If these billboards from Britain are coming to a bus near you, head for Ecclesiastes and preach your little heart out. 
I’d start with expounding the text on the side of the bus … then I’d go to the sympathetic approval of such a text in the early chapters of Ecclesiastes … before going to those supreme chapters at the end – 11 & 12 – where the bus-text is slam-dunked and snookered, cornered and trumped.
And then live your life like Ecclesiastes 11 and 12 is true. Behind the “you do not knows” of chapter 11 (which encourage us to live adventuresome, risky lives) lies the God to be feared and obeyed of chapter 12. And that is the way to enjoy life…
nice chatting
Paul
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
I want to spray an addition to their sign "Yeah Right!"
Thanks for encouraging, thoughtful & helpful blogging (yet again!) Mr W!
I've been reading & musing on Ecclesiastes in my Quiet Times of late – I'd like to use it with students. I've been reading along with Derek Kidner's BST commentary. Just wondering if there's another commentary or two that you would recommend?
My own work on Ecclesiastes is a little dated now – but I remember loving a 60pg contribution from Kathleen Farmer, Who Knows What is Good? (Eerdmans, 1991). I like Michael Eaton in the Tyndale series too.
My own view is that there is a positive message to preach and that it is NOT just a tract on the absurdity of life. I'd also consult Tremper Longman in the NICOT series.
Keep an eye out for Robert K. Johnston, Useless Beauty (Baker, 2004) where the relationship between Ecclesiastes and contemporary film.
Many, many years ago I preached through Ecclesiastes at a TSCF conference, opening it alongside an opening of the NIKE 'just do it' philosophy.
enuf 4 now
Some commentaries that may be worthwhile:
NICOT – Tremper Longman
NIV Application Commentary – Iain Provan
Daily Study Bible (DSB) – Robert Davidson