This blog consists of bible studies written or done by tertiary students. The studies in yellow are works in progress. Please feel free to use the studies and blog your experience.
We are re-shaping our use of social media and this blog will no longer be in use from July 2016. Please feel free to adapt and use the material in this blog for your own groups.
Listening to God's word together as a group.
Ecclesiastes starts with a preacher or teacher who calls together an assembly or group of people to hear from God. In the same manner, listen to Ecclesiastes together as a group, think about what the main idea of the book. There are 12 chapters in Ecclesiastes, which will take about 35 minutes to listen to in the audio bible. https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Eccl.1
Watch this outline of Ecclesiastes
Listen to Ecclesiastes together again, do you agree with the outline?
How does listening to Ecclesiastes add to your life as a group?
An interesting idea Ecclesiastes is read in the synagogue on the festival of Tabernacles [Sukkot], the festival of joy; an odd choice on the face of it, for a book that seems to question life’s values. But, here again, the interpretation holds good that the philosophical probings of the book do not lead ultimately to unbelief but, on the contrary, to an appreciation of the higher values which promote true happiness. The book has served as a reminder that God does not necessarily frown on a sincere quest for life’s meaning and significance. For this reason, the book is, in a sense, the earliest encounter between faith and reason, a debate which has been continued by the philosophically inclined throughout the history. (Taken from http://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Ecclesiastes/A_Ecclesiastes_Introduction_PBC.pdf) TSCF Hamilton studied Ecclesiastes in 2016 and this bible study is an adaptation of what the group did together. One key aim as I modify these Ecclesiastes studies is to intentionally help students tease out the richness of the biblical story. This means being aware of the historical context of the book, their own context as a student group who have an interested in Anime, the global context of where anime comes from (Japan), the biblical canon and their own walk with God as individual disciples of Christ. The challenge for students as a group and as an individual is to locate themselves in God's big story. Semester A ended with an Anime Marathon organised by TSCF Hamilton and Pokemon Go became a craze at the start of semester B. Anime does shape the imagination of the current batch of Waikato uni students, I have intentionally included anime elements in the study, with varying degrees of success. Joseph prepared a discussion on God and Anime. If you are interested in preparing a talk on God and the Movies, here are some tips from Mark Day.
What does it say about wealth, riches, toil and work?
Group 2 (Students who work and study)
Warming Up to God
Do you feel more like God's dutiful employee or his valued friend? Explore your perspective and tell him your heart. Remember that he is your most patient listener and he's eager to hear how you're doing.
How would you describe the Teacher's emotional state as a result of his quest for meaning so far?
The phrase "under the sun" appears often throughout Ecclesiastes—five times in this passage (vv. 17, 18, 19, 20, 22). Describe the "under the sun" mentality.
What does the Teacher say about work (vv. 21-23)?
What shift do you see in the way the Teacher views work (vv. 24-26)?
Describe the contrast between seeking pleasure (vv. 10-11) and finding enjoyment (vv. 24-26).
Applying the Word
When have you experienced the kind of satisfying enjoyment described here?
If you were to view your work as a gift from God to be enjoyed, how could that change your attitude about it?
Read/ Listen to Ecclesiastes 11 for principles on money.
Here are some examples from Ecclesiastes 10
1) Be diligent, otherwise your household economy will collapse like a leaky, rotten roof (Eccl. 10:18).
2) Understand that in this life financial well-being does matter. “Money meets every need” (Eccl. 10:19) can be read in a cynical manner, but the text does not say that money is the only thing that matters. The point is simply that money is necessary for dealing with all kinds of issues. To put it in modern terms, if my car needs a new WOF, or I need University fees, it is going to take money. This is not greed or materialism; it is common sense.
3) Be careful about people in authority (Eccl. 10:20). If you belittle your boss or even a customer, you may live to regret it.
Did you find drawing principles from the texts difficult? What dangers could you see from creating principles like these from the book of Ecclesiastes?
Share as a big group what you have learnt on the topic.
Group 3
Shepherd
Read Ecclesiastes 12:11 1 The words of wise men are like a stick. Their gathered sayings are like well-driven nails given by one Shepherd.
Wise words ring true in our ears, whether we want to hear them or not. They prod us, convict us, and move us; and heeding them strengthens us.
Compare and contrast the key concepts of fear of God, justice and shepherd in Ecclesiastes and the same concept found in the New Testament. Try and summarise your conclusions into facts about Ecclesiastes.
Share what you have learnt as a group. As a group try to create 10 facts about Ecclesiastes in the light of the New Testament.
Brainstorm what are some smart ways to live as a student (flat, class, with parents, leisure etc) *Read Ecclesiastes 7-10 together. *Divide into groups of 3/4, and each group examines a different chapter. From the chapter pick out what the teacher recommends as wise. For example, https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/390265123941634148/ * Come together as a big group and share what you have learnt. Compare your list of smart ways to live and the list from Ecclesiastes. What principles can you draw from the bible? Have you considered these ideas? http://tscfhamilton.tumblr.com/post/147371207435/wisdom-in-ecclesiastes
As a group, come up with 10 "smart ways to live" in the light of Ecclesiastes.
Read the chapter again in small groups
What are the key ideas in this chapter?
How does the picture language add to the your understanding of the chapter?
For example how would you describe old age and how does chapter 12 describe old age?
What strikes you about the chapter?
What questions do you have?
How would you apply this chapter to your life?
Discuss: 1. Life missions
Watch
Contrast the quest and challenge in this clip with the ending of Ecclesiastes.
"Now all has been heard. Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." What is the difference between the two approaches to life and how would the different attitudes unfold in a person's life?
2) Waiting for the right time
As a group, consider this scenario:
"I am still young. There are many things I still want to do. When I am old, just before I die I will accept Christ and go to heaven."
Using what you have learnt from Ecclesiastes, what questions would you ask this person?
What would you share?
