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Have you ever wondered what the ultimate meaning of life is or how you continue to feel empty when you think you should be satisfied? 

In our achievement-obsessed world, it’s easy to get swept up into chasing after more but we find ourselves asking what are the things that truly bring joy that lasts? 

King Solomon was off to a good start, with many successes and achievements but found himself at the end of his life discovering the vapor it had all become. He writes his life story to give us a lesson that stands the test of time in the Book of Ecclesiastes. 

Join Pastor Ron Cathcart as we embark on a journey into Ecclesiastes inside the Bible to discover the timeless wisdom of Solomon’s reflections on all of life’s meaning and its powerful message to all of us!

IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE A MEANINGLESS LIFE?

We can spend our whole life chasing after things that all come to an end and we cannot take with us. Solomon gets to the end of his life, surveys everything he has achieved, and discovers it is meaningless. 

Ecclesiastes 1:14 - I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 

“Meaningless! Meaningless! Says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”  Ecclesiastes 1:2

See Ecclesiastes 1: 1-14

Wisdom is meaningless  - Eccelsiates 1:17-18, Ecclesiastes 2:14 
Pleasure is meaningless - Ecclesiastes 2:1
Work is meaningless - Ecclesiastes 2:4, 2:17-18
      4.   Wealth is meaningless- Ecclesiastes 2:8, 5:10
      5.   (Pursuit of!) Women are meaningless - Ecclesiastes 2:8


LIFE HAPPENS FAST 

Life moves pretty fast and if you don’t stop looking around once in a while, we might ask how we got here so quickly.

See Ecclesiastes 1:4 

THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN 

The story of human nature is the same from generation to generation. We need bigger, faster, better, shinier, newer.  Human behavior remains the same. 

See Ecclesiastes 1:9 

NO ONE WILL REMEMBER YOU

Don’t come to the end of your life with a memoir of meaningless.  Do everything with an eternal perspective and bless other people with it.  See Ecclesiastes 1:11 

What is the answer?   Do everything for the glory of God and with an eternal perspective.

See Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Matthew 6:20-21, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, 

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 
LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE for more content that will help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus! 
 Resources mentioned during the sermon:
●      For more studies on Solomon's life, see 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles 
●      Find the Eccelestates Reading Plan here: https://mailchi.mp/2riverschurch/3aao9vtsci
●      Get our app and sermon notes, resources, and more! https://onelink.to/2rivers     

Are you struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709 
 Include social media handles, website, and other ways to connect:
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#meaningoflife  #2RiversChurch #SolomonsWisdom #Ecclesiastes

Pastors Ron Cathcart and Nick Tallo answer your big questions during this powerful and compelling Round Table Discussion at 2Rivers. You ask the big questions; you get real answers with no judgment.

We wrap up our sermon series, “Asking for a Friend,” with questions such as…
How do you practically live out your faith?
How do you talk to a nonbeliever about Jesus or the Bible if they don’t believe in Jesus or the validity of the Bible?
What happens when you die who never heard about Jesus?
What does the Bible say about abortion?
What does the Bible say about homosexuality? 

Join us as we dig into the Bible to discover what it says on these topics and more! 

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 
LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE for more content that will help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus! 
 Resources mentioned during the sermon:
·    Go deeper with our Resource Guide: https://www.2riverschurch.com/resourceguide
·    Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709
·    Get our app and get sermon notes, resources and more! https://onelink.to/2rivers
 Include social media handles, website, other ways to connect:
👉 Explore our message series here: https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 
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 Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/

#askingforafriend #2RiversChurch #whatdoesthebiblesayabout

We can have a mistaken belief that God will pay attention to us if we are good enough or do good things. 

The good news is that we have the gift of God’s grace.  We cannot earn or work to achieve it but simply receive it.  God has provided a way of salvation. The Apostle Paul testifies in Acts telling this most important story of the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of one life:

“Now brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters a the same time, most of who are still living, though some have fallen asleep  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to the one abnormally born.”  1 Corinthians 15:1-8

(See Acts 20:24)

Join Pastor Ron Cathcart in this sermon as he unpacks the following 6 ways we can go from a spiritual death to an eternal spiritual life through the gift we simply receive because of what Jesus has done on our behalf and how this good news of placing your faith, hope and trust in Him is shared in a public declaration through baptism.  

The story of Jesus is the most important thing. (1 Corinthians 15:1-3)

Jesus died for our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:3, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus rose from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:14)

The good news of Jesus requires a response. (Acts 2:37-38, Romans 10:9-10)

Jesus is coming back. (1 Corinthians 15:51-55, John 14:1-3)

Stand firm. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
 
If you still have questions about Jesus, salvation, or baptism, we would love to help you find answers. Reach out to us and let’s have an open conversation about it (contact info is below).

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 

LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE for more content that will help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus! 

Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709

Get our app and get sermon notes, resources, and more!  https://www.2riverschurch.com/resources 

Other ways to connect:
👉 Explore our message series here:  https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 
 ===================================
 Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 
👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/


#2RiversChurch #Baptism #goodnews #grace

Should Christians be involved in politics? In short, yes! But the details of the answers must be looked at through a biblical lens. 

Join Pastor Ron Cathcart in this sermon as he unpacks the following 6 points regarding how Christians should be involved in politics. 

Keep Jesus as the lead story. 
Know that government was God’s idea. (Romans 13:1–5) 
Choose godliness and holiness. (Philippians 3:20)
Engage in conversations. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Be kind. (2 Timothy 2:24–25, Colossians 4:6)
Know God is in control. (Proverbs 21:1, Daniel 2:21, Isaiah 6:1)
 
2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 

LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE for more content that will help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus! 

Resources mentioned during the sermon: 
●      Get our Healthy Media Habits Guide: https://www.2riverschurch.com/mediaguide
●      Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709
●      Get our app and get sermon notes, resources, and more!  https://www.2riverschurch.com/resources

Include social media handles, website, other ways to connect:
👉 Explore our message series here: https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 
 ===================================
 Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 
👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/

#askingforafriend #2RiversChurch 

It’s a question most want to ask, “what happens when I die and where exactly am I going?” 

A destination is referred to as the place to which a person or thing travels or is sent. There will be a day we all step into a final resting place and in preparation of that moment, we will need to know the truth of where we are headed. 

The reality is there is life after death.  The truth is our destiny is one with God or one without God. 

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“TWO POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS”
The Bible makes a clear distinction between those who have eternal life and those who do not.
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. “1 John 5:12
How can you tell where you are going to go? In this informative and eye opening message from Pastor Ron Cathcart, we learn there is an answer to this question and though the distinction is clear, the how is really going to all depend. 
1. TWO TYPES OF DEATH 
Physical - A natural question for most, what happens after I leave this earth?  
See Hebrews 9:27 and Eccelsiastes 3:1-2
Spiritual - Everyone is going to live somewhere forever, physical death is not the end. 
See Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2: 1-5, John 3:3-7, John 3:16 and Matthew 10:28 
2. TWO TYPES OF JUDGMENT 
As a believer or non-believer, everyone will face judgment. 
See Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 and 1 Peter 5:4
3. TWO TYPES OF DESTINATIONS 
There is Heaven and there is Hell. God sent a savior, will you accept this gift?
See Matthew 13:49-50, Revelation 21:8, 2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 22:1-5, Revelation 21:22
4. TWO TYPES OF ROADS 
Broad is the road that is the most popular.  Narrow is the road not making any headlines.  Which place is better?
See Matthew 7:13-14
5. TWO TYPES OF ADVENTS 
If He showed us once, He will show us twice, Jesus came and will come again!  If you died today or Jesus came back, are you ready?
See Thessalonians 4, Ecclesiastes 7:2 and Ecclesiastes 7:4
2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 
Need prayer? Leave a prayer request here. Our team will pray for you: https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709

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#2RiversChurch #askingforafriend #hardconversations #heavenandhell #lifeafterdeath

Peter in the Bible was part of Jesus’ inner circle and one of the Bible’s most consequential figures. But Peter failed—big time. Here’s how Jesus helped him recover and will do the same for us.
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“GO TELL THE DISCIPLES AND PETER”
When Jesus rose from the dead, an angel appeared with a message to three of Jesus’ followers. He told them Jesus had risen from the dead, then said:
“But go, tell his disciples AND PETER, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you’ ” [emphasis added].
Why would the angel say, “And Peter?” Peter was one of the disciples, after all. But maybe Peter needed special attention because he had failed by denying Jesus three times just a few days earlier.
In this message from Pastor Nick Tallo, we learn from Peter’s story that failure is not fatal or life-defining but that Jesus can restore us when we humble ourselves and repent.
See Mark 16:6–7 and Luke 22:62.
1. GOD CALLED YOU IN SPITE OF YOUR FAILURES.
God knows everything, past and present. He knew Peter would fail, yet Jesus made him a disciple anyway. God knows our failures and has chosen to love and save us anyway. 
Max Lucado says it well: “You are never more saved or less saved than the moment you were first saved.”
See 1 John 3:20.
2. GOD LOVES YOU IN SPITE OF YOUR FAILURES.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he visited his disciples several times, showing them all (including Peter) that He still loved them. No matter who we are or how we’ve failed, NOTHING can separate us from God’s love!
See John 21: 1–14 and Romans 8:38–39.
3. GOD WANTS TO USE YOU IN SPITE OF YOUR FAILURES.
Peter had a chance to reconcile with Jesus, and at that moment, Jesus called Peter to a life of service, saying, “Feed my sheep.” We have the same opportunity to respond to God’s call to us, no matter how we’ve failed in the past.
See John 21:15–17, Acts 2:41–47, Luke 22:62, 1 Peter 4:8, Romans 5:8, Acts 2:41–47, and Revelation 3:20.

Need prayer? Leave a prayer request here. Our team will pray for you: https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709 

Don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button to stay updated with our content ⏩.

LIKE ✔️, SHARE 📢, and FOLLOW for more videos like this one to help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus!  

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 ===================================
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Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 
👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/

#2RiversChurch #peterinthebible #recoveryfromfailure #sermon #Failure #Failing #Fails