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  • Luke 2

    Luke 2

    Read Luke 2

    The Birth of Jesus

    2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

    4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

    8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

    13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

    14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
        and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

    15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

    16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

    21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

    Jesus Presented in the Temple

    22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

    25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

    29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
        you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
    30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
    31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
    32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
        and the glory of your people Israel.”

    33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

    36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

    39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

    The Boy Jesus at the Temple

    41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

    49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

    51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

    Go Deeper

    The Savior of the world is born! Born of a virgin, placed in a manger, God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ, arrives. It’s a simple and humble beginning. Jesus’s first visitors were poor, lower-class shepherds living in nearby fields, summoned by angels, which was all part of God’s perfectly orchestrated plan. God used these shepherds to spread the good news to everyone that the Messiah was born. Glory to God!

    As the shepherds visited Jesus, praising and worshipping God, Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (v. 19). Other versions state that she kept all these things, holding them dear like a treasure in her heart (MSG; NIRV). Mary had just given birth to God’s son! Although Mary may not have fully understood God’s plan at that very moment, she likely was reflecting on God’s goodness and her faithfulness to Him.  

    When Mary and Joseph take eight-day-old Jesus to the temple for consecration and meet Simeon and the prophet Anna, Simeon is ecstatic! Instantly, Simeon sees baby Jesus and knows that He is the promised Messiah! Simeon proclaims that Jesus “is a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (v. 32). Yes, the Messiah came to save us all–Jews AND Gentiles; everyone, no matter our background or status or wealth. Verse 33 tells us Mary and Joseph marvel at these words. Everything surrounding Jesus’ birth and life seems too grand to comprehend. 

    Fast forward twelve years and Jesus is lost. Or at least that is likely what Mary and Joseph thought when they discovered Jesus was not with them on the way home after visiting Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. Parents who have ever temporarily lost their child can understand the deep-rooted panic, anxiety, and worry this would elicit. Of course, it is followed by complete and utter relief when the child is found. Imagine, however, finding your twelve-year-old child in the temple courtyard engaged in deep conversation with the religious teachers. Jesus was at home at the temple, and He tells Mary, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49). Mary and Joseph still don’t understand the fullness of who Jesus is, but Mary continues to treasure all these things in her heart (v. 51). 

    As Mary watched her son grow, she likely pondered all the memories she’d stored in her heart. Making sense of Jesus takes faith, but making sense of the living Messiah to whom you gave birth might have taken Mary even a little more time. As someone who bore witness to Jesus’ life from the very beginning, she was ultimately able to put the pieces together and see how Jesus was the Son of God and Savior of the world from the very beginning. If even Mary, who gave birth to and raised Jesus, needed time to treasure and ponder the truth of who Jesus is, maybe it’s okay if we take time to sit and ponder and treasure who He is, too.

    Questions

    1. What do you ponder in your heart?
    2. What have you stored in your heart about Jesus and how He has worked in your life? Are there things about Jesus that you are still trying to comprehend?   
    3. What would it look like for someone to see you or meet you for the first time and instantly know that you followed Jesus? What is one way you could make this more apparent?

    By the Way

    Another account of Jesus’s birth can be found in Matthew 1:18-25. Read this version, and allow it to add to what you learned from the account found in Luke 2. 

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  • Luke 1

    Luke 1

    Getting Started

    Welcome to the Bible Reading Plan! We are so glad you are joining us for this journey through Luke over the next couple of weeks. Each day, you will read one chapter of the Bible followed by a short devotional, answer a few questions, and if you want, record any observations or insights using the interactive comments section. We believe God will use this resource to grow our knowledge and affection for Him. We know God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Sign up with a friend, your Life Group, or your family, and let’s dig in!

    Make sure to download our Harris Creek App and turn on push notifications, or visit us at biblereadingplan.org and sign up to receive the BRP in your inbox. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram (@harriscreek) for some fun, creative ways to interact with the readings. 

    Let’s Go, Church!

    Luke Preview

    The Gospel of Luke, the longest book in the New Testament, is the first of two books written by its namesake. Luke, unlike some of the other Gospel writers, wasn’t one of Jesus’ disciples who was writing down what he had seen while traveling with Jesus. Luke was a physician and a researcher—a student of the life and ministry of Jesus. He formed this account after investigating and interviewing those who had seen the life of Jesus firsthand and compiled it into this book for a man named Theophilus, a friend of his and also the recipient of the book of Acts (which was also written by Luke). 

    As you read, you will likely notice differences between Luke’s writing style and some of the other Gospel accounts you might have read. Many of these chapters are long and full of vibrant details. Luke is like an investigative reporter here—he’s trying to paint the fullest picture he possibly can based on these eyewitness accounts and he includes more historical details and context than the other Gospel writers in order to do so. Luke states his purpose for writing up front: He wants Theophilus to have certainty in these theological truths he had been taught about Jesus. The same can hold true for us today!

    One New Testament scholar described Luke this way: “Whereas the emphasis in Matthew is on what Jesus said, and in Mark on what Jesus did, here in Luke it is rather on Jesus Himself.” Throughout the 24 chapters in Luke, we’ll read about everything from the birth of John the Baptist (who prepared the way for Jesus) to the gruesome details of Holy Week to Jesus’ resurrection. As you read each chapter, try to immerse yourself in the story. That’s what makes these narrative accounts so compelling! Close your eyes and picture what each one of these scenes might have looked like. Ask God to reveal Himself to you in a new way as you Jesus through these ancient, sacred words. 

    Read Luke 1

    Introduction

    1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

    The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

    5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

    8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

    11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

    18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

    19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

    21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

    23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

    The Birth of Jesus Foretold

    26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

    29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

    34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

    35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

    38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

    Mary Visits Elizabeth

    39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

    Mary’s Song

    46 And Mary said:

    “My soul glorifies the Lord
    47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
    48 for he has been mindful
        of the humble state of his servant.
    From now on all generations will call me blessed,
    49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
        holy is his name.
    50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
        from generation to generation.
    51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
        he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
    52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
        but has lifted up the humble.
    53 He has filled the hungry with good things
        but has sent the rich away empty.
    54 He has helped his servant Israel,
        remembering to be merciful
    55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
        just as he promised our ancestors.”

    56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

    The Birth of John the Baptist

    57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

    59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

    61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

    62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

    Zechariah’s Song

    67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

    68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
        because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
    69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
        in the house of his servant David
    70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
    71 salvation from our enemies
        and from the hand of all who hate us—
    72 to show mercy to our ancestors
        and to remember his holy covenant,
    73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
    74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
        and to enable us to serve him without fear
    75     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

    76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
        for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
    77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
        through the forgiveness of their sins,
    78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
        by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
    79 to shine on those living in darkness
        and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

    80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

    Go Deeper

    This book begins with Luke stating his purpose for writing it in the first place: He’s trying to validate the claims and stories of Jesus so that Theophilus, the book’s original intended audience, would grow in confidence in his faith. But it’s important for us to remember what happened before this book (and this chapter were written): nothing. For about 400 years (after the book of Malachi was written), there was a lot of silence and a lot of waiting for God to do something. Then, after centuries of waiting, a glimmer of hope.

    We meet two couples in this chapter: A married couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth, then a little later on we are introduced to Mary and her soon-to-be-husband Joseph. We’re also introduced to the angel Gabriel, who’s quite busy in this chapter delivering news about these unborn babies and the role that they would play in ushering in God’s Kingdom. We learn that John is going to prepare the way for someone even greater to come. The chapter ends with a pregnant Mary returning home and the birth of John happening soon after. 

    A couple of things stick out after reading Luke 1. First, put yourselves in the shoes of the Israelites in this chapter. God’s people had been waiting and waiting for centuries for God to move. God never forgot His people; He had a plan the entire time. Sometimes we feel similarly–like God has forgotten about us or like we God has moved on. But consistently throughout scripture we see God orchestrating everything for His good and moving throughout our midst.  

    God was moving all around them and, when they least expected it, he picked the most unlikely of people to change the world through. Zechariah and Elizabeth were older in age and had never had children. Mary, on the other hand, was a young, unmarried virgin. Both seemed like unlikely people for God to choose to complete His will. But that’s what God does. The similar thread between all of them was that they were known for their faithful obedience. Similarly today, God is looking for the faithful to use to accomplish His will and to help further God’s Kingdom here on earth. 

    Questions

    1. What do you notice about the lineage of Jesus in this chapter?
    2. Have you ever felt like God had forgotten you or gone silent on you? Explain your feelings.
    3. What does this passage teach you about the people God uses? How can you be faithful today in order to accomplish God’s will tomorrow?

    By the Way

    The end of this chapter tells us John went off to live in the wilderness. Mark 1:4-6 gives us a description of what he looked like when he came out of the wilderness:

    4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

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  • Ecclesiastes 12

    Ecclesiastes 12

    Read Ecclesiastes 12

    12 Remember your Creator
        in the days of your youth,
    before the days of trouble come
        and the years approach when you will say,
        “I find no pleasure in them”—
    2 before the sun and the light
        and the moon and the stars grow dark,
        and the clouds return after the rain;
    3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
        and the strong men stoop,
    when the grinders cease because they are few,
        and those looking through the windows grow dim;
    4 when the doors to the street are closed
        and the sound of grinding fades;
    when people rise up at the sound of birds,
        but all their songs grow faint;
    5 when people are afraid of heights
        and of dangers in the streets;
    when the almond tree blossoms
        and the grasshopper drags itself along
        and desire no longer is stirred.
    Then people go to their eternal home
        and mourners go about the streets.

    6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
        and the golden bowl is broken;
    before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
        and the wheel broken at the well,
    7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
        and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

    8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
        “Everything is meaningless!”

    The Conclusion of the Matter

    9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

    11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

    Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

    13 Now all has been heard;
        here is the conclusion of the matter:
    Fear God and keep his commandments,
        for this is the duty of all mankind.
    14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
        including every hidden thing,
        whether it is good or evil.

    Go Deeper

    At some point we all feel or, at least, hear that life goes by fast. It seems like the older we get, the faster life speeds up. When we were growing up, it felt like Christmas was forever away. But as the years go by, it seems like Christmas is always around the corner! Before we know it, the days, months, and years pass by and much of our life will be behind us. Solomon wants us to realize the speed of life. This perspective helps us make each day’s decisions for how we want our life to go tomorrow. Otherwise, he warns we’ll get so caught up in the pursuit of wealth, pleasure or fame that we will forget God in the process. Twice in this chapter he calls for us to remember our Creator, specifically in the days of our youth. In other words, Solomon is saying to remember God now so we do not get distracted. We can be so busy working and saving and spending that we forget to remember the Creator of it all.  

    While much of Ecclesiastes explains what doesn’t matter in life, the book finishes by telling us what does. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (v. 13-14). In other words, remember, everything we do really does matter to God! Every single thing. Public things matter. Private things matter. They are all seen by God and will be brought into judgement.

    Even though we think the good life can be found in money, sex, and power, Solomon has proven otherwise. His search for the good in life has ended. The conclusion? Following God is what we’re made to do. We are called to fear God and keep his commandments. God’s commandments will lead us to an abundant life and will give us what the world cannot offer. Before life passes by, take time to sit back and consider what God is teaching us in Ecclesiastes about what we are made to do.

    Questions

    1. What do you think it means to “remember your Creator”?
    2. Why are verses 13 and 14 such an important close for the book of Ecclesiastes?
    3. What changes do you want to make in your life after reading Ecclesiastes? 

    Did You Know?

    The NIV translates verse 13 as “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” That word “duty” is perhaps better translated as “all” or “purpose.” In essence, the purpose of mankind is to fear God and keep his commandments.

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  • Ecclesiastes 11

    Ecclesiastes 11

    Read Ecclesiastes 11

    Invest in Many Ventures

    11 Ship your grain across the sea;
        after many days you may receive a return.
    2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
        you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

    3 If clouds are full of water,
        they pour rain on the earth.
    Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
        in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
    4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
        whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

    5 As you do not know the path of the wind,
        or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
    so you cannot understand the work of God,
        the Maker of all things.

    6 Sow your seed in the morning,
        and at evening let your hands not be idle,
    for you do not know which will succeed,
        whether this or that,
        or whether both will do equally well.

    Remember Your Creator While Young

    7 Light is sweet,
        and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
    8 However many years anyone may live,
        let them enjoy them all.
    But let them remember the days of darkness,
        for there will be many.
        Everything to come is meaningless.

    9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
        and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
    Follow the ways of your heart
        and whatever your eyes see,
    but know that for all these things
        God will bring you into judgment.
    10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
        and cast off the troubles of your body,
        for youth and vigor are meaningless.

    Go Deeper

    After observing Ecclesiasties 11 we see two different themes. The first theme would be that we, as humans, have many limitations. The second theme the author paints a picture is that we have specific responsibility in this life. Today we want to take a look at the two questions that arise from the two themes. How does the author say we are limited? What does the author say are our responsibilities? We will pull directly from the text to look at these ideas.

    The first question we need to answer is “How does the author say we are limited?” Here’s what Solomon tells us:

    • We don’t know when or if our labor will return fruitful. (verses 1-2, 6)
    • Our future is fixed by God. (verse 3)
    • We don’t know how God does what He does. (verse 5)
    • We don’t know how long we will live. (verse 3, 8)

    The second question for us to answer is “What does the author say are our responsibilities?” Let’s see what our response should be: 

    • Be diligent in your work, don’t stop toiling (verse 1-2, 6)
    • Give away your days, unto Him. (verse 2)
    • If you are full, it is so that you will pour out. (verse 3)
    • Being overly critical will delay obedience. Be a person of action. (verse 4)
    • Rejoice in the days you have and look back with gladness on your life. ( verses 8-10)

    When we read these two questions, it can be easy to try and reconcile them in our own thoughts. We should reconcile them according to God’s word. We cannot say, “I am limited, therefore, I do not need to act.” We cannot say, “I hold all the power, I am to do whatever I wish.” The inspired word of God, in Ecclesiastes 11, wants to help us navigate this. Though we are limited, we have great responsibility and our actions matter. Though we do not get to control outcomes, God will carry out His will perfectly. There is a consistent theme throughout scripture that even though God doesn’t need us, He wants to use us.

    Questions

    1. How do you find comfort in the truth that you are limited and God is not?
    2. Are there any areas of your life you’ve been living in delayed disobedience? 
    3. What is something you need to trust God with the outcome now that you’ve acted?

    A Quote

    There’s an old Turkish proverb that says, “Do good and throw it into the water, if the fish does not know it, God does.” This exemplifies the Christian life and the idea of working for the approval of God alone (and not man).

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  • Ecclesiastes 10

    Ecclesiastes 10

    Read Ecclesiastes 10

    10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
        so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
    2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
        but the heart of the fool to the left.
    3 Even as fools walk along the road,
        they lack sense
        and show everyone how stupid they are.
    4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
        do not leave your post;
        calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

    5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
        the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
    6 Fools are put in many high positions,
        while the rich occupy the low ones.
    7 I have seen slaves on horseback,
        while princes go on foot like slaves.

    8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
        whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
    9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
        whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

    10 If the ax is dull
        and its edge unsharpened,
    more strength is needed,
        but skill will bring success.

    11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
        the charmer receives no fee.

    12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
        but fools are consumed by their own lips.
    13 At the beginning their words are folly;
        at the end they are wicked madness—
    14     and fools multiply words.

    No one knows what is coming—
        who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

    15 The toil of fools wearies them;
        they do not know the way to town.

    16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant
        and whose princes feast in the morning.
    17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
        and whose princes eat at a proper time—
        for strength and not for drunkenness.

    18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
        because of idle hands, the house leaks.

    19 A feast is made for laughter,
        wine makes life merry,
        and money is the answer for everything.

    20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,
        or curse the rich in your bedroom,
    because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
        and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

    Go Deeper

    Nobody wants to play the fool. Yet foolishness abounds nonetheless. In every arena of our lives, from work to politics to youth sports leagues, we can recognize fools. Oftentimes, we face the headwinds caused by their poor decisions. Today’s passage scans the land for the effects of foolishness and finds that it spares no class, no status, no ethnicity. We’re all susceptible to foolishness, be it from ourselves or those around us. While a truly wise man may be hard to find, a fool is not.

    Solomon takes a birds-eye view of his kingdom and sees foolishness as a kind of widespread affliction. The snake charmer is bitten. The prince is a drunkard. The quarry-worker unwittingly is smothered by stones. The rare alternative—and the evidence of wisdom in someone’s life—is simple: to walk humbly, to maintain composure, and to keep your mouth in check. Wisdom, like the love of God, is not set aside for a certain type of person. Rather, it is available to all. But that doesn’t make it any less rare.

    The call for us today, as Christians, is to be the wisest people in the room. We are to choose our words carefully, work hard, be diligent, and tell the truth in all situations. How differently would our city and world look if we lived out those virtues? There is enough foolishness in the world; what if we were different? Andy Crouch, a Christian author, says that Christians are to be people of wisdom and courage. We want to know what God would have us do in each situation (wisdom) and the boldness to do it (courage). Let’s be those people today.

    Questions

    1. What is a foolish decision you have made in the past?
    2. What is a foolish decision made by someone else in your life that has impacted you?
    3. In what ways do you allow for “a little foolishness” (v. 1), and what can you do to eliminate those things from your life?

    Try This

    Spend some time this morning thinking through a few of the wisest people you know, and write down some of their most noticeable characteristics. Consider their lives in contrast to those Solomon describes in this chapter. Spend time in prayer to thank God for these people in your life.

    Harris Creek Sermon

    Here is the sermon from Harris Creek’s Ecclesiastes series based on Ecclesiastes 10 & 11 “The Search for Meaning: Wisdom in Words, Work, and Worship”.

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  • Ecclesiastes 9

    Ecclesiastes 9

    Read Ecclesiastes 9

    A Common Destiny for All

    9 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

    As it is with the good,
        so with the sinful;
    as it is with those who take oaths,
        so with those who are afraid to take them.

    3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

    5 For the living know that they will die,
        but the dead know nothing;
    they have no further reward,
        and even their name is forgotten.
    6 Their love, their hate
        and their jealousy have long since vanished;
    never again will they have a part
        in anything that happens under the sun.

    7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

    11 I have seen something else under the sun:

    The race is not to the swift
        or the battle to the strong,
    nor does food come to the wise
        or wealth to the brilliant
        or favor to the learned;
    but time and chance happen to them all.

    12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:

    As fish are caught in a cruel net,
        or birds are taken in a snare,
    so people are trapped by evil times
        that fall unexpectedly upon them.

    Wisdom Better Than Folly

    13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

    17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
        than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
    18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
        but one sinner destroys much good.

    Go Deeper

    For Solomon, the worst part of life under the sun is that the same fate awaits every person.
    “All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not…this is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: the same destiny overtakes all.” (v. 2-3) Whether you are good or bad, either righteous or unrighteous, whether you offer sacrifices or you don’t, you will die. Death comes for us all. Therefore, since we are all going to die anyway, Solomon’s advice for the reader here is simple: make the most of the life you have while you have it.

    As the reader, it’s important to remember that Solomon was describing “life under the sun”—aka, life without God. Ecclesiastes is an apologetic work impressing the importance of faith by showing how meaningless life is without faith. So meaningless, in fact, that the way you live has no bearing on your end fate. And since the way you live doesn’t affect the fact that you will die, you might as well do whatever you want in the meantime. 

    This would be disheartening if, as believers, we didn’t know the other side of the story. Death might come for us all, but for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, we get to live forever with God in Heaven. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) Jesus, by defeating death on the cross, gives believers the opportunity to live forever with Him, beginning now.

    Therefore, because Christ defeated death, how we live here on Earth matters. For starters, we must make the decision to believe in Christ; that decision affects everything. Once we become believers and know our future is secured, we are tasked with the mission of sharing this Good News with everyone around us. Our friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers are living life with the depressing “under the sun” mentality. How exciting that God can use us to show others the meaning and joy that comes from living life with the Son instead! 

    Questions

    1. Jesus followed His statement in John 11 with the question, “Do you believe this?” An important place for us to start today is with that same question. Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
    2. Contrast life lived “under the sun” and life lived “with the Son.” Besides eternity in Heaven, what does life with Jesus offer us in this life?
    3. Who around you is living with a fatalistic, “under the sun” mentality? Spend five minutes praying for them. How can you share the Good News with them this week?

    Pray This

    Father, thank You for giving me hope and a future. Thank You not only for saving me and providing me an eternal home with You in Heaven, but also for giving me an abundant life here on earth. Please help me to make every minute of my life here on earth matter for Your Kingdom’s purposes. Help me show those around me what life lived with You looks like. May they experience You and be drawn into a relationship with You so that their lives have meaning and joy. Help me not keep this Good News for myself. I love You, Amen.

    Harris Creek Sermon

    Here is the sermon from Harris Creek’s Ecclesiastes series based on Ecclesiastes 8 “The Search for Meaning: Live Like You’re Dying”.

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  • Rest Day 2

    Rest Day 2

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Memory Verse

    11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

    Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

    Memorization Tip

    Use community as a tool to help you in your Scripture memorization journey! Pick a few friends, or your Life Group, with whom to memorize Scripture. Practice together, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another as you work together. Remember that the best way to stick with a challenge is to not go at it alone!

    Worship with Us

    Join us at 9a, 11a, or 7p in person or online at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

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  • Ecclesiastes 8

    Ecclesiastes 8

    Read Ecclesiastes 8

    8 Who is like the wise?
        Who knows the explanation of things?
    A person’s wisdom brightens their face
        and changes its hard appearance.

    Obey the King

    2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

    5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
        and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
    6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
        though a person may be weighed down by misery.

    7 Since no one knows the future,
        who can tell someone else what is to come?
    8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
        so no one has power over the time of their death.
    As no one is discharged in time of war,
        so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

    9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. 10 Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.

    11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. 12 Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

    14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

    16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night— 17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.

    Go Deeper

    There are benefits and limitations to wisdom. Wisdom allows us to apply our knowledge in a way that leads to right living whereas the fool continues in the folly. We see that in the first part of the chapter where Solomon tells us to obey the king because when the fool revolts, there are consequences for their actions. Verses eight and nine are the hinge point for this chapter. “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.“ 

    We are ruled by governing authorities and God. A lot of the Christian life is learning humble submission to authority. There is so little in life that we actually have control over. For some, this can be a discouraging thought, but when we have the wisdom that God is sovereign we can express the confidence in verse 15:

    “And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” 

    In our time in Ecclesiastes we have seen how much of life is vanity (Hebrew: hevel). While everything has a time as we read in chapter three, we are given a glimmer of hope in the midst of a heavy book. That the best thing we can do is to enjoy the gifts of common grace that God has given us. We should all be aware of the things that help us love God more and we should do more of those things to the glory of God. A hot shower, a great meal, a sunrise or sunset, nice weather, or even a warm fire with good friends. It is wise and right to enjoy the simple things in life.  

    Questions

    1. What makes you love God more? 
    2. What do you try to control in life? 
    3. Why is it so hard to grasp how little control we truly have?

    A Quote

    Dr. Thomas Constable, a former seminary professor and scholar, said this about this passage: “Solomon again recommended the enjoyment of life, not in a pleasure-mad way but in the sense of enjoying the fruits of one’s labor (cf. 2:24; 3:12-13; 5:18-19). This joy will make labor more enjoyable. We should receive each day’s joys as God’s good gifts and rejoice in them.”

    Harris Creek Sermon

    Here is the sermon from Harris Creek’s Ecclesiastes series based on Ecclesiastes 8 “The Search for Meaning: Submitting to Authority”.

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  • Ecclesiastes 7

    Ecclesiastes 7

    Read Ecclesiastes 7

    Wisdom

    7 A good name is better than fine perfume,
        and the day of death better than the day of birth.
    2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
        than to go to a house of feasting,
    for death is the destiny of everyone;
        the living should take this to heart.
    3 Frustration is better than laughter,
        because a sad face is good for the heart.
    4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
        but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
    5 It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
        than to listen to the song of fools.
    6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
        so is the laughter of fools.
        This too is meaningless.

    7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
        and a bribe corrupts the heart.

    8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
        and patience is better than pride.
    9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
        for anger resides in the lap of fools.

    10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
        For it is not wise to ask such questions.

    11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing
        and benefits those who see the sun.
    12 Wisdom is a shelter
        as money is a shelter,
    but the advantage of knowledge is this:
        Wisdom preserves those who have it.

    13 Consider what God has done:

    Who can straighten
        what he has made crooked?
    14 When times are good, be happy;
        but when times are bad, consider this:
    God has made the one
        as well as the other.
    Therefore, no one can discover
        anything about their future.

    15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

    the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
        and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
    16 Do not be overrighteous,
        neither be overwise—
        why destroy yourself?
    17 Do not be overwicked,
        and do not be a fool—
        why die before your time?
    18 It is good to grasp the one
        and not let go of the other.
        Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

    19 Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful
        than ten rulers in a city.

    20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,
        no one who does what is right and never sins.

    21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
        or you may hear your servant cursing you—
    22 for you know in your heart
        that many times you yourself have cursed others.

    23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

    “I am determined to be wise”—
        but this was beyond me.
    24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
        who can discover it?
    25 So I turned my mind to understand,
        to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
    and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
        and the madness of folly.

    26 I find more bitter than death
        the woman who is a snare,
    whose heart is a trap
        and whose hands are chains.
    The man who pleases God will escape her,
        but the sinner she will ensnare.

    27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered:

    “Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
    28     while I was still searching
        but not finding—
    I found one upright man among a thousand,
        but not one upright woman among them all.
    29 This only have I found:
        God created mankind upright,
        but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

     

    Go Deeper

    At first glance, this chapter might feel long and wordy. Like most chapters in Ecclesiastes, there are several themes that Solomon is driving home. Let’s look at a few. When we first read verses 1-4, it can feel confusing and sobering. Solomon says that it is better to grapple with one’s mortality than to be fooled into thinking that one lasts forever. Think about how countercultural this message is–especially for our culture. We do not like sad things, so we constantly look to escape. “Do whatever makes you happy!” But, if you are a believer in Jesus, there is a great joy that comes from knowing one’s mortality. Just think about it: One day we will die and there will be an end to all toil, weariness, and sin and we will be eternally satisfied in the presence of Jesus Christ. Joy doesn’t come from avoiding sad feelings, but from the eternal hope we have in Jesus in the midst of them.

    The chapter ends in verse 29 by saying, “God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes” (v. 29). The point Solomon is making here is not that people have simply turned to sin, but that they have sought out many other explanations of what God is doing around them. Here, Solomon was talking about God’s plan–they were struggling to see how God was at work (or even believe that He was working). They lacked the faith necessary to trust that God’s ways were better than their own. 

    So what are we to take away from a passage like this? Seeing the end makes the things that are under the sun not bad, but far less important than we think they are. On the flip side, knowing God is far more important than we grasp it to be. This life was given as a gift from God and is not to be used as a vessel of wrath, but of righteousness. True wisdom is trusting the One that is wiser (God) in the day of prosperity and in the day of adversity because God has made the one as well as the other. We have the opportunity to trust God in faith and know that He is working all around us at all times, regardless of if it feels like it or not. 

    So today, do not be discouraged, but remember God’s character in all situations. Remember the call that he has given us as Christians to go and make disciples of all nations, and hold all things in this life loosely because God is working all around us.

    Questions

     

    1. What characteristic of God stands out to you today that will be constant in all your circumstances today?
    2. How are you going to keep the end in mind when it comes to temptation and hard times?
    3. Who is someone in your life that you can share what you learned from Ecclesiastes 7 with today?

    By the Way

    We have the benefit of reading the end of this passage with Romans 8:28 in mind:

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

    Harris Creek Sermon

    Here is the sermon from Harris Creek’s Ecclesiastes series based on a different part of this chapter “The Search for Meaning: A Wise Perspective in Problems”. 

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  • Ecclesiastes 6

    Ecclesiastes 6

    Read Ecclesiastes 6

    6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

    3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

    7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
        yet their appetite is never satisfied.
    8 What advantage have the wise over fools?
    What do the poor gain
        by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
    9 Better what the eye sees
        than the roving of the appetite.
    This too is meaningless,
        a chasing after the wind.

    10 Whatever exists has already been named,
        and what humanity is has been known;
    no one can contend
        with someone who is stronger.
    11 The more the words,
        the less the meaning,
        and how does that profit anyone?

    12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

    Go Deeper

    We strive and we toil and we pursue, yet King Solomon once again reminds us that this is a striving after the wind. He clearly communicates that this pursuit of wealth, honor, and possessions is just another evil under the sun that will weigh heavily on us, while only a relationship with God can fulfill the desires of our heart.  Solomon provided this wisdom around 900 years before Jesus was born, yet the struggle has persisted.  We see it affecting the disciples when Jesus reminds them: What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Matthew 16:26). And now, over two thousand years later, here we are.  Still striving after the wind. 

    It is interesting to read and study this book at this particular time. In a world of COVID, increasing costs, and hardships around the world, things are feeling unstable and uneasy. Anxiety is on the rise and many of us are realizing in various ways that our “stuff” isn’t quite as valuable as we have thought it to be. Doesn’t it feel as if God is saying something? Look again at verse 2: We might have every possession we want in this world, but God is the One who will grant whether we even enjoy them! As the Creator of all things, perhaps God, as our loving Father, is using the current struggles of the world to remind us to return to what is important—the only thing that can truly fulfill our soul’s desire. 

    Our time here is fleeting and very little of what we think is important or worth our worried thoughts even matters in the end. When it comes down to it, we already have what we truly need. Let’s pray that we can shift our focus to the One who gave it all to us, trusting His plans and direction and submitting to His will. That may not be easy while we are here under the sun, and God knows that, too.  He is just asking us to focus on the promise of eternal glory with Him. 

    Matthew Henry once said, “The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. Let us return to God, trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ, and submit to his will. Then soon shall we glide through this vexatious world, and find ourselves in that happy place, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore.” Let us reflect on that truth today! 

    Questions

    1.     What do you strive after harder than anything else?
    2.     If your answer is something other than a deeper relationship with Jesus, spend time today doing something that stirs your soul for Him and make that a daily habit.
    3.     Pray today asking God to make your soul satisfied in Him alone.

    Did You Know?

    This chapter is the ninth and final time that Solomon uses the phrase “striving after the wind.” Solomon begins and ends the first six chapters of Ecclesiastes teaching us that the things we strive after on earth will never make us happy apart from a relationship with God.

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