What if the thing we try hardest to avoid thinking about could actually teach us how to live? Most of us push thoughts of death to the edges, preferring distraction over reflection, yet those quiet reminders have a way of surfacing anyway. Ecclesiastes invites us to face mortality honestly, not to discourage us, but to wake us up. Even Jesus, standing at a graveside, shows us that sorrow and hope can exist together in a powerful way. When we stop running from the reality of death, we may discover a deeper, more meaningful way to live right now. Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of the guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week. Introduction Last week, we talked about how life moves through seasons—some beautiful, some difficult—and how we don’t have to rush past the hard ones. Instead, we can trust that God is present and bringing meaning over time. Last weeks suggested actions steps were: Prayerfully consider one way you can honor God in your current season of life and/or this week, take a step out of individualism into shared life. How did that go for you? This week, we continue in Ecclesiastes by looking at something most of us try to avoid – our mortality. Ecclesiastes invites us to see that thinking about our mortality isn’t meant to discourage us, in fact, it can actually help us live with greater clarity, purpose, and intentionality. Instead of ignoring the reality of how we will finish our lives, we’re invited to let it shape how we live today. Connect Who is someone in your life you consider to be “wise?” Why do you think people don’t like talking about certain topics? Have you ever had a moment that changed your perspective on what really matters? Opening Ecclesiastes offers a surprising perspective: reflecting on our mortality can actually lead to wisdom. Rather than living reactively or drifting through life, we can live with spiritual intentionality: making choices that matter, investing in what lasts, and allowing even difficult emotions to shape us. When we ignore our limits, we often live shallow or distracted lives. But when we acknowledge them, especially in light of Jesus, we begin to live with greater purpose, love, and depth. This leads us to our main Idea for the week: We can live our lives with spiritual intentionality through our relationship with God. Unpack Read each passage out loud together. Then discuss the questions before moving on. Read Ecclesiastes 9:10 In this passage, the Teacher reminds us that our time is limited, encouraging us to fully engage in the life we have now. What prevents people from following the advice of “Whatever you do, do well?” What stands out to you about how this verse talks about time and opportunity? What thoughts, feelings, or experiences might have motivated him to write this advice? Read Luke 12:35–40 In this passage, Jesus calls his followers to live with readiness and awareness, not drifting through life. What is the primary imagery/metaphor Jesus uses here for readiness? Can you imagine it? What do you think it means to be “ready” in the ordinary times of life? What tends to distract us from living with this kind of awareness? Read Ephesians 5:15–17 In this passage, Paul encourages believers to live wisely and intentionally, making the most of the time they’ve been given. Why do you think it’s easy to lose track of how we’re using our time? According to v.17, what should we be doing instead of “acting thoughtlessly”? What does it look like to live “carefully” or intentionally? Action Step This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice. Take a moment to reflect on what stood out most to you. Then discuss: What is one practical step you can take this week to live with greater intentionality? Here are a few ideas to get you started: Make a choice that positively impacts someone else (encourage, forgive, reach out). Reflect on your life direction. Are you moving closer to Jesus? Bring an area of grief, regret, or loss honestly to God instead of avoiding it. As you think about your step, share it with the group so you can encourage and pray for one another. Closing Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is fragile and limited, but that’s not meant to discourage us. It’s meant to wake us up. When we bring our lives, and even our mortality, into a relationship with God, everything begins to shift. We start to live with purpose, love more intentionally, and find meaning that lasts beyond temporary circumstances. Pray Together As we wrap up, we’ll go around and invite anyone to share anything they’d like ...
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2026/07/1234 分