By: Pastor Dave Hentschel
Have you ever sat and wondered why Solomon focuses on death so much in the book of Ecclesiastes? The answer is because thinking about dying means preparing how to live. In other words, there’s wisdom in knowing where you’re headed, then starting from the end and working your way backwards from there.
There’s a quote from the movie Braveheart where he says, “Every man dies. Not every man truly lives.” And so, there is a scene in the movie, where William Wallace is leading the Scottish army to fight for their freedom. But they are outnumbered and they are afraid of dying. And at this point, Braveheart says, “Will you fight.” And one soldier says, “No, we will run and we will live.” But then Braveheart says “Ay, Run, and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives [With growing excitement] but they'll never take our freedom!”
This is exactly what Solomon is saying, to fast forward in your minds to the day when you’ll be dying in your bed. And in light of that day, what would you wish you would have done today?
Author David Gibson writes this, “Left to our own devices, we tend to live life forward. We plan and hope and dream of where we will be. Ecclesiastes teaches us to live life backward. To take the one thing in the future that is certain – our death – and work backward from that point into all the details and decisions and heartaches of our lives, and think about them from the perspective of the end.”[1]
So that’s the challenge that Solomon presents to us. This is what Solomon is saying in light of the certainty of death, “Live life backwards.”
Bibliography
[1]Gibson, David. Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.
MBC's Bible Engagement Plan
MBC’s Bible Engagement Plan: Isaiah – From Ruin to Redemption
As a church community, our desire is to move from hearing God’s Word to living it out daily. This Bible Engagement Plan is designed to help us walk through Isaiah together in a weekly rhythm that deepens our understanding while also cultivating habits of daily reading and reflection.
- LISTEN TO THE SUNDAY SERMON
Each week begins with the Pastor’s Sunday sermon on a passage from Isaiah and includes
- Pastor’s Outline: A guide to follow along and take notes. We also suggest picking up the Isaiah scripture journal from the Welcome Center.
- Discussion Questions: Provided to encourage reflection and conversation in small groups, families, or personal study. If you are not already part of a small group, consider joining one this Fall: Click here to explore one of MBC’s small groups
- READ AND REFLECT ON THE WEEKLY PLAN
Monday through Saturday, follow the suggested reading plan outlined in the Saturday eNews Bulletin. As you read and reflect on your passage each day, ask these two guiding questions and jot down your thoughts in your Isaiah journal.
- What does this passage reveal about God—His character, His purposes, or His promises?
- How should I respond in light of what I’ve read—through trust, obedience, repentance, or worship?
- MEMORIZE THE WEEKLY KEY VERSE
Every week, one key verse from the sermon will be highlighted for memory. You are invited to use the free Bible Memory app and join the “Millington Baptist Church” Bible memorization group: Click here to join
- READ AND REFLECT ON THE PASTOR’S DEVOTIONAL BLOG
Each Wednesday, one of our pastors will share a devotional expanding on the sermon theme helping to connect Isaiah’s message to everyday life.
Why This Rhythm Matters
- Immersion: This plan helps you engage learning in multiple ways—hearing, reading, memorizing, and reflecting—so you gain a richer understanding of Isaiah’s message.
- Transformation in Community: Discussion questions and shared readings create space for us to learn together and nurture application of the biblical principles into our daily lives.
Questions or comments?
Contact Amy Huber, Director of Discipleship and Connections: ahuber@millingtonbaptist.org
Previous Entries
Pastor Bob Erbig and Pastor Dave Hentschel
