Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 3:12-14:

1. How would you describe the text Solomon says he will now conduct in 2:1?  What is your definition of pleasure?  How would your definition be different if you were not a Jesus-follower?

2. What are the kinds of pleasures Solomon engaged in as he wrote about them in 2:2-9?  What does he say about each one? What kinds of things would his pleasures be most like in our own day and society?

3. It seems that for pleasure to be consistently fulfilling, the intensity of the pleasure must continually increase?  Do you see examples of that now?  What dangers do you perceive in that reality?

4. If Solomon had been your son or your friend and you read his words in v.10, what would you have told him?

5. Solomon’s evaluation of his “test” (see again v.1), is found in 2:11.  Put his report into your own words.  Do you think his words are relevant to 2016 Southern CA? 

6. The struggle for God’s people when we talk about pleasure is that on one side, living for pleasure can consume and destroy us while, on the other, pleasure is a gift from God.  What does Solomon say about this in 3:12-14?  He seems to think that the most important point about pleasure is the last phrase in v.14.  What is his point?

7. What do you hope to apply to your life from these passages?