Categories: Outlines

Outlines – Book 21: Ecclesiastes (20170827)

Ecclesiastes Outlines

Disclaimer: These outlines are, to the best of my knowledge, original materials.  Where appropriate, acknowledgement is given for “inspiration”. Content is intended to be mostly devotional in nature, although doctrine may “slip in.” Long-term intent is to post at least one outline for every chapter of the Bible.

Keith Anthony, 27 August 2017.

Ecclesiastes 1 Outline

Introducing Futility (aka Life without God)

Introduction: Solomon begins his essay on life without God.

  1. Endless Circuits (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
  2. No Satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
  3. Years and years of Sameness (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
  4. Nothing Straight (Ecclesiastes 1:15)
  5. Vexation of Spirit (Ecclesiastes 1:17)
  6. Even Wisdom is Senseless (Ecclesiastes 1:17)
  7. Increased Sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Ecclesiastes 2 Outline

What’s the Point?

  1. Solomon Pursued Mirth (Ecclesiastes 2:1)
  2. Solomon Pursued Music (Ecclesiastes 2:8)
  3. Solomon Pursued Muchness (Ecclesiastes 2:9)
  4. But Found No Remembrance of Life’s Labours (Ecclesiastes 2:10)
  5. But Found Madness (Ecclesiastes 2:12)
  6. But Found Meaninglessness (Ecclesiastes 2:23)
  7. And Had a Message (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

Ecclesiastes 3 Outline

Poignant Realities

  1. Seasons Move On (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
  2. Meaningless Stones (Ecclesiastes 3:5)
  3. Speaking Moments (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
  4. Sin Everywhere (Ecclesiastes 3:16)
  5. Spirits of Men (Ecclesiastes 3:21)

Ecclesiastes 4 Outline

The Circle of Strife

  1. Honest Considerations (Ecclesiastes 4:1, 4, 15)
  2. No Comforter (Ecclesiastes 4:1)
  3. Much Consternation (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
  4. Helpful Companions (Ecclesiastes 4:10)
  5. Cords of Support (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
  6. Children no Better (Ecclesiastes 4:8, 13, 15)
  7. The Continuation (Ecclesiastes 4:16)

Ecclesiastes 5 Outline

Keeping thy Foot

  1. Have a Little Reverence (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
  2. Be Ready to be Instructed (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
  3. Show Some Restraint (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
  4. Remember who is Righteous (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
  5. Don’t be Rash (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
  6. Consider what God Regards (Ecclesiastes 5:8)
  7. Don’t love Riches (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Ecclesiastes 6 Outline

Emptiness

Introduction: Ecclesiastes 6 is a short summary on the futility of life, its emptiness and pointlessness, without a higher good

  1. Plenty with no Power (Ecclesiastes 6:1)
  2. A Partadox with no Explanation (Ecclesiastes 6:2)
  3. A Progeny with no Hope (Ecclesiastes 6:3)
  4. A Pattern with no Escape (Ecclesiastes 6:3)
  5. The Poor with no Relief (Ecclesiastes 6:3)
  6. Principles with no Point (Ecclesiastes 6:3)
  7. People with no Legacy (Ecclesiastes 6:12)

Ecclesiastes 7 Outline

Living with Perspective

  1. Learn how to be Sorrowful (Ecclesiastes 7:3-4)
  2. Don’t take Shortcuts (Ecclesiastes 7:5)
  3. Be Selective in who and what you listen to (Ecclesiastes 7:5-6)
  4. Success is how you End (Not How you Start) (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
  5. Substance (Health and Wealth) Help in Life (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
  6. If you Continually have Shipwrecks maybe you need some Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
  7. There is a Sensible Reaction to life’s experiences (Choose option C.) (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
    1. You can React with Bitterness
    2. You can be Stoic and enjoy nothing
    3. You can Enjoy the good things that God provides when he does and be thankful for the Painful (knowing it works good)

Ecclesiastes 8 Outline

Things Man is Subject to

  1. The Pleasure of Rulers (Ecclesiastes 8:3)
  2. The Power of Kings (Ecclesiastes 8:4)
  3. The Purpose of God (Ecclesiastes 8:6)
  4. Unperformed Justice (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
  5. Prolonged Evil (Ecclesiastes 8:12)
  6. Paradoxical Rewards (Ecclesiastes 8:14)
  7. Imperfect Knowledge (Ecclesiastes 8:7)

Ecclesiastes 9 Outline

And, the Winner Is …

  1. Not the Strong (Ecclesiastes 9:1)
  2. Not the Swift (Ecclesiastes 9:1)
  3. Not the Skillful (Ecclesiastes 9:1)
  4. Not the Sinners (Ecclesiastes 9:18)
  5. All fall into Snares (Ecclesiastes 9:12)
  6. No purpose under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 9:9)
  7. And, God is Sovereign (Ecclesiastes 9:1)

Ecclesiastes 10 Outline

More Vanity

  1. The Muck that Reeks (Ecclesiastes 10:1)
  2. Madness that Re-occurs (Ecclesiastes 10:13)
  3. Mouths that Reveal (Ecclesiastes 10:12, 13)
  4. Mischief that Results (Ecclesiastes 10:13)
  5. A Man that Rambles (Ecclesiastes 10:14)
  6. Mornings that Raise Hopes (Ecclesiastes 10:16)
  7. Money that Rules (Ecclesiastes 10:19)

Ecclesiastes 11 Outline

Rational Response to Vanity

  1. Respect the Things you Cannot Predict or Understand (Ecclesiastes 11:2)
  2. It Rains When and Where it Rains (so don’t fret over it) (Ecclesiastes 11:3)
  3. Don’t Regard the Clouds (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
  4. Reap When you Can (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
  5. Replenish the Population (Ecclesiastes 11:5)
  6. Rejoice While You Can (Ecclesiastes 11:8, 9)
  7. Remember the Dark Days (Ecclesiastes 11:8)
  8. Remove your Sorrow (It Doesn’t Matter) (Ecclesiastes 11:10)

Ecclesiastes 12 Outline

Growing Old, Biblically

  1. First of all, there are some things that Distress Me (Ecclesiastes 9:1)
  2. Second, the Bible gives a good Description of Growing old (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)
  3. But, third, the Bible Provides some Deliverance – (Isaiah 46:4)
  4. My Determination
    1. To Realize that Pain and Problems are part of the Christian experience. Why? Some of it is reaping the crop of my own sin. Some of it is just the corrupted human genome coming to fruition. Some of it is God proving opportunity for growth and refining (as with Paul).
    2. To take Reassurance of God’s Presence
    3. To have a higher Regard for things that are Precious things like the Bible, things like the work (from which I can learn) of others who have gone on before, things like my precious grandchildren, things like special moments, even other Christians!
    4. To Reaffirm Bible Principles
    5. To Reorder some Priorities
    6. To Recognize the Purpose – why I am here? what am I to do? What opportunities should I be pursuing? As I come close to retiring from my current career, what comes afterwards? I do not intend to sit on a rocking chair on my front porch while my remaining years grind out. I do not intend to lay in bed and expect everyone to minister to my every ache and pain.
    7. To Remember what is Important
Keith Anthony