Are you chasing after meaning, only to feel like you’re stuck on a treadmill? In this message from Ecclesiastes 1:1–12, Michael Rowntree walks us through Solomon’s sobering reflection on the futility of life "under the sun." With poetic honesty and raw wisdom, we’re confronted with the hard truth: if life is only about what we can see and do here and now, it will ultimately feel meaningless. But this wake-up call isn’t meant to leave us in despair—it’s an invitation to look beyond the sun, to the One who brings eternal purpose to everything.
Have you ever chased after success, pleasure, or hard work—only to feel empty in the end? In this message on Ecclesiastes 1:13–2:26, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s search for meaning in wisdom, wealth, and toil, showing that life “under the sun” is vanity without God. Yet, he reminds us that true joy is found in receiving life, work, and every good gift as blessings from the hand of God.
Do you ever feel frustrated that life seems out of your control? In this message on Ecclesiastes 3:1–15, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s famous poem on times and seasons, reminding us that while we cannot master time, God makes everything beautiful in His time. Our frustrations are meant to drive us to trust His eternal plan, fear Him rightly, and receive each moment—even the hard ones—as a gift from His fatherly hand.
Why does injustice seem to win and evil so often go unpunished? In this message on Ecclesiastes 3:16–4:3, Michael Rowntree explores Solomon’s raw wrestling with oppression, suffering, and the apparent absence of justice “under the sun.” Discover how God’s ultimate judgment and eternal perspective bring hope, even when life feels unfair and overwhelming.
Why do we work so hard—and for what? In The Wise Way to Work, Michael Rowntree unpacks Ecclesiastes 4:4–16, exploring how envy, laziness, and isolation distort our view of work. Discover God’s design for a balanced, relational approach to labor—one that values contentment, partnership, and purpose over the empty chase for wealth or status.
Why do wealth and power so often lead to emptiness instead of peace? In this message on Ecclesiastes 5:8–20, Michael Rowntree examines Solomon’s wisdom on money, work, and worship. Discover why greed leads to restlessness, why joy is found not in grasping but in receiving, and how true contentment comes when we see every good thing as a gift from God’s hand.
Why do some people have everything--and still feel empty? In this message on Ecclesiastes 6:1-12, Michael Rowntree exposes the tragedy of blessing without joy. Solomon shows that apart from God, even wealth, wisdom, and long life leave the soul unsatisfied. Discover how true contentment comes not from having more but from knowing the Giver-and how humility and gratitude break the curse of restless striving "under the sun."
How can we find joy when life feels heavy? In Joy in the House of Mourning, Michael Rowntree unpacks Ecclesiastes 7:1–14, where Solomon turns conventional wisdom upside down—showing that sorrow, loss, and hardship can shape us more deeply than pleasure ever could. Discover how godly grief produces wisdom, humility, and lasting joy that only comes from trusting God in the middle of pain.
Why do we swing between striving for control and running from failure? In Overcoming Shame: The Perfectionist, the Prodigal, and the Receptive Child, Michael Rowntree explores Ecclesiastes 7:15–29 to reveal how both self-righteousness and self-indulgence are forms of pride. True freedom, Solomon teaches, comes not from mastering life but from fearing God—trusting Him when logic fails, humbling ourselves when pride rises, and receiving His grace as children instead of schemers.
Why does God let injustice go on so long? In this message on Ecclesiastes 8:1–15, Michael Rowntree explores the tension between wisdom and mystery—how we trust God when life doesn’t make sense. Solomon reminds us that even when evil seems to prosper, God’s justice is certain, His timing is perfect, and joy is still possible for those who fear Him and walk in humble faith.
Have you ever chased after success, pleasure, or hard work—only to feel empty in the end? In this powerful message on Ecclesiastes 8:16–9:10, Michael Rowntree tackles one of life's most uncomfortable truths: the uncertainty of God’s plan and the certainty of death. Solomon wrestled with the limits of human knowledge, admitting that no one "can find out the work that is done under the sun." The same final event awaits the righteous and the wicked, leading to the unsettling question: What's the point? Michael shows that this uncertainty is not a reason to despair, but rather the motivation for the book's "loudest imperative": "Go!" True joy is found in receiving life, work, and every good gift as blessings from the hand of God today. The shadow of death is not meant to paralyze but to prioritize. Learn why the certainty of Sheol compels us to seize life urgently, find joy in God's approved gifts, and do "whatever your hand finds to do... with your might."
Why is it that "under the sun," the race is not always to the swift, the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise? In this message on Ecclesiastes 9:11–18, Michael Rowntree explores the uncomfortable reality that life does not always reward merit. "Time and chance" disrupt our expectations of fairness, and wisdom often goes unnoticed. Michael unpacks the parable of the poor wise man who delivered a city yet was immediately forgotten, illustrating a hard truth: Wisdom is valuable, but it is also vulnerable. In a fallen world, wisdom builds, but "one sinner destroys much good." Yet, the call is to value wisdom not for the applause or success it brings, but for the objective good and beauty it brings into God’s world. Discover why "wisdom is better than weapons of war," even when it goes unrewarded.
Have you ever spent years building something—a reputation, a career, or a legacy—only to watch one small, foolish mistake spoil the whole "fragrance"? In this message on Ecclesiastes 10:1–20, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s observations of wisdom and folly in both the palace and the workplace, showing that wisdom is incredibly valuable yet remarkably vulnerable to the "dead flies" of sin and bad leadership. Yet, he reminds us that true stability is found in cultivating a heart that "inclines toward the right," training ourselves to lean into righteousness rather than the quick fix of folly. This invites us to navigate a disordered world with pragmatism, guarding our tongues in times of crisis and receiving every meal, every joy, and every day of work as a blessing from God’s hand.
Have you ever felt paralyzed by the "what-ifs" of life—waiting for the perfect conditions before you finally take a step of faith? In this message on Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s call to bold action in the face of uncertainty, showing that while we cannot control the future or predict disaster, we are still called to "cast our bread" and diversify our efforts. Yet, he reminds us that true security isn't found in a perfect plan, but in a sovereign God who governs the "wind and the clouds." This invites us to trade our paralysis for purposeful labor, trusting that God can bring success out of our risks even when we don't know which one will prosper.
Have you ever tried to ignore the reality of aging and death, hoping that if you just stay busy enough, the "good times" will never have to end? In this message on Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s "red pill" of wisdom for the next generation, showing that while youth and vigor are beautiful, they are also fleeting "vanity" that must be lived with the end in mind. He challenges us to look squarely at the "days of darkness" that are coming, refusing to live in the typical denial of our own mortality. Yet, he reminds us that the secret to a life well-lived is to "Remember your Creator" while you still have the strength to serve Him. This invites us to rejoice in the light of life and the energy of youth, but to do so under the sovereign eye of God—honoring our Maker before the silver cord is snapped and death "unmakes" the beauty of our earthly frames.
Have you ever wondered if anything you do actually matters in the long run, or if we are all just "a swarm of mosquitos" that live and die forgotten? In this message on Ecclesiastes 12:9–14, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s concluding summary of his investigation into vanity, showing that while life "under the sun" can feel like a cycle of futility, God’s wisdom provides a "zoom out" perspective that anchors us. He explains that wisdom is not a hidden cosmic secret but words of truth given by "one Shepherd" to "goad" us onto the right path and "nail" truth into our hearts. Yet, he reminds us that the "whole duty of man" is not found in an exhausting, never-ending chase for worldly knowledge, but in the simple, profound call to "fear God and keep His commandments". This invites us to live joyfully and intentionally, knowing that every deed—even the secret ones—is eternally significant because God remembers and will bring everything into judgment