Life Has Meaning: Themes from Ecclesiastes with R.C. Sproul

Is there any purpose to life? Why do we exist? The answers to these questions can profoundly shape our worldview and our understanding of God. In this message, R.C. Sproul explains the key differences between how skeptics and Christians view history. One approach prompts a descent into chaos, pessimism, and meaninglessness, and the other encourages a life of order, hope, and meaning.
This message is from Dr. Sproul’s 6-part teaching series Themes from Ecclesiastes. Learn more: www.ligonier.org/learn/series...

[@controlclerk]

One of my favorite books in the Bible. "All is vanity and a chasing after the wind" "to eat, drink, and find joy in one's labor is the gift of God."

[@richardc861]

You reckon this means, eat cooked meals with family and friends, have a coffee or wine with family and friends and do something as a job that you enjoy where possible?

[@controlclerk]

@@richardc861 I think it's more than, "find something you enjoy." Most people don't have the option of just doing what they already like to do for a job. However, I think God's grace can meet us in our circumstances, giving us the fruit of the Spirit, so that we can find joy in all that we do, even our labors.

[@blackpillfitness9136]

I like that

[@elijahtatum5943]

@@controlclerk well said… beautifully said

[@Broken_Berean]

I find it amazing that I can have such a deep affection for someone whom I have never met and who has been with the Lord now for years. RC Sproul was special, and it may sound strange, but his online presence helps fill the void I have in my heart from having no relationship with my father and currently having no undershepherd. His teachings have sustained me. I look forward to meeting him in glory and telling him what a buttress he and his ministry have been for my faith. I do not put him on a pedestal, I am just really grateful for his faithfulness to the calling God gave him. There are other teachers online I am also grateful for, but I have a soft spot for this man.

[@duranbailiff5337]

Please keep these videos coming- we never tire of messages from one of the best Christian minds of our time! God rest his soul. 🙏🏼

[@alicemulonzi7209]

He's still alive.

[@duranbailiff5337]

@@alicemulonzi7209 Brother R.C. Sproul passed into Glory on December 14, 2017. You could say that his soul lives on, but his earthly body has passed away.

[@vallorypoole8117]

I GOT TICKLED WHE HE SAID KIDS MADE FUN OF HIS BUCKED TEETH...

[@FallouFitness_NattyEdition]

Even though he's no longer with us, I still regard R.C. as my mentor in regards to the doctrine of scripture.

[@christopherwilson2762]

Couldn’t agree with you more👍

[@asleep0w0]

Same

[@asleep0w0]

I've learned so much because of rc sproul He explained in detail what God wanted me to hear

[@cmdesign01]

I do too…he was a special man

[@cmdesign01]

There aren’t many like him

[@vallorypoole8117]

SO SWEET SEEING RC YOUNG...

[@shawnagunn9054]

It was my first time hearing this teacher, but reading the comments, I am encouraged greatly.

[@honahwikeepa2115]

Invaluable information 🙏🏾👊🏾

[@antihero137]

This man has been one of the greatest treasures in all of Christendom. I look forward to seeing him in glory.

[@Goawaypleasenow]

The gift of life is life itself. There is great irony in God’s giving. I LOVE Ecclesiastes. It’s my favorite book and I listen to the audio of it very often when life gets a little too him drum or overbearing.

[@zemaria847]

Imagine being gone to the Lord for a few years but still being so relevant in many people's walk with the Lord. I listen to this guy every day!

[@adrianpasillas3832]

In effect, he hasn't left!

[@RaceofFaith.]

Same! Everyday nearly

[@LeeBartoletti]

How young(er) Sproul looks than his later days. Miss him.

[@rubykagaragwa5637]

Please post the full series 🙏🏾‼️‼️

[@kyonghwanhwang6980]

why have i not known the truth the sun will disappear. great gift to meet this pastor. thank god

[@belleramaisa6568]

As someone living in South Africa in 2024, I would like to confirn that there is still troublein South Africa 😅

[@The_ex-atheistwk6tv]

As an ex atheist, Ecclesiastes is one of the most influential books in the bible to me. An atheist has to adopt Nihilistic views. I couldn't take that anymore.

[@jonatas-leite]

Wonderful. Thank you. Please share the continuation

[@zeeshanalfred5400]

Thanks for this beautiful content

[@cc8722]

I thank God for R.C. Sproul’s no nonsense straight to the point teaching of the word of God. I discovered that circle and straight line concepts while searching for the meaning of life and dignity of man back in college. God led me to follow the beeline straight to Him ever since. May the word of God reach the end of world and shine on every crevice with His everlasting glory!

[@kevinclint7588]

THE MORE YOU KNOW HIM,……….. THE MORE YOU GONNA LOVE HIM,…………PRAISE HIS PERFECT PRECIOUS HOLY AND WONDERFULL RIGHTEOUS NAME,…………..AMEN

[@brookesmith5913]

I watch Sproul teachings everyday…haven’t gotten to see this yet! Thanks 🤓🤓

[@knatsomitab7376]

Me too... love ya brother!

[@mickglasgow12]

Is there a part 2 to this one?

[@isblessed5785]

I’m on Ligioner Connect and have decided to study Themes from Ecclesiastes I will admit it takes a lot of time, prayer, thinking, researching and patience when studying the Holy Scriptures! To me RC was the Columbo of the Holy Scriptures

[@AlexJonesWasRight-oi6hl]

Nothing makes sense to me more in this world than spiritual truth and R.C. Is the the best translator I’ve found so far and I don’t think I have to look much further

[@mattiemathis9549]

I have spent the last year listening/watching RC Spoul. The only reason I am listening to this, not because his teachings are unbiblical, but his voice seems to have never changed. His voice can enthuse me, or relax me. Whatever GOD deems is necessary at the time. I’ve listened to almost 10 seconds so far. I am so grateful that his message and so many others are stored in this vast space we call the internet. I can’t wait to hear whatever message he is sending beyond the grave. Thank you LORD that I live in a time that the most brilliant minds on earth have spent 2000yrs studying Your Word, and all of that knowledge is accessible at my fingertips…..

[@aliced7505]

His teachings are unbiblical?

[@amandaturner8928]

@@aliced7505 I think it was a typo because it didn't make sense. Or one of those spell checks that often do their own thing!

[@aliced7505]

@@amandaturner8928 Ah, yes, the ol' unreliable auto spell check. It really messed me up on something, so I finally found the setting to turn it off. You have a blessed day.

[@amandaturner8928]

@@aliced7505 It has done the same to me. I will have to find the setting to turn it off as well. Thank you for pointing out the obvious solution to me, I'm a bit slow sometimes! God bless you dear one.

[@aliced7505]

@@amandaturner8928 Hah. You've no idea how slow I can be - and am at times. I love the name Amanda. It's a good name to have. And God bless you double.

[@AleksAvramJeff]

Great I love watching these videos! God bless!

[@HEALINGWORLDSPSALMSMUSIC]

Love One Another, And Love Will Love You... Who's Love? GOD IS LOVE.

[@gilmanmurray6550]

Thank Mr. Sproul

[@kate60]

Beautiful man

[@servingjesussinnersavedbyg8456]

A younger mid to late 40s RC Sproul bringing us the truth past, the truth present, and the truth future

[@WardMensMin]

This is amazing

[@bono894]

This is a brilliant and beautiful message. I never thought about Ecclesiastes in that light.

[@michaelart4878]

💘

[@LB-sw2km]

Wow !!! Awesome 👏 Wow !

[@rubykagaragwa5637]

Please please please post all sessions!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@JesusAlleineRettet]

The News of the World are tired making. That’s why I stay abstinent from it especially TV News in America nonstop talking repeating pictures on and one is sickening to my mind and soul. The weather report repeats quicker than the clouds could move. Instead I fill and feed my mind with heavenly food never gets boring always find something really new or hidden on my mind revealed like Sprouls sermons.

[@MrPatdeeee]

"Is there any purpose to life? Why do we exist? The answers to these questions can profoundly shape our worldview and our understanding of God." Indeed yes! For IF you ask 1,000 pastors, "Why do we exist, etc"?; you would get a myriad of different answers! Sad but OH so true. So try this out; I believe our Creator God Almighty; created this world for ONE reason. And that is to separate His "sheep" and satan's "goats". AKA: Born Again's and Non Born Again's. And it would take 6,000 yrs; to come to fruition. When the sheep will go to heaven and the goats will go to hell. In any case Brethren, Please Pray OFTEN and Praise Jesus OFTEN; for He is the ONLY true "God Almighty"; there will ever have been. And may Jesus bless you and yours always. AMEN!

[@carmensiekierke3579]

Hey, Pat........you deleted your post to get rid of the comments to you and then reposted your comment. Your " Jesus" isn't the Jesus of Scripture.

[@josephwright3779]

Amen

[@justapilgrimgoinhome]

Woe to them that put their trust in the things that they see, those things that have always been under the sun, for they will fail you and now should count them a piles of dirt in light of the saving grace of our Father in heaven and our Lord Jesus Chirst. Establish your hearts on the returning of Jesus, sever yourselves from the delights of this world, for you do not want to be looking back as Lot's wife!

[@chikaokolo4929]

If origin is insignificant, and death is insignificant, then life is insignificant

[@stuartjohnson5686]

Ecclesiastes 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Augustine said time has a beginning (day 1 of Creation) and an ending. (when Christ returns and brings the judgment ending this sin cursed creation, the New Heavens and New Earth will be in eternity which means outside of time, so time ends.)

[@richardcece9870]

…hmm. I hadn’t seen this hair do before. thank You Adonai for R.C.Sproul…

[@ApproachingLifeBiblically]

Where is the chapter 2 video?

[@betulapendula7661]

kde je druhý díl? :)

[@carmenforsyth1313]

Amen!.🔩

[@577bluegrass]

" A tale told by an Idiot " love it so TRUE!

[@jannetteberends8730]

I’m very happy with the fact that my life doesn’t have a meaning. To me it seems very exhausting to have a life with.

[@Crazeyfor67]

Interesting comment Jannette.

[@elijah7939]

So is he equating Solomon’s view of life as nihilistic and different from the ancient Israelites point of view on history?

[@bernardmensa3209]

Please where can I get a continuation of this message

[@goodolearkygal5746]

At there website

[@bernardmensa3209]

Thank you

[@deborahjesic4804]

What year was this?

[@peterforbes3327]

He mentioned the turmoil in South Africa My take is this was filmed in 1989.

[@ready1fire1aim1]

The scientific way to explain metaphysics is basic math and basic geometry: [Exhibit A]: We have ten whole, rational numbers 0-9 and their geometric counterparts 0D-9D. 0 and it's geometric counterpart 0D are: 1) whole ✅ 2) rational ✅ 3) not-natural ✅ 4) necessary ✅ 1-9 and their geometric counterparts 1D-9D are: 1) whole ✅ 2) rational ✅ 3) natural ✅ 4) contingent ✅ Newton says since 0 and 0D are "not-natural" ✅ then they are also "not-necessary" 🚫. Newton also says since 1-9 and 1D-9D are "natural" ✅ then they are also "necessary" 🚫. This is called "conflating" (similar words but different definitions) and is repeated throughout Newton's Calculus/Physics/Geometry/Logic. Leibniz does not make these fundamental mistakes. Leibniz's "Monadology" 📚 is 0 and it's geometric counterpart 0D. The Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, Mathematicians, Plato (the Good on 0D-3D pyramid) and don't forget Jesus and John all speak of the Monad (number 0, geometry 0D, quantum SNF). 0D Monad (Quarks) 1D Line (Leptons) 2D Plane (Guage Bosons) 3D Volume (Higgs Boson) We should all be learning Leibniz's Calculus/Physics/Geometry/Logic. Fibonacci sequence starts with 0 for a reason. The Fibonacci triangle is 0, 1, 2 (Not 1, 2, 3). Newton's 1D-4D "natural ✅ = necessary 🚫" universe is a contradiction. Before we're here is necessary. This is contingent. Most likely "imaginary" in the same way 'time' is "illusory". There's no 3D anybody without their 0D Monad/Soul. No Higgs Boson without Quarks. Natural does not mean necessary. Similar, yet different. Not-natural just means no spatial extension; zero size; exact location only. Necessary. Newtonian nonsense will never provide a Theory of Everything. Leibniz's Law of Sufficient Reason should be required reading 📚.

[@michaelart4878]

The grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all 💘

[@christopherskipp1525]

Where is RC Sproul buried?

[@carmensiekierke3579]

On the grounds of St. Andrew's Chapel just outside the church.

[@HearGodsWord]

R.C. Sproul is buried on the grounds of Saint Andrew's Chapel located in Sanford, Seminole County, Florida, USA. Interestingly, they don't technically have a cemetery.

[@carmensiekierke3579]

@@HearGodsWord There is also a grave stone that is for his wife, Vestra. Yes, it is a cemetery. Remember back when every church had a cemetery. Dr. Sproul understood church history.

[@christopherskipp1525]

@@HearGodsWord I guess there was not any local law against it.

[@HearGodsWord]

@@christopherskipp1525 indeed, seems like it was done especially for him.

[@danielanthony8373]

Is that the same Herschel Walker running for the Senate right now ?

[@ridethelapras]

Yes.

[@zameendarabhinay1506]

5:23 Nietzche set forth 'his' philosophy of Nihilism? Nietzche carefully warned men against Nihilism.

[@trini8917]

He is well know to say"God is dead" Neitzche is viewed as the father of atheistic existentialism.

[@nathangoodwin2920]

Nietzsche predicted the death of God but he mourned it and did not wish for it

[@dancorson5822]

1986

[@savagestoic2587]

As much as I enjoy listening to MrSproul, I’ve come to a different conclusion. Where is the meaning for such extreme suffering and injustice? I never used to doubt the validity of the Bible.

[@dennisbrown3099]

You must be like the seed that fell on good ground. This world must give you trials and tribulations. Without bad and good we have no way to distinguish one another. God knew we’d eat of the tree for us to know good we must also know evil this is why we needed both to appreciate the one. Turn back to Jesus my brother/sister.

[@adrianpasillas3832]

The resurrection...hope this helps...

[@uiPublic]

I understand now why it just right as wiser being Godly first if be ever like in Christ's when parried Nicodemus didn't he know how it's with Spirit's if not out of it powerless unlike a wind or under Sun don't see in light of day alive yet still born else already dead fool unless dutifully relied on faith's, as loving a life of hope unto the last lest what's it profited lost one's soul. Took while lookup Eccles. 2 ahead?!

[@uiPublic]

Only a Superman wisdom of Jesus's could fulfill the grace of God's for all otherwise lost awaiting Judgements but a discerning few dare believing...

[@uiPublic]

Other-not-so wisely philosophizers missed out entirely God's as wider purview of earthly subsisting frame.

[@myanmarchristianfamilychan273]

one of Faithful slaves of Christ

[@singwithpowerinfo5815]

No, life has no objective meaning. Make of it what you wish, if you wish, but there is no god who set up a meaning or purpose for life.

[@craigkelly4278]

Really??

[@singwithpowerinfo5815]

@@craigkelly4278 Really.

[@craigkelly4278]

Then why are you here watching this? If God is not in your life and he hasn't given you purpose?

[@singwithpowerinfo5815]

@@craigkelly4278 I was a devoted Christian for over 40 years. I finally realized none of it was true. Christian’s go where they are not wanted all the time to do evangelicalism. I come here to give a different perspective, and hope to those who are questioning Christianity.

[@craigkelly4278]

@@singwithpowerinfo5815 I see but do you not realise the Irony of your statement saying Christians go where they are not wanted. To spread evangelicalism. You are doing the same thing except you are evangelical for Atheism. By all means believe what you wish but bring it up here on this Channel is not the place. Maybe The Atheist Experience Channel is better.