"Restless" A Lifelong Learner

Questions for Community Groups...
With your group answer the questions from the sermon.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
What more do we need to learn? The Christian life is a series of lessons that the Lord teaches us. The humbling thought is that we have not arrived.

A lifelong learner-is someone who pursues wisdom and knowledge for personal and spiritual development, then shares that with others

A Lifelong Learner
Vrs 9-10a We can learn from the wisdom of Solomon

1. Teaches-listen to the teachings and therefore teach as well. Put yourself in an environment that challenges you
2. Ponders-learning takes time in thought, this is extremely valuable in decision making
3. Searches-As Christian we need to seek wisdom from God and wisdom from his people. Red flags go up when a person has no counsel from other Godly people.

**side note Proverbs…teach people how to think and direct them to find answers. Experiential learning

Vrs 10 Solomon “sought” out words. If people are coming to you for advice and wisdom, you must spend time seeking out how to help them. That is the value of education
4. Speaks Truth - Our call as Christians is to speak truth. This becomes difficult when the truth is hard to hear or hurts.

What are the benefits of Lifelong Learning?

Vrs 11 “goads” are long pointed sticks used to prod and guide oxen during plowing. = wise counsel guides and prods you to do good
1. Guidance
2. Encouragement

Scholars = masters of assembly, Moreover, the words of the wise provide moral and intellectual stability like nails firmly fixed. Ultimately, such wisdom is given by one Shepherd, God.
3. Stability- One Truth

The point here is this Solomon although the wisest man that ever lived except for Jesus the God man, he was a Lifelong Learner.

The true test of a Lifelong Learner…
Vrs 12a
-Willingness to be admonished. Admonishment test
-Questions to ask when admonished
-What am I doing wrong? Realize the sin
-How can I learn in this situation?
-How can I correct my behavior? What needs to change
-Who do I need to ask forgiveness from? God and others
-How can I thank the person who admonished me? James 5:20

What we use to admonish “These” are teachings of the Bible. Take into account that the Bible has many things to say about your life and you will never master them all. That is why you need to be a Lifelong Learner.

True accurate and wise instruction comes from God.

(Speak to fathers for a moment) if you want to teach your children wisdom and instruct and guide them…go to the Word

Look at what other Lifelong Learners have said about the Bible

Soren Kierkegaard said “When you read God’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, “it is talking to me and about me”

James Mccosh (11th president of Princeton University) “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that”.

Mark Twain “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me the most are the ones I do understand.
Charles Dickens “The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world”
Napoleon “The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it”
A.W. Tozer “The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jesus is the Word
Vrs 12b
I will suggest books for encouragement, inspiration and the value of learning truth from them (Some books explore God’s truth in a deeper level). But my personal conviction as a pastor is to hold no other book here in the pulpit except the Word of God.

Looking for answers in the wrong places makes you “restless”

Vrs 13 The conclusion…the number one way to not be “restless” in life is…twofold. Fear God and keep His commands.

The root of faith is fear of God (respect for who God is and what He has done for us)GOSPEL and the rule of faith is God’s commands (following because He knows what is best for us and that is what He made us for)

Vrs 14 God’s Economy.
The believer is rewarded for Good Works and escapes the payment for sin.
The unbeliever is not rewarded for good works and pays for their own sin.

Comfort to those who trust. Because we know that God takes care of sin. GOSPEL
But to those who do not trust their eternity will be “Restless”

Augustine said “my heart was restless until it found rest in you”