SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 3:9-19, & 4:9-12

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS WEEK HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Kenny’s “song” for this week sings, “This is the day that the Lord has made! / Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Do you find this idea comforting? Do you find it sufficient?

2. If it is true that our imaginations are limited by our anxieties about Time and Death, we’re going to struggle to develop a “right” way to live! In this sermon, Kenny discussed two “life philosophies” in the ancient world: Hedonism and Stoicism. How would you define each? Do you see echoes of these philosophies in the world today?

3. Have you ever been tempted by a “hedonistic” life? Where did that road lead for you? What did you learn?

4. Have you ever been tempted by a “stoic” life? Where did that road lead for you? What did you learn?

5. Ecclesiastes suggests that a better option is what we might call a “life of gratitude”: recognizing the many gifts we are given (even in this broken world) and trying to enjoy them. Does this resonate with you?

6. The main challenge of this series is that our conclusions, most weeks, are still going to feel incomplete or insufficient. What are the limits of a “life of gratitude”? What more are we seeking from “the good life”?

7. What small things in your life bring you joy? How can you make a conscious effort to appreciate them more… and share them?