The Limits of Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:15-29)
Sermon Notes
Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind
Sermon Title: The Limits of Wisdom
Passage: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
Preacher: Ashley Herr
The First Trap: Thinking you can manipulate God (7:15-20)
The truly wise person will
Fear God (7:18)
Acknowledge the limits of wisdom (7:19-20)
The Second Trap: Thinking you are better than others (7:21-22)
The Third Trap: Thinking you have arrived (7:23-24)
The Fourth Trap: Thinking you are strong enough to resist temptation (7:25-26)
Satan lures you into his trap by getting you to:
Minimize sin (Genesis 3:4)
Justify sin (Genesis 3:5)
Redefine sin (Genesis 3:1)
We resist temptation by
Fleeing sin, rather than flirting with it (Proverbs 6:27-28)
Killing sin, rather than playing with it (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5-10)
We turn to and trust in Jesus who came to do what you never would or could:
Forgiving you of your sin
Incorporating you into his body
Empowering you with his Spirit
Reflecting on Wisdom (7:27-29)
When you find yourself caught in a trap
Confess your sin
Confess your need for a savior
Cry out for salvation
Reflection
LEADER: Almighty and merciful Father, we have rejected your way and gone our own
CONGREGATION: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - each and every one of us - and gone our own way (Isaiah 53:6)
LEADER: We have rejected your good gifts, and created our own
CONGREGATION: We have forsaken you, the fountain of living waters, and dug our own cisterns, to collect our own water rather than relying on You; broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jeremiah 2:13)
LEADER: “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD (Isaiah 30:1)
CONGREGATION: We carry out a plan, but not yours. We trust in others, but not in you. We set out on our own way, without asking for your direction (Isaiah 30:1-2)
LEADER: Rather than picking up our cross each and every day (Luke 9:23) and following Jesus through the narrow gate, down the difficult path, that leads to life (Matthew 7:14)
CONGREGATION: We continue to choose the easy way when it is available. We enter through the wide gate when it is open. And now we realize that it leads to destruction (Mat 7:13)
LEADER: For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon our guilt, for it is great (Psalm 25:11)
CONGREGATION: Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. (Psalm 25:16-18)
LEADER: Make us to know your ways, O LORD; teach us your paths (Psalm 25:4)
CONGREGATION: Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 25:5, 143:8,10)
ALL: Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Amen (Lamentations 5:21)
