Inviting and Instituting Accountability (Ecclesiastes 4:1-12)
Mark Pitman, March 6, 2016Part of the Planning to Grow series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
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Ecclesiastes 4:1–12 (Listen)
4:1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
(ESV)
Sunday | Theme | Message | Scripture | Special Events |
1/6/13 | Finding Hope | Why are We Here, Where are We Going, How Do You Fit in? | Romans 15:2 | |
1/13/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Superior in Every Way | Hebrews 1:1-14 | |
1/20/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Deserves your Attention | Hebrews 2:1-8 | Sanctity of Human Life |
1/27/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Soften Your Heart | Hebrews 3:1-19 | |
2/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Rest | Hebrews 4:1-5 | |
2/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Hope | Hebrews 5:10 | Valentine’s Day |
2/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Help You Draw Near to God | Hebrews 7:1-28 | |
2/24/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Offers You a Better Promise | Hebrews 8:1-13 | |
3/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Shed His Blood for You | Hebrews 9:1-28 | |
3/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Confidence | Hebrews 10:1-39 | Daylight Savings begins; Gideon Speaker |
3/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Worthy of Your Faith | Hebrews 11:1-40 | |
3/24/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from 5 Surprises at the Cross | Matthew 27:27 | Palm Sunday |
3/31/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from Inside the Tomb | Acts 2:1-42 | Easter |
4/7/13 | Guest Speaker—Scott Towers | |||
4/14/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Endure | Hebrews 12:1-29 | Camp Selah |
4/21/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Change | Hebrews 13:1-25 | |
4/28/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Tears You Up | Matthew 6:25 | |
5/5/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Makes You Small | Matthew 6:25 | |
5/12/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Steals Your Hope | Matthew 6:26, 28-30 | Mother’s Day |
5/19/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Wastes You Time | Matthew 6:27 | |
5/26/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Offends Your Father | Matthew 6:26, 32 | Memorial Day Weekend |
6/2/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Leads You Astray | Matthew 6:32 | Honor Graduates |
6/9/13 | Guest Speaker–Christopher Avell | |||
6/16/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Turns Your Head | Matthew 6:33-34 | Father’s Day; Baby Dedication |
6/23/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #1 Grace | Genesis 39:1-40:8 | |
6/30/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #2 Encouragement | Ephesians 4:29 | FOURTH OF JULY—5th Sunday at the Pavilion following service |
7/7/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #3 Loyalty | 2 Samuel 23:8-17 | |
7/14/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #4 Forgiveness | Matt 18:15-35 | Communion |
7/21/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #5 Transparency | 1 John 1:1-2:2 | |
7/28/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #6 Perseverance | Hebrews 10:32-11:2; 12:1-3 | |
8/4/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Hope | 1 Cor 10:13 | |
8/11/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Finding Hope (or Ruin) in Becoming What We Worship | Isaiah 6 | |
8/18/13 | Guest Speaker—Mike and Carolyn Ballast (Missionaries) | I Cor 1 | VBS Sunday (Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride through God’s Word) | |
8/25/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Get in the Game | Eph 4:11-16 | Baptism & Family Night at PSR |
9/1/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Challenge of Hope | Ruth 1:1-15 | Labor Day |
9/8/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Contrast of Hope | Ruth 1:16-22 | |
9/15/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Providence of Hope | Ruth 2:1-13 | Randy and Adena Wildman (Missionaries)Men’s Outing (9/21)– Robert Houk’s home |
9/22/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Provision of Hope | Ruth 2:14-23 | SYATP (9/25) |
9/29/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Adventure of Hope | Ruth 3:1-13 | 5th Sunday—Harvest party at the Pavilion (Rides/camp fire, etc.); Shawn & Amanda (Missionaries); BCC 101 Class |
10/6/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Faithfulness of Hope | Ruth 3:14-18 | Communion |
10/13/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Resources of Hope | Ruth 4:1-12 | Columbus Day- 10/14 |
10/20/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Prodigy of Hope | Ruth 4:13-22 | (10/19) Harvest Party at The Fethers. |
10/27/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Foundation of Stewardship | Mark 12:1-12 | Testimony |
11/3/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Giving | Luke 19:11-27 | Testimony |
11/10/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Serving | 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Veteran’s Day—11/11; Testimony |
11/17/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Commitment | Joshua 24:14-28 | Testimony |
11/24/113 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Thanksgiving | Ps 107 | Thanksgiving; Decorate Church |
12/1/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Wonder of Your Eternal Home | 2 Cor 5:1-21 | HOPE;Advent Scripture– Isaiah; Communion |
12/8/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | Bowing Down Wisely | Ps 95:6 | PEACE; Advent Scripture– Micah 5:2, 4-5; Children’s Program |
12/15/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Beauty of Your Eternal Home | Rev 21 | JOY; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 9:6 -7 |
12/22/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Gift that Overcomes Death | 1 Cor 15:50-58 | LOVE; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 52:7-10 |
12/24/13 | Christmas Eve | The Perfection of Heaven | Ps 24:3-4 | |
12/29/13 | Preparing to Live by Preparing to Die | 2 Kings 18:13-19 | 5th Sunday |