep 17, 2014

Work is a necessity and can be a joy, but when our focus gets off kilter, we will not be satisfied! Solomon writes of his frustration with work and life. Let's see what we learn to avoid the frustration!

INTRODUCTION • Video Clip from Family Man- WingClips • SLIDE #1 • Today as we conclude our Rhythm of Life series, we will explore an area of life that can get out of rhythm with the rest of our life, when this area rages out of control it will have negative effects on our family, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thinking People Want To Know Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017

Sermon examines 3 mysteries in life that are significant for all humans, and are springboards for evangelism. This message came in answer to the question: How do you evangelize someone who does not believe the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-14 12/18/16 Intro Last week we used a simple, little tool called The 4 Spiritual Laws to talk about evangelism. In that booklet were scriptures that we can share with non-Christians to help them understand the way of salvation. At the end of that message, Diana asked an astute ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-14, Hebrews 2:14-15, Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, Ecclesiastes 12:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Accumulation Of Wealth Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on May 1, 2023

The man who wrote these words was by many accounts considered the wealthiest man in all of history. He not only held the most wealth, but he was faced with passing on more wealth than any person that ever lived. He gives his words of wisdom on accumulating wealth.

Accumulation of Wealth Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 So far in Ecclesiastes Solomon has let us know that meaning is not in pleasures. Meaning is not found in worldly wisdom. So not we are going to look at if meaning is found in accumulation of massive wealth. There are some things money can do and some ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Search For Meaning Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 23, 2023

In your pursuit of meaning in life, look beyond your own hands; look beyond your own head; and look beyond your own heart. Look beyond the sun to the Lord, who died for you and rose again.

Since its founding in 1995, people have used eBay to sell billions of items. They include some odd products and occasionally something priceless. For example… In 1954, the great physicist Albert Einstein penned a personal letter to philosopher Erik Gutkind in which he defended his views on ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, Ecclesiastes 2:1-17, John 10:10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Meaningful Work Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 3, 2023

If you want to find meaning in your work, don’t work for posterity or profit. Instead, work for the Lord.

Kung Fu Panda is a movie about a panda named Po who desperately wants to learn kung fu. His father, though, wants him to take over the family business someday. In one scene, Po is late coming down the stairs from his room, where he was working on his kung fu moves, to work in his father’s ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26, John 11:18-30, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

I Did Not Sign Up For This (Life)! The Dilemma Of Our Lot In Life

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Jul 16, 2016

Many people are unhappy about the life they have to live. Even the rich are not satisfied. In life we have to learn to suppress our selves from high expectations and just content ourselves in God's service!

I Did Not Sign Up For This (Life)! The Dilemma of Our Lot In Life Kelly Durant Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. 2. How many of you have ever ordered a cheeseburger at a fast ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17

Denomination: Salvation Army

"I Hate Life" Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Mar 10, 2016

Searching for the answer to the age old question, "Is life worth living?"

A Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes: Finding Satisfaction In Life ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:12-26

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)

Sorrow And Vanity Versus Life In Christ

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2025

We know what brings happiness, and it's not more and more "stuff."

Eighteenth Sunday in Course 2025 It’s always a challenge to interpret a public proclamation that begins with the word “If,” as today’s reading from St. Paul does. He tells the church at Colossae (and us) “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-5, Colossians 3:9-11, Psalm 90:3-6, Psalm 90:12-17, Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 2:21-23, Luke 12:13-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

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

You Can't Take It With You Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 29, 2024

We can’t find our worth in our work, but we can worship God by how we work.

You Can’t Take it With You Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 Rev. Brian Bill July 27-28, 2024 Billy Graham was fond of saying, “You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” That is, until now, because I came across a picture of one this week. As we continue to journey with Solomon in his search for ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Leaving A Spiritual Legacy

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Oct 16, 2025

What will you leave behind when your life on earth is over? The Scriptures tell us that a spiritual legacy is far more valuable and lasting than any financial inheritance.

As I look back over the first 65 years of my life [65 years, two months, and two weeks, to be precise, tick tock], I’ve been thinking a bit more about what difference my life has made so far, what more I would like to accomplish, and what I will be leaving behind, when eventually I “shuffle off ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-5, Ecclesiastes 2:17-21, Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Peter 1:3-5  (view more)  (view less)

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

Sermon On The Diversity Of Perceptions In Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 6, 2024

Uniqueness is defined as the quality of being particularly remarkable, special or unusual.

Isaac Bashevis Singer, an American novelist once remarked: “The greatness of art is not to find what is common but what is unique.” Psalm 19:1-5 reminds us: ”The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day-to-day pours out speech, and night-to-night reveals ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:14, 1 Samuel 16:7, Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 6:22-23

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jan 4, 2025

What if there was no God - what would life be like? It would be meaningless - Meaningless.... The book of Ecclesiastes looks at life from the view that there in no God. This is a verse by verse look into chapter two of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two Ecclesiastes 2:1 (NASB) I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility. Solomon conducted his search for life's meaning as an experiment. He first tried pursuing pleasure. He undertook great ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational