Ecclesiastes 1:1-11— Round & Round We Go!

Even the greatest human effort fails to bring significant change.

1. Life is an enigma (vv. 1-2)

2. People toil for gain (v. 3)

3. Only superficial progress is made (vv. 4-11)

Discussion Questions

1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. What do you think is the main point of this passage?

2. What do you think people are trying to get out of their toil and work in our world? What progress are they trying to make by their toil?

3. In what ways do you think our world is different than it was 2,000 or 3,000 years ago? In what ways do you think our world is the same? In what ways have we made progress? In what ways have we not made progress?

4. Have you ever felt that life is an enigma, like you just can’t figure it out? Have you wondered why God has ordained certain things in his providence? Has this frustrated you?

5. One preacher has said, “Ecclesiastes is the question to which Christ is the answer.” How does the life and work of Christ answer the issues that the preacher raises in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11? Has he taken all of the enigma out life?

6. How is God calling you to respond to this message on Ecclesiastes 1:1-11?