BETTER
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / June 22, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Solomon was the master of Proverbs. He brings some of those Proverbs over to the book of Ecclesiastes.
I. POTENT PROVERBS
A. Funerals are better than
Read Ecc. 7:1
Every person has three names:
- What his parents call him
- What others call him
- What he calls himself
B. Mourning is better than
Read Ecc. 7:2-4
C. Rebuke is better than
Read Ecc. 7:5-6
Read Prov. 10:17, 12:1, 15:5, 17:10
D. The way is better than the way
Read Ecc. 7:7-9
E. The days are better than the days
Read Ecc. 7:10
II. CRITICAL CONCLUSIONS
A. The of wisdom
Read Ecc. 7:11-12
B. The of God
Read Ecc. 7:13-14
Empty Worship
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / June 15, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
I. PREPARATION
Read Ecc. 5:1
Ecclesiastes chapter 4: about the worship of wealth
Ecclesiastes chapter 5: about worship that reveals authenticity
“You can have all kinds of churches with all kinds of forms of worship. You can sing the doxology if you want to, but you don’t have to. Christianity was never given a form to follow.” – J. Vernon McGee
II. PRAYERS
Read Ecc. 5:2-3
“We need to stop talking so much and listen more to God’s Word.”
III. PROMISES
Read Ecc. 5:4-6
Have you ever made a promise to God but did not keep it? God has not forgotten your promise.
Read Psalm 66:13-15
Vows are serious.
IV. PURPOSE
Read Ecc. 5:7
We have a hard time understanding the concept of the fear of the Lord.
Read Matthew 10:28 “.. but rather fear Him …”
Read Revelation 5:9 “Thou are worthy”
Observations
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / June 8, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16
Ecclesiastes 4 is Solomon’s observation and meditation on three deep subjects in life
I. OBSERVING OPPRESSION
Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-3
II. OBSERVING OBSTACLES
Read Ecclesiastes 4:4-8
A. LUCRATIVE
B. LAZY
Read Ecclesiastes 4:5-7, Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 19:15
C. LONELY
Read Ecclesiastes 4:8
III. OBSERVING HOW TO OVERCOME
Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
A. TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE FOR PRODUCTIVITY (Ecc. 4:9)
B. TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE FOR PERSEVERANCE (Ecc. 4:10, Galations 6:1-2)
C. TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE FOR PRESERVATION (Ecc. 4:11)
D. TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE FOR PROTECTION (Ecc. 4:12)
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / June 1, 2025
DOING TIME
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
I. TIME
Read Ecc. 3:1-8
II. THOUGHTS
Read Ecc. 3:9-11
A. Thoughts about God’s Plan
B. Thoughts about God’s Purpose
“There is a God-shaped vacuum in our hearts that cannot be filled by any created thing – but only by the Creator Himself.” – Augustine
Results of Living without an Eternal Perspective
- Distraction
- Disappointment
- Defeat
C. Thoughts about God’s Program
Read Ecc. 3:12-15
III. TEACHING
A. Enjoyment
B. Gratitude
Read Ecc. 3:13
C. Fear of God
Read Ecc. 3:14-15
“Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset. Eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.” – Thomas Watson
IV. TRUTH
Read Ecc. 3:16-18
A. Judgment is coming
B. Death is certain
Read Ecc. 3:18-21, 1 Corinthians 13:12
C. Life continues
Read Ecc. 3:22
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / May 25, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
I. SOLOMON ASSESSED LIFE
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
A. WANTONNESS
Read Ecc. 2:1-3
References: Mark 7:21-22, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 17:22
B. WORK
Read Ecc. 2:4-7
You won’t find fulfillment in you – and what you do;
You will find fulfillment in God – and who He is.
C. WEALTH
Read Ecc. 2:7-11
Reference: Luke 12:15
II. SOLOMON ABHORRED LIFE
Read Ecc. 2:12-23
A. WORK WILL NEVER SATISFY
Read Ecc. 2:13-16
US News and World Report quote:
“Today – Work dominates Americans’ lives as never before as workers pile on hours at a rate not seen since the industrial revolution. Many workers are left feeling insecure – unfulfilled – and under appreciated… It’s no wonder today’s workers show a steady decline in job satisfaction… People are feeling crushed.”
B. WORK WILL NEVER STAY
Read Ecc. 2:17-23
Four reasons why Solomon was disgusted with wealth
- We can’t keep it (Ecc 2:18)
- We can’t protect it (Ecc 2:19-20)
- We can’t enjoy it as we should (Ecc 2:21-23)
- Now it is someone else’s
Reference: Colossians 3:2
III. SOLOMON ACCEPTED LIFE
A. He found delight is a gift from God (Ecc. 2:24-25)
References: Psalm 16:11
B. He found discernment is a gift from God (Ecc 2:26)
The Futility of Life
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / May 18, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
Only when you prepare to die can you really learn how to live
I. INTRODUCTION
Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
When you get where you’re going, where will you be?
Solomon wrote three books of the Bible
- The Song of Solomon – written when he was young and in love
- Proverbs – written in the middle years / when God was blessing that wisdom
- Ecclesiastes – when he was old, confused and empty
Read 1 Kings 11:3-4
Vanities of vanities = ‘meaningless’
Ecclesiastes = EKKLESIA = Assembly
The Preacher = KOHLETH = Debating
II. INVESTIGATION
Read Ecclesiastes 1:3-7
The point of Solomon’s thesis:
- Patterns in nature (Ecc 1:4)
- He observed the heavens (Ecc 1:5)
- The Wind (Ecc 1:6)
- The Rivers (Ecc 1:7)
III. INSIGNIFICANCE
Read Ecclesiastes 1:8-17
Three Observations from Chapter 1
- Time is marching on
- Nothing is new
- No one gets remembered
There are Two Possible Conclusions (Tim Keller)
- EITHER there is a God above with a standard, who will judge as at the end based on that standard
- OR life is totally meaningless
Solomon said: “Life is pointless“. God says: “Life is full of purpose.”
The Greatest Gift for Mothers
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / May 11, 2025 – Mother’s Day
I. A GOOD GIFT FROM CHILDREN
Read Ephesians 6:1-2, Exodus 20:12
Four ways that you can give the greatest Mother’s Day gift:
A. The way you live
Read Colossians 3:20, Ephesians 6:1-3
Obey your parents in the Lord
B. The way you labor
We must provide for our parents
Read 1 Timothy 5:8
C. The way you learn
Read Proverbs 1:8-9, Proverbs 6:20
When you listen to the advice of your parents, you are gathering gold
D. The way you love
The closest thing on this earth to God’s love is the love of parents for their children
II. A GODLY GIFT FROM HUSBANDS
Read 1 Peter 3:7
PROVISION = “Pro” (before) and “vision” (sight)
Leadership is having vision and taking the lead
A. Assurance
B. Alignment
Read 1 Peter 3:7
Dwell = being closely aligned
C. Awareness
The success of ‘dwelling’ with your wife will be in direct proportion to knowing your wife
D. Acceptance
Acceptance: unconditional love
E. Appreciation
Read 1 Peter 3:7
Appreciation – to add value
The Ultimate Test of Faith
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / May 4, 2025 / Commitment Sunday
Text: Genesis 22:1-18
The Christian life is the life of faith
Read Genesis 22:1-8
I. THE TEST OF ABRAHAM
“Test” – to test completely through a demonstration of stress
Read Gen 22:2
- “Take”
- “Go”
- “Sacrifice”
Total commitment will always be costly
(Read 2 Sam 24:24 – I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing…”)
II. THE TRUST OF ABRAHAM
Read Gen 22:3-4
Henry Barnhouse: “90% of knowing the will of God consists of being willing to do the will of God.”
Read Gen 22:5
In the midst of Abraham’s confusion and pain, he worshipped God
Read Gen 22:10
Spurgeon: “That knife was cutting into Abraham’s heart. Unbelief would have left the knife at home, but genuine faith takes it with you.”
II. THE TRUTH OF ABRAHAM
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will provide
Read Gen 22:11-14
Ken Hemphill: “Too many of us are missing the joy of God’s blessings fully released in our lives because we are tenaciously clinging to that which seems most precious. We argue with God that we can’t possibly put our family or career on the altar – because it is the only we thing we have of value. The problem is that we have taken possession of what God gave to us in stewardship…”
A.W. Tozer: “Father I want to know you but my coward heart fears to give its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding and I do not try to hide from you the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long, and which have become a very part of my living self, so that you may enter and dwell there without a rival. In Jesus’ name Amen”
IV. THE TRIUMPH OF ABRAHAM
Read Gen 22:15-18
Because Jesus provided the real lamb upon Calvary, we can trust Him to provide everything needed in the Christian life
Read Romans 8:32
Read Philippians 4:6-7
How Generosity Protects Us
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / April 27, 2025
Series: The Protection of Stewardship
Read Matthew 13:44
The lesson: life in Christ’s kingdom is characterized by radical, extravagant generosity
I. THE PRODUCTION OF GENEROSITY
Read Proverbs 11:25
II. THE PROTECTION OF GENEROSITY
Read Matthew 6:19-24
First, there is a negative command: “Don’t store up yourselves treasures on earth”
Second, there is a positive command: “Start storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven”
3 Clear Ways to Store Up Treasure for Heaven:
- When we financially give to the work of the gospel
- Every act of kindness with out time and our energy
- When we help the poor – we are lending to the Lord
Read Matthew 6:24
III. THE PRINCIPLES OF GENEROSITY
A. Know God’s purpose for you
3 clear purposes that come from scripture:
- The Great Commission
- God is concerned that the body of Christ be built up
- God is passionate about desperate, hurting people who are poor and in need of hearing the Gospel
Read Proverbs 21:13
B. Examine your giving
3 Questions to Ask Yourself:
- Do I give off the top of my income?
- Am I keeping a careful accounting of the owner’s funds?
- Am I becoming best friends with the owner?
Light in the Darkness
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / April 20, 2025 – EASTER SUNDAY
Text: Job 19:25-27
Life fell apart for Job. He lost it all. How does a person survive that?
Read Job 19:25-27
I. REASSURANCE
“For I know” (vs.25)
Acts 1:13 –
“To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God”
Several areas of proof
- The empty tomb
- Peter
- Disciples
- 500 brethren at once saw Jesus (1 Corinthians 15)
- James
- Thomas
Job could face his darkness in life because of his reassurance
II. REDEEMER
Every life is empty and hopeless without Jesus
Read Romans 3:23 “… the wages of sin is death…”
Read Ezekiel 18:20 “… the soul that sins will surely die … “
The good news? Good Friday preceded Easter.
III. RESURRECTION
Read Job 19:25 – “For I know that my redeemer liveth”
The central event of God’s redemptive work is … the resurrection
Read 1 Corinthians 15:13
Job could go on in life because of his Redeemer’s resurrection
IV. RESCUE
Jesus – He is our personal resurrected Redeemer