As Solomon continues to observe ‘life under the sun,’ he sees another form of vanity: loneliness.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes and shows us that as man rejects God’s design for human companionship, the culture becomes more and more isolated.
After all, envy, greed, and isolation may lead you to possess many things — but often possessing them alone.
What’s the point??
…Or as Solomon would astutely observe: “This too is vanity.”
Pastor Simao: “Solomon is giving us six things that he sees in life that are not beautiful… Six things that everyone agrees are not beautiful… Six things that ought to challenge everyone ‘living under the sun,’ as well as cast the eye of the believer upward towards God.”
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes in which we continue to address these six “non-beautiful things” — six objections Solomon raises to the sovereignty of God.
In our last sermon we looked at WICKEDNESS, found in places we ought not expect: places of justice, and even places of worship.
This time, Solomon objects to the OPPRESSION he sees all around… as well as the ENVY that shamefully and covertly drives our motivation behind our work — robbing us of the enjoyment it is intended to supply.
And it’s no wonder, with all of this… that life “under the sun” continues to look more bleak.
Avg Guy: Okay, riddle me this… If God is good and God is sovereign and rules over all things, then why do we find wickedness in surprising places? …such as places of law and worship? …Furthermore, as men, if we have to die like animals then what makes us any better??
SBC Host: Sounds like you’re ready for another sermon in Ecclesiastes.
Avg Guy:I thought you were going to say that.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes and shows us that these objections were brought up by Solomon and have been raised by many men over the years…
…But the ANSWERS to these objections have only been found in ONE man: the God-Man, Jesus Christ.
SBC Host: It’s one of the first questions that a person learns in a new language—
Avg Guy:Excuse me — guy with the microphone. What time is it?
SBC Host: You’re absolutely right!! That’s the first question!
Avg Guy:No, I’m serious.
SBC Host: Oh, it’s 9:58. Church starts in two minutes.
Avg Guy:Good. There’s still time. Where’s the bathroom?
SBC Host: Down the hall and to the right.
Avg Guy: [takes off down the hall, and calls back] How much does it cost?
SBC Host: [calling to him down the hall] The bathroom is free… and so is church!
Avg Guy:Thanks!
SBC Host: [speaking to podcast audience] …And THOSE are the OTHER questions.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes in which we talk about “time.” It’s what life is made of.
The ebb and flow of events chronicle our days, and yet to what point??
What are we to do with this time we’ve been given?
We frantically attempt to make more of it, quickly spend it, and then try to find it!
But it brings more questions than answers. God has ALL the answers, but leaves us with questions. So what do we do??
Avg Guy:Why is it that so few people find any lasting enjoyment out of life? …If everyone is searching for fulfillment and satisfaction, then why do so few find them? Where are they hiding?? Who holds the key or possesses the secret??? I need to know!
SBC Host: Those are some deep questions. …and you’re not the first to ask them. This sermon may help.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes in which we see how Solomon’s journey in asking these questions took him to the depths of despair but didn’t leave him there.
He found a path that showed him how fulfillment and satisfaction can still be found in this life.
… But the problem was not that Solomon was heading in the wrong direction, it was that he wasn’t even on the correct road!
What if you could make your most outlandish dreams come true? …a waterfront mansion, a garage full of exotic cars, unlimited travel to any destination where you could stay at the finest hotels.
What if your life could be another episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes and shows that Solomon examined all that money could buy. He pursued everything from the grandiose to the gutter, and he found it all lacking. He found it all vanity.
Perhaps you think you could have done better and avoided the pitfalls of Solomon’s failed experiment, but Solomon is not the only man to try this pursuit — and it wasn’t lack of smarts or lack of effort that left him empty.
… But rather —[Robin Leach: “Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams!”]— it was seeking satisfaction from things that cannot satisfy.
Avg Guy:Ecclesiastes is confusing. Isn’t wisdom a GOOD thing???… And shouldn’t we pursue it?
SBC Host: Yes, wisdom is a good thing, and it ought to be pursued; however, there is false wisdom that doesn’t make you wise but empty.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes and shows us that true wisdom —the only true wisdom— must come from God.
…And while that may seem daunting, it is not, for God promises to give wisdom to all who ask Him.
Some of the greatest thinkers have ended their pondering by taking their own lives. Why??
Perhaps it is because they have realized the futility of all human labor. After all, what is the point???
Is mankind any better off, or happier? Are there fewer wars, violence, famines, droughts, or plagues?
And apart from God, what does a person believe happens after death? If nothing, then what is the point of life?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao embarks upon our new study in Ecclesiastes — a book of the Bible that takes the reader down the horrifying spiral of life apart from God:
—life lived as if God wasn’t there;
—life lived as if there were no heaven, no eternity…
—and that everything that ever mattered (or will matter) is found “under the sun.”
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao reaches our LAST sermon for the book of Hebrews—
Avg Guy: —Imagine a discussion with God, it would always be God who got the final word, right?
SBC Host: Right. After all, who can argue with God?
Avg Guy:We would be like Job who exclaimed, “What can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice…
SBC Host:…and I will add nothing more.”
Avg Guy:But all our fret and worry over what God’s final word to us might be is needless.
SBC Host: For God’s final word to His people is always benediction and blessing for those who are in Jesus Christ.
Avg Guy:Are sacrifices that we see in the Bible still required?
SBC Host: What do you mean?
Avg Guy:Well, because sacrifices were such a part of Old Testament worship, are there any sacrifices or offerings pleasing to God in the New Covenant?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and addresses this very question.
Avg Guy:After all, even if the sacrifice of atonement in Christ is complete and perfect, there were other sacrifices that were part of the Old Testament economy.
SBC Host: That’s corr—
Avg Guy:Do any of these carry over??
SBC Host: Wel—
Avg Guy:And they are still required in the life of the Christian?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how as much as our desire to be on the “inside” is true for us, it was even more true for the Israelites. For to be on the “outside” usually referred to the curse of being outside the camp or outside the city.
It meant being away from God and His people… apart from His blessing.
And yet, the author of Hebrews gives us an entirely new way to understand what it is to be considered on the outside… for it is OUTSIDE the gate that Christ suffered and died: And in this traditional place of curse, Christ and all His benefits are found.
In the fifth century, the philosopher Heraclitus observed,
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
To be clear, he wasn’t rejoicing in new things but pessimistically concluding that all good things come to an end.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how as Christians we can have an entirely different outlook on life because we know the unchanging One.
While it is true that changes often happen for the worse, it is also true that the Lord Jesus never changes; and as He helped the saints of the past, He will also help us in the present, and even the future — for what is unknown to us is known to Him, and He will prepare our way.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how the Bible clearly lays out the duties and responsibilities of a pastor to his flock, along with the duties and responsibilities of the congregation to their pastor.
This morning Scandia Bible Church has the honor of ordaining Joshua Peglow to the office of pastor.
In light of this historic ordination for our church, today’s sermon serves as a charge: both pastorally and congregationaly… instructing all in the meeting of their duties before Christ.
Have you ever considered how much of your future is unknown?
“What security do I have?”
“What promises can I bank on?”
“Which of my plans is foolproof?”
The more you dwell upon what is unknown, the greater the unknown becomes. Eventually, you have to conclude that all of it is unknown.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that contemplating the unknown can provide fodder for great anxiety.
But the Bible gives us a promise that is greater than all of the unknown…. a promise so great that we can look upon those things that once caused us anxiety with confidence — even boasting:
Depending where you sit, it will either be the BEST NEWS Imaginable… or the worst news ever.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews in which we learn that Jesus’s return will “shake” the heavens and the earth.
And how you receive this news depends on whether you have been justified by His blood, adopted into God’s family, and thus are a citizen and heir of Christ’s kingdom.
To receive the King is to receive His kingdom.
To refuse the King is to provoke God’s wrath and learn the fullness of what it means that our God is a consuming fire!
The Bible presents a clear and superior contrast between Mount Sinai and, heavenly, Mount Zion… as well as between the “church in the wilderness” gathered under the mediator Moses and the “church of the firstborn” who are gathered under the mediatorial ministry of Jesus Christ.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and points us to this superiority, in that Jesus, who is the superior high priest, has brought the superior sacrifice into the superior sanctuary… and in His blood has brought us under a superior covenant.
God does not look at our holiness to determine if we are righteous enough for salvation. In fact, God does not even require holiness as a condition of our acceptance by Him.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that holiness is the evidence of a living faith — it’s the visible fruit of Christ’s work in our lives.
And though this fruit of holiness can be seen as works of righteousness we have accomplished, it is only according to His mercy and workmanship that we have even — and could have even — done them.
“By affliction, He teaches us many precious lessons, which, without it we should never learn. By affliction, He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, and makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning, we shall all say, ‘It is good for me that I was afflicted.’ We shall thank God for every storm.”
— JC Ryle
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how our passage this morning is one of the Scriptural foundations for Ryle’s outlook on affliction…
He understood what many of us miss when troubles come our way:
We see our troubles, and we sinfully draw the wrong conclusions.
That’s how Paul described all of his past accomplishments — his background, his accolades, even his religious fervor.
He counted it all rubbish.
Today on this Resurrection Sunday Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao opens the book of Philippians to show us how, when talking about himself, Paul now finds other things of surpassing value: namely, knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. But…
What does it mean to know Christ?
What does it mean to know the power of His resurrection?
SBC Host: When you are suffering in the midst of life’s battles, where do you find your hope?
Avg Guy:Jesus.
SBC Host: Exactly. But what about when He was suffering? Have you ever stopped to wonder what it was that Jesus considered?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that we ought give thought to this, as Jesus is not only the premier example of godly living… but also of godly suffering.
Sermon Archives
Given New Life
in SBC Classic Edition
We’re in the process of digging through the colossal SBC Sermon Archive Library to bring forth the rich and timeless Biblical Truths found within the hundreds and hundreds of sermon cassettes from yesteryear, in our Tape to Podcast Project.
Currently on the workbench:
The Jim Allen Lamentations Study (1998-1999) has joined our SBC Classic Edition.
The Jim Allen MARK Study (1999-2001) continues to upload as part of our SBC Classic Edition. Check our progress by Clicking Here.
Watch our Steeple Study grow! … Great for a listen-study through a book or series.
Our Find-A-Sermon resource page helps you find what you’re looking for.
With the increased release of sermons from our archives, SBC Classic Edition is now podcasting on its own dedicated feed, separate from our current Sunday sermons.
Sermon Notes
Posted by scandiabiblechurch 
Sermon Notes
