Solomon is despairing over the oppression, isolation, and corruption he sees everywhere "under the sun." In this sermon Pastor David focuses on the redemption made possible through Christ as the healing hope for all that creates such despair.

David Tarkington 3/10/24 David Tarkington 3/10/24

Is This All There Is?

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 || David Tarkington (March 10, 2024)

Is this all there is? Where is the hope? These are the questions that come from the writer of Ecclesiastes and still resonate with people today. Even Christians sometimes ask these questions. Pastor David takes us through Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 as we seek together to find God's answers to these questions.

David Tarkington 3/3/24 David Tarkington 3/3/24

Knowing God & Knowing Ourselves

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 || Mike Godfrey (March 3, 2024)

Pastor Mike leads us through this section of Ecclesiastes. The value of knowing oneself and knowing God truly are evident in this passage referring to “eternity being written on our hearts.”

David Tarkington 2/25/24 David Tarkington 2/25/24

Turn. Turn. Turn.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 || David Tarkington (February 25, 2024)

This passage is most notable today as being the majority of the lyrics to the Pete Seeger song "Turn, Turn, Turn." Yet, this is not simply a Woodstock-era pop song. Pastor David looks at what is revealed in this passage and how it leads to hope in Christ.

David Tarkington 2/18/24 David Tarkington 2/18/24

From Despair to Delight

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 || David Tarkington (February 18, 2024)

How does God take someone who hates his life, hates his job, has moved from disgust to despair and lead them to life? Pastor David looks at Solomon's moment here in Ecclesiastes 2. It is hard. It is honest. And...it sounds like it was written in the 21st century rather than hundreds of years before Christ's birth.

David Tarkington 2/12/24 David Tarkington 2/12/24

The Great Equalizer

Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 || David Tarkington (February 11, 2024)

Even with Solomon, the presumed author of this book, declaring that wisdom is better than folly, he continues to struggle with seeing life as having value. If anyone has ever thought "I hate my life" this sermon is for you. There is good news under the Son. Take heart.

David Tarkington 2/4/24 David Tarkington 2/4/24

Holy Hedonism

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 || David Tarkington (February 4, 2024)

Solomon, the Preacher, admits that he tried everything he could in life to find meaning, but it all fell short. This is not unlike the strategy of many today. In this sermon Pastor David shares how there is hope in “holy hedonism” that finds pleasure and joy in Christ.

David Tarkington 1/28/24 David Tarkington 1/28/24

The Right Question

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 || David Tarkington (January 28, 2024)

What if you lived your entire life seeking the answer to the questions of life? What if you discover all the answers, but then find out you were asking the wrong questions?

Life is not futile. It is not vanity. Yet, at times it seems so. That's what the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes. In this sermon Pastor Tarkington looks at how the gospel of Jesus Christ answers the right questions and resonates throughout all of the Bible and life.

David Tarkington 1/24/24 David Tarkington 1/24/24

30 Years at First Baptist Church

David Tarkington 1/14/24 David Tarkington 1/14/24

Empty Playlist

Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 || David Tarkington (January 14, 2024)

If the writer of Ecclesiastes had a go-to playlist, it would be full of songs of despair. Many would be Top-10 hits. Why? Because the nature of humanity, in our depravity, leads to despair. The writer asks hard questions and wrestles with the challenges of what seems to be a life of vanity. Pastor David Tarkington preaches this message in our series on Ecclesiastes, revealing how the gospel shines through as the answer to all that life presents.