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Break the ice. What movie do you think everyone should watch?Read the scripture passage below.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-1812 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.15 What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.16 I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
Discuss the text. We are continuing to build a foundation of wisdom. We are learning that human wisdom seeks explanation, while godly wisdom offers promises. Theologians describe Ecclesiastes as this disruptive wisdom voice. Why? Because it says things that sound irreligious, faithless and cynical. Because the author Solomon leans into the hard realities, paradoxes and enigmas of life. Part of becoming wise is allowing the disruptive voice of wisdom to disturb where we find meaning in our lives and to make us think deeply about these things.
Close in prayer. Invite the group to consider these questions for a few minutes in silence before you pray:Is wisdom reflected in your day-to-day behavior? Is your behavior modeled by righteousness, understanding and honesty? What is one way you can turn what you are learning about wisdom (and foolishness) into a prayer?"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).