Surrender (Ecclesiastes 8:1-17)
/Surrender
Ecclesiastes 8:1-17
Knowing that God will address all evils in time allows you to rest in him and enjoy what is good.
I. God Does Not Expect You to Fix Everything (vv. 1-7)
A. Seeing Atlas in the Mirror
B. There Are Things You Can’t Control
II. God Will Not Allow Evil to go Unjudged Forever (vv. 8-13)
A. Patience is not Indifference (v. 11; 2 Peter 3:8-9)
B. Patience is Temporary (vv. 8-13)
C. Patience has a Purpose (2 Peter 3:8-9; cf. Romans 2:4)
III. Learning to Rest in God (vv. 14-17)
A. The (only) One Who can Right all Wrongs (vv. 14, 16-17)
B. Don’t Worry About Tomorrow (vv. 1, 7, 15)
C. Learning the Discipline of Rest (v. 15)
Discussion Starters
1. Monday—Do you ever feel overwhelmed—like things just keep getting worse? Do you worry about the future of our country?
2. Tuesday—What are some of the way that you try to fix everything? Is it exhausting? Does it work?
3. Wednesday—How does the image of a king who cannot be challenged reflect your reality? What does it mean that there are some things that are simply outside your control?
4. Thursday—What does it mean that patience is not indifference? Why is God patient with those who are rebellious?
5. Friday—What does it mean that we are to learn to rest in the midst of all the problems in the world? What does stopping to rest communicate? Are you good at resting?