Terry Pruitt's Blog

Text : Ecclesiastes 12 Main Idea : We are to use all that is within us to serve and worship God. Outline of Ecclesiastes 12 1. Use Your Capacity to Enjoy by Worshiping God (Ecc. 12:1-8) a. Worship the Creator Before Pleasure Fades (Ecc. 12:1) b. Pleasure Fades In Old Age (Ecc. 12:2-5) c. Pleasure Fades Completely at Death (Ecc. 12:6-8) 2. Use Your Capacity for Wisdom by Being Discerning (Ecc. 12:9-12) 3. Use All Your Capacities to Live a Self-Examined Life Before God (Ecc. 12:13-14) Introduction As Christians we are often not that different from the world in understanding the meaning of life. The world sees the meaning of life is enjoying relationships, wealth or simply a good day on vacation Christians want to find meaning in life by enjoying Christian pleasure; Christian family life, Christian financial freedom, or an adventure on a missions trip. Sometimes these pleasures are more distinguished by demographic association rather than by something spiritually...

Psalm 100 (ESV) His Steadfast Love Endures Forever A Psalm for giving thanks. 1Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth A 2Serve the LORD with gladness! B Come into his presence with singing! A 3Know that the LORD, he is God! A It is he who made us, B and we are his; {and not we ourselves} B we are his people, B and the sheep of his pasture. B 4Enter his gates with thanksgiving, A and his courts with praise! A Give thanks to him; B bless his name! B 5For the LORD is good; A his steadfast love endures forever, B and his faithfulness to all generations. B Pattern Analysis Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas rather than words. Sometimes scholars describe the patterns with letter. For instance, the ABB pattern means that there is the first line with an idea. The second line relates a new idea, but the third line is a repeat of the second idea, perhaps with a new perspective. Pattern analysis helps to understand the structure so that the reader can lift the meani...