Step 1: Opening and Introduction to the lesson – Personal Testimonies from last week’s study and Reflection: What is the most important date you ever forgot? What are you like at a party: Party Animal? Party Pooper? Hostess Helper? Wall Flower? What was your favorite season as a child? Why? Which is your favorite now?
Step 2: Hear – Read: A Time for Everything. Ecclesiastes 3:1-15.
Step 3: Explore – Discover the Passage
- In the list of opposites (vv. 1-8), is the teacher describing what is, or prescribing what one should do? Why do you think so? What are the dangers inherent in viewing life strictly from within the perspective of time?
- What is the burden God has laid on man (v. 10)? To what extent does determinism give life meaning? Describe life in terms of the struggle between the issues of life and death. What control does man have over life? What does it mean to set eternity in the hearts of men (v. 11)?
- What is the Teacher encouraging in verses 12-13: Hedonism? Gratitude? Or what? Towards what end does all this point (vv. 14-15)?
- What is meant by God will call the past to account (v.15)?
Step 4: Connect – Apply the Passage:
- What time is it for you? At what times (vv. 2-8) do you doubt that God is in control?
- Would you rather spend your time fathoming God’s work (v.11), doing good (v. 12), or eating and drinking (v. 13)? Why?
- How do you differentiate enjoying yourself from going too far?
- Does belief in God’s sovereignty free you to enjoy life? How so?
Step 5: Reflect: I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live.
