2. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

3. Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
 2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!"        says the Teacher.        "Utterly meaningless!        Everything is meaningless."
 3 What does man gain from all his labor        at which he toils under the sun?

4. The Three Longings of Human Beings…
Transcendence
Significance
Community

5. The World Looks Everywhere for these three things…
Eastern Religions
New Age Spirituality
Astrology
Wealth/Career
Self-Enlightenment
Entertainment
Addictions
Cults
Magic

6. Reality: IN CHRIST ALONE… (You will find)
Transcendence: PEACE!
Significance: PURPOSE!
Community: PLACE!

7. Heart and Mind

8. God’s Law
Isaiah 51:7, “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults.”
Jeremiah 31:33, “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

9. Eternity
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…”

10. How the World will KNOW…
Authentic Love
Relational Risks
The True Gospel
“See it, Do it, Teach it.”

11. Time is Running Out 11,350 Babies Born, 6,663 People Die
6,110 Marriages and 3,110 Divorces
87 People will commit suicide
36 People with HIV will die
12,267 Children under age 13 try alcohol
5,587 Households Declare Bankruptcy
68,493 Seek Treatment for Depression
3,542 Women will have an abortion

12. The Kicker… “I couldn’t be part of a church that required you to
act like a Christ follower before you actually
became one.”

13. Bottom Line
Everything is meaningless…unless we trust and obey Jesus, the Christ (TRUE FAITH!)
Transcendence, Significance and Community are found ONLY in Jesus
God’s Law & Eternity are written on our hearts
The Time to follow Christ is NOW!
The Time to build bridges is NOW!