Lesson Plan 1 (SGYF) – November 15, 2025

Lessons From The Book Of Ecclesiastes For Young Families.

Ecclesiastes 1-2.

Welcome to the Small Group Lesson Guide specially prepared for young families (SGYF).

The Bible is loaded with fresh discoveries for anyone who will read, meditate, and apply the lessons learnt. Never forget that every scripture ultimately points to Jesus Christ, to transform our lives in the image of Christ. The Lord himself, during His brief sojourn on Earth, said to the Pharisees who hated Him, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” In this SG Season, may the word of God show us Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit. Amen!

The author of Ecclesiastes was Solomon, son of David, who was king of Israel from approximately 1010 to 970 BC. We find proof of his authorship right in the first few verses opening the book. He protests that life and all its accomplishments, along with the many pleasures one can enjoy, are vanity (meaningless). Apparently, Solomon reached the pinnacle of everything the human heart could wish for and discovered that none of these things gives true satisfaction.

Listen to Solomon in his own words:

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

When we started our family, we made a conscious decision, as a Christian couple, to make the Word the centre of our lives. 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 1 and Chapter 2. Please read and discuss your findings.

• What do you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you as parents of a young family from these verses?
• How should Solomon’s exasperation with his pursuits inform our decisions in life? What verses speak to you specifically in this regard
• Discuss how you will communicate and or model these truths learnt from King Solomon to your young children.
• 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 Chapter 2 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 or one day become 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

Chapters 1 and 2 of Ecclesiastes are, no doubt, a summing up 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 used to further well-being. Most people think that having great wealth, servants, homes, and a profitable enterprise would solve all their problems; the truth is, 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 the next generation grows up to do more for Jesus than we ever did.
• Ask the Lord to add 20 new families to JFC
• Pray for one another’s needs and any other matter.

Announcements

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