Paul’s Labor for the Church: Colossians 1:24-29
Today’s passage is Colossians 1:24-29.  Please join us in study.

On the road to Damascus, Paul was confronted by Jesus in a blinding flash of light. When Paul asked Jesus who he was, Jesus replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Paul carried this throughout his life. He recognized that when Christians are persecuted, Jesus Himself suffers. Jesus said himself to the disciples that they should not wonder about why they are being persecuted since He was being persecuted (John 15:20). Paul wasn’t rejoicing that he was suffering, rather, he was rejoicing that he was participating in the work and ministry of Christ on behalf of others.

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This week, Pastor Jeff Baker wraps up our Christmas – As Seen On TV teaching series with a message entitled, The Finished Product.

See the Magic Box 3000 Informercial filmed during this series:

See the video shown during the service:

Christmas - As Seen On TV - The Finished Product [ 41:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

To steal a quote, what a long, strange trip our study through Ecclesiastes has been.  The Teacher has challenged us in many ways, in how we look at wisdom, knowledge and the world around us.  Hopefully it has been a profitable trip in that light has been shed in the darkness of your understanding and thinking about just what true wisdom and knowledge are and how they need to be applied to the everyday world in which you live.

Please log any comments, questions, suggestions or criticism at Flatland Teaching Center

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Ecclesiastes 12:9-14; The Conclusion of the Matter
Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.  Please join us in study.

It is hard to put where we are any better than the Teacher himself.  “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter.” (12:13a NIV)

When I was a kid, I would help my grandfather brand cattle on his farm in northeastern Colorado.  We would load the cattle into a chute that led them to where they needed to be for the branding operation.  When any of the cattle didn’t want to cooperate, Grandpa would apply a goad, a long stick with a ‘firmly embedded nail’ on the end, to get them to move along.  The point to his application of the goad was to cause the stubborn steer just enough discomfort to keep it and all the cattle behind it moving in the direction that Grandpa intended.

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Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8; Remember Your Creator While Young
Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8.  Please join us in study.

We have been in the home stretch and now we are driving to the wire.  These verses are the conclusions that the Teacher has drawn from his life.  There are several contrasting themes running through these verses; light and darkness, good times and bad, youth and old age and, of course, the meaninglessness of life.

As you study through these verses, keep an eye out for what the Teacher seems to be pointing to that has meaning and what does not.

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Ecclesiastes 11:1-6; Bread Upon the Waters
Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.  Please join us in study.

Today’s passage is dealing with what we have been given, the ‘portion’ or ‘lot’ assigned to us by God Himself.  The word translated as the ‘portion’ we are to ‘give’ (NIV) or ‘divide’ (NASB & NLT) to seven or eight in v.2, is a word the Teacher has used seven times previously and now uses for the last time.  From the context of those uses is it apparent that what the Teacher is dealing with has a specific economic aspect, the business and stuff of this world but also runs far beyond just economics to all that He has given to us and our lot in life itself.

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Ecclesiastes 10:16-20; Wisdom Better Than Folly (Part 2)
Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 10:16-20.  Please join us in study.

We are back to dealing with the king in these last verses of chapter 10.  While we, as Americans, may not understand all that it means to live under a king, we do live under authority and our brand of democracy may not necessarily breed the most respectful attitude towards that authority and the men and women who wield it.

Textually, v.16 is a bit of a wild card as can be seen from the various translations (NASB, NLT). The upshot appears to be that when the king is unable to properly wield his authority, for whatever reason, those under him begin to devour what is rightfully his.

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