Rev. Jacob Heine of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 7:14-29. Consider God. The words are very simple, yet, we consider ourselves more than Him. Solomon reflects back on his “vain” life seeing his own faults, lamenting his past while realizing that everyone has their own sins and we all come to the cross deserving death. This is why He tells us to consider His grace and rest in it. “Lord God, we are by nature sinful and unclean, by Your Spirit give us Christ’s forgiveness and lead us to righteous living. In Him, Amen”

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Ecclesiastes 7:14-29. All is vanity: Consider God.

Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 7:1-13. Solomon was a realist. He didn’t try to make it sound like everything was perfect, but proclaims our need to see the real brokenness of the world (mourning, sorrow, and death) in order to fully understand the need of the cross and a new heart. Laughter and flattery might help for a short time, but he reminds us that it is the LORD and His Word that sustains us and gives us hope. “Lord God, fill us with the wisdom from Solomon so that we consider Your works. By Your Holy Spirit, help us to filter this life by the lens of Christ’s death so that we live and speak Your Words trusting in You. In Christ, Amen”

Ecclesiastes 7:1-13. All is vanity: “Lord take my foolishness and make me wise.”

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 6. Ecclesiastes shows us the dead end of trying to find hope in the light of nature. Yet, in the light of God’s grace, we always have hope because it is all a gift from Him in Christ. Solomon challenges us today, “Are you enjoying what you have?” God is the ultimate philanthropist because He wants His people to find satisfaction in this life. We pray to Him for the gift of joy with our blessings, taking from us jealousy and all the strivings after the wind to keep us grounded in You. “O Holy Spirit, we struggle to find satisfaction. Give us the gift of joy & faith in Christ’s salvation so that we are able to faithfully enjoy the rest of Your creation until You call us home. In Christ, Amen”

Ecclesiastes 6. All is vanity: I can’t get no satisfaction.

Rev. Christopher Maronde, pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bingen, IN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 5. God calls us to humility, faith, and contentment. Contentment so that we do not feel the need to speak words we are not called to speak. Contentment to not think that possessions will bring us joy. Contentment to enjoy the gifts that He gives (home, spouse, family, church, possessions, and forgiveness in Christ). Eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all that He has provided---this is the gift of God. “Lord God, grant us humility, fill us with faith, and provide contentment in Christ. Thank You for providing all that we need on the cross and bring us back to You for the peace that surpasses all understanding. In Christ, Amen”

Ecclesiastes 5. All is vanity: Enjoying the fruits of His creation.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minot, ND joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 4. Ecclesiastes shows us the real world. Solomon doesn’t hold back in his angst toward the oppression done under the sun. These realities point us to the oppressed Christ who was tempted like us, but did not sin and took these realities on His shoulders. The LORD gives us the gift of the community of believers for us to be filled by His gifts, not as a perfect place, but to muddle forward by His grace. “Lord God, as we travel on this trail of tears, provide us Your grace by Your Word to keep us centered in You. Amen”

Ecclesiastes 4. All is vanity: Life, trust, and the body of Christ.

Rev. Jason Bredeson, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 3:9-22. Solomon transitions from proclaiming the reality of the world to the joy of God’s people serving in this world. He encourages us to live with joy while we serve in our vocation as Christ is risen from the dead (I Corinthians 15:58). We can look at the world and use the tagline, “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” More faithfully we can say, “In Christ, eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow is in His hands.” “Lord God, give us joy in Christ that we may eat, drink, and be merry for You are a child of God and He has all authority. Amen”

Ecclesiastes 3:9-22. All is vanity: Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow...is the Lord’s!

Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Executive Assistant for Mission and Mercy for the South Wisconsin District in Milwaukee, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Solomon calls us not to fatalism but to faith. He describes the truth of life---everything has a season. Birth & death; planting and plucking up; weeping and laughing; mourning and dancing; seeking and losing; war and peace. Take heart, saints of our Lord, God has not forgotten you. “Lord God, sustains us in the season, as You have called us to be here now in Your grace, fill us with Your strength and love to remember that everything is in Your hands. In Christ, Amen”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. All is vanity: In the fullness of time there is a season

Rev. Kevin Yoakum, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Riverview, Florida joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 2. In this chapter it is quite telling that the word “I” is used 31x. Solomon paints a picture of life with the LORD. He presents his life like a “pleasure research project.” He enjoyed wine, built homes, planted vineyards, possessed a huge farm, acquired more silver and gold than anyone, and he had the opportunity for pleasure without hindrance. To find meaning in these things led Solomon to say, “So I hated my life.” We are reminded that without the LORD we are “under the sun” but in Christ we are “above the sun on account of the Son.” “Lord God, keep us focused above the sun in the Son. When we hate life, fill us with Your love. When we see the brokenness of the world and ask what’s the point, once again show us our identity as ones loved by You and Your presence each day. In Christ, Amen”

Ecclesiastes 2. All is vanity: Solomon begins his pleasure research project.

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 1. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Solomon does a thorough investigation of his life and his conclusion? Everything is meaningless, let me say it again, meaningless. What is vanity? You name it...it’s vain. He points to wisdom, the sun, the wind, generations, and the sea and challenges us to keep our eyes focused on Christ. All of it can look like a circle of life which leads to a lack of meaning, but in Christ, we are above the sun and that our hearts are to be centered in Him. “O Holy Spirit, keep us seeing the world with Christ goggles. To see the meaning of the world to be grounded in His forgiveness and salvation and to not become overwhelmed by the vanity under the sun but knowing life above the sun in Him. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Ecclesiastes 1. All is vanity: there is no remembrance of former things.

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelemeier, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Las Alamos, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to introduce our new study of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom. Yet, as Christians wisdom is found in the fear of God in Christ. Wisdom is not a pursuit of information or thoughts, all of that is vanity. It is difficult to hear that wealth, the pursuit of wisdom, work, and intelligence is meaningless. Yet, when we understand that wisdom comes from Christ, we do not need to wonder if we have wisdom, but we live in freedom with His blessed words to live holy lives. “Lord God, grant us the wisdom of faith in Christ. We thank You that Christ has done everything for us and we ask that we would believe in this wisdom and live in wise freedom as His beloved children. Lord help us. Amen”

Ecclesiastes introduction: Vanity of vanities! All is vanity...without Christ.

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 140. Jesus’ prayer tells us to “deliver us from evil.”  David is clearly seeking the LORD to take care of the evil that surrounds him (evil, wicked, & violent men).  In the middle of his battles, David confesses that the LORD is the strength of my salvation.  It often can feel like people are plotting to go against us and the Christian faith, but we confess as David, “The LORD is our protector and our deliverer.”  “Heavenly Father, hear the voice of my pleas for mercy.  Deliver and protect us from evil and the plots of evil in our lives. Amen”

You know me and searched me

But deliver us from evil

Rev. Shawn Kumm, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cody, Wyoming joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 141. “Hurry, listen to me!”  David pleads with the LORD.  It is clear that David trusted in the LORD to not only hear him, but will answer.  He asks the LORD to protect him from breaking His commands by His words, actions, and thoughts---and God provides a way.  We should pray in the same way because we are tempted to fall into evil delicacies and by His grace, He will preserve us and pull our eyes back to Himself.  “LORD God, help me to pray.  Listen to me, for temptations surround me.  Bring my eyes, heart, and ears back to You and preserve me in Your grace.  Amen”

Let my prayer rise before you as incense

Rev. Adam Degroot, Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Ranch, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to pray and study Psalm 12. Have you ever felt alone in your faith?  Have you ever been on the evil end of lies, slander, and betrayal of other’s words?  This Psalm is for you!  In our prayers of lament during these painful times, our LORD promises to arise, protect, and purify His people. Our words are always on the edge of disaster, but His Word purifies. When He tells us that He will keep, guard, and save us---it’s true and happens.  “Lord God, save us!  Evil surrounds us by word and deed and we ask again for You to guard and protect us and He does.  Fill us with Your pure words to be purified and saved by You alone.  In Christ, Amen”

He will arise and purify you.

Thy Strong Word is a daily in-depth study of the books of the Bible with host Rev. AJ Espinosa and guest pastors from across the country. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and produced by the LCMS Office of National Mission.

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Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

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