This message focuses on the the wrong and right places to find meaning.

1. “meaning”

2. the wrong places to
find meaning:

3. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The things of this world

4. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The things of this world
Whoever loves money never has
enough; whoever loves wealth is
never satisfied with his income. This
too is meaningless. As goods increase,
so do those who consume them. And
what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?

5. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The things of this world
. . . I have seen another evil under the
sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God
gives a man wealth, possessions and
honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart
desires, but God does not enable him
to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys
them instead. This is meaningless, a
grievous evil.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-6:1

6. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The things of this world
For the world offers only the lust for
physical pleasure, the lust for
everything we see, and pride in our
possessions. These are not from the
Father. They are from this evil world.
And this world is fading away, along
with everything it craves.
1 John 2:16-17

7. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world

8. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:

9. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:
#1 — Fatalism

10. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:
#2 — Pessimism

11. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:
#3 — Optimism

12. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:
#4 — Hedonism

13. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:
#4 — Hedonism
No one can comprehend what goes on
under the sun. Despite all his efforts to
search it out, man cannot discover its
meaning. Even if a wise man claims he
knows, he cannot really comprehend it.
Ecclesiastes 2:12-18

14. the wrong places to
find meaning:
The wisdom of this world
4 philosophical systems:
#4 — Hedonism
In Christ are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:13

15. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:

16. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me an eternal
perspective on life.
God has set eternity in the hearts
of men.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

17. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me confidence
in God’s sovereignty.

18. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me confidence
in God’s sovereignty.
When times are good, be happy; but
when times are bad, consider: God
has made the one as well as the other.
Ecclesiastes 7:14

19. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me confidence
in God’s sovereignty.
God is light, and in him there is no
darkness at all.
1 John 1:5

20. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me confidence
in God’s sovereignty.
“Naked I came from my mother’s
womb, and naked I will depart. The
Lord gave and the Lord has taken
away; blessed be the name of the
Lord.” In all this, Job did not sin by
charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:21-22

21. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me hope in
light of my mortality.
No man has power over the wind to
contain it; so no one has power over
the day of his death.
Ecclesiastes 8:8

22. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me hope in
light of my mortality.
For the living know that they will die. . .
Ecclesiastes 9:5

23. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me hope in
light of my mortality.
. . . no man knows when his hour will
come.
Ecclesiastes 9:12

24. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me hope in
light of my mortality.
Now that all has been heard; here is the
conclusion of the matter: Fear God and
keep his commandments, for this is the
whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

25. How a relationship
with Jesus brings
meaning to life:
It gives me hope in
light of my mortality.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is
this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:29