6.8.25 – Learning to See: Ecclesiastes, Hebel, and Hope
This week’s sermon from Ecclesiastes walked us through the reflections of an aged Solomon—a man gifted with wisdom who ultimately squandered much of his life chasing pleasure and self-made meaning. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon describes life “under the sun” as hebel—vapor, vanity, futility. Everything seemed like a chasing after the wind. Yet even in these dark reflections, we are pointed toward eternal truth: our hearts were made for more than time, and our purpose cannot be found apart from God.
But this is not the final word. Paul gives us a gospel lens to view the groaning of life through Christ. What Solomon only glimpsed, we now see clearly: though life can feel like vapor, in Christ we have eternal glory that far outweighs it all. Therefore, we do not lose heart.
MAIN POINT: Life under the sun can feel futile, but the gospel lifts our eyes to eternal hope, showing us that God alone defines our purpose and destiny.
SCRIPTURE-DRIVEN DISCUSSION
Begin by reading these key passages aloud: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:1–11; 3:11; 6:12; 12:13–14
Encourage your group to listen for recurring themes and words like “meaningless,” “vapor,” or “under the sun.” Let a few people share what phrase or idea stood out.
Additional references from the sermon include Romans 8:18–25, Romans 8:37, and 2 Corinthians 4:16–18. These New Testament passages help us view Ecclesiastes through a gospel-centered lens.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Q1: What is normal? What is wrong? (2 Corinthians 4:8–12)
Reminder: “Hard pressed is normal… perplexed is normal… struck down is normal.”
– How do these questions—”What is normal?” and “What is wrong?”—help you interpret your struggles differently?
– Why does Scripture encourage us not to expect comfort now, but hope for resurrection later?
Q2: What are you really seeing in your life? (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
Reminder: “We must learn to see what is unseen—not what is unreal, but what is eternal.”
– Think about a recent hardship. What have you been tempted to “see” only on the surface?
– How might fixing your eyes on the unseen, eternal truths change how you interpret that situation?
Q3: How do you respond to the feeling of futility in life? (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11)
Reminder: “Solomon chased pleasure, but it proved to be meaningless. God’s Word is the best teacher.”
– When life feels empty or unfulfilling, where do you instinctively turn for meaning?
– How can God’s Word reshape your sense of purpose and teach you to live wisely?
Q4: What is your answer to the two essential questions? (Ecclesiastes 6:12; 12:13–14)
Reminder: “To get the purpose of life wrong is to waste it. To get death wrong is to lose it forever.”
– How would you answer: “What is the purpose of life?” and “What happens after we die?”
– How does the gospel bring clarity and confidence to both of these questions?
Q5: How are you living in the tension of groaning and glory? (Romans 8:18–25; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
Reminder: “We groan, but we groan with hope.”
– What does it look like for you to live with joy, hope, and faith even as you experience groaning?
– How does Romans 8 and 2 Corinthians 4 encourage you to keep going?
LET’S REMEMBER:
God alone defines human purpose. Though life under the sun can feel like vapor, we are not left in the dark. In Christ, we see what Solomon longed to understand—our groaning is not wasted, our hope is not in vain. We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is unseen is eternal.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, life often feels confusing and heavy, but you are faithful. Help us see beyond what is seen and trust your eternal purposes. Renew our hearts, anchor our hope in Christ, and teach us to live with reverence and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.