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."