reflection and discussion questions: 

1. Review:  How are you doing at inserting a comma into your life?  (If you remember, this has to do with allowing a pause to reflect and consider before speaking or deciding on something.)

2. Take a moment in prayer, welcoming the Spirit's presence. Then read:  Ecclesiastes 10:5-15 looking for words or phrases that stand out or that make you wonder or question something.

3. Phil said he believed that prudence was the theme of the passage. Read Proverbs 8:5. What do you think is the value of learning prudence? 

4. Phil mentioned putting a crib together before thinking about whether there was enough space to move it to another room.  Can you think of an example where you acted or spoke without thinking things through and some "relational damage" resulted? 

5.  Scholar Michael Eaton said, "Our talk is the acid test of our wisdom."  Read Matthew 12:36-37 and Ephesians 4:29 out loud, and then discuss what prudence in speech looks like.  How do you think we can get better at this?

6.  Phil encouraged us to remember Jesus!  (See #2 in Practical Steps below for this as well.)  We can go to Him knowing that all our imprudent speech and actions are covered by His blood so that we can walk in newness of life.  Is there any imprudent speech you need to confess, repent of, and receive forgiveness for?  Take a moment now and provide space for confession, repentance, and forgiveness. 

7. Practical Steps

   1. ​Practice your "commas"!  Take a walk, stop and pray, listen this week.  Avoid hurry in your speech and social media presence.

   2. Practice community.  Walk through the Lent Reflections below with a group or close friend.​​

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week 1 Lent Reflection 

(by Jean Holt)

The first Sunday in Lent typically focuses on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-10).  This marks the beginning of the journey for Christ, and we see how Satan tempts Him after His 40 days in the desert.  Jesus is tempted in three ways: to turn stone into bread, to use power to control His fate, and to "acquire" the world if He would worship Satan.  These are also our own temptations–and the place they hit us the most is in those desert places in our own hearts–whether in the desert of our sin, our burdens, or our worldly desires.

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CONSIDER:  What does your desert look like?  What makes your heart hard or dry?  Is there sin you long to be free of?  Are you in a dry place spiritually?  If you happen to be in a Life Group, be courageous enough to share something of your story.  Bring it to the Lord in prayer together.  Reach out to someone and receive forgiveness and find refreshment for your soul!

helpful resources for ecclesiastes:

• Bible Project video on Ecclesiastes. 

• Gear Talk podcast on Ecclesiastes. (A Biblical Theology Podcast with Tom Kelby and Jason Derouchie)