Lesson Plan 2 – November 12, 2025

Lessons From The Book Of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 2.

Welcome to Small Group Lesson Plan #2 as we continue in the book of Ecclesiastes.

In Part 1, we surveyed the writer King Solomon, his adventure with everything the human soul could wish for, and his solemn conclusion in Chapter 12 that mankind must worship God. In Chapter 2, Solomon’s unfolding reality about the vanity of life and human accomplishment continues. He begins by stating that his proclivity for testing and pursuing everything pleasurable ranges from breakthrough designs and mirth to experimenting with wine to staffing his profitable enterprises with male and female servants. He talks about all his accomplishments, his store of silver and gold, and concludes with a gut-wrenching declaration: “There is no profit under the sun.”

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. ⁵ I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. ⁷ I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. ⁹ So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-9 NKJV

Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 NKJV

Scripture was given to help us learn and grow in our walk with God. May we all, as God’s children, pay attention to His word.

Scripture Study Guideline

Today’s Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes Chapter 2:1-26. Please read and discuss your findings.

What stood out to you? What do you think the Holy Spirit is speaking to you? Did any verse or set of verses jump out to you? Please discuss your thoughts.

• Would you agree that, in Chapter 2, Solomon, despite all his wealth, continues to express frustration and a lingering sense of hopelessness about life in general? If your answer is yes, why do you think this is so?
• Please list the accomplishments Solomon describes in verses 4-9. Can you relate these accomplishments to human accomplishments that we pride ourselves on in today’s world?
• In Vs. 10-11, Solomon recounts that he did not keep himself from anything he wanted. Most people can’t get whatever they want because they aren’t that wealthy. What lesson does Solomon’s dilemma teach if, as a Christian, you suddenly became very wealthy? Read: Romans 12:3, 1 Timothy 6:17-19
• Solomon uses the phrase “grasping for the wind” to describe his incessant pursuit of things beyond the reach of most people. What kind of things remind you of grasping for the wind today? Please Read: 1 John 2:15-17

Conclusion

Chapter 2 is no doubt a continuation of Solomon’s shocking reality after gaining all the wisdom and wealth given to him by God, and using the wealth to pursue all kinds of projects and personal pleasures, he again concludes that all of it is meaningless. Wealth and human accomplishments are good if we place God in the centre of it all. While most people think that having great wealth, servants, homes, and profitable enterprise would solve all their problems, the truth is that we all have issues that money cannot solve. Knowing this will humble us and provide a grounding in reality, no matter how successful we become in life. Our love must be centred on God and Him alone, not on the things of this world.

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Prayer Time

• Give thanks to God for JFC and His grace over the church.
• Pray for a heart to understand as we learn from Ecclesiastes.
• Pray that we submit to truth and not believe the lies of the enemy
• Ask the Lord to add 20 new families to JFC
• Pray for one another’s needs and any other matter.

Announcements

• Next Small Group – November 26, 2025.
• Missions Event – November 28, 7 pm.