Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [2] “Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.” This is written to God’s chosen people, whose king is descended from David. God promised David that he would establish the throne of his descendant’s kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:12-14). Jesus is the High King, the Son of David, who used his authority to lay down his life for the good of his people, and then to take it up again to bless them. He ascended to God’s right hand and is seated on God’s own throne. Jesus perfectly exercised God’s own authority, and now “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to him (Matt. 28:18). He is the highest human authority, the King of kings. It is because of his special relationship to God that you are called to submit to him and do whatever he says. How do you feel about the fact that Jesus is your King, that he claims ultimate authority over your life? Do you live with the daily awareness that you are one of Jesus’ subjects? Do you resent his authority, or do you welcome it? Can you consider Jesus’ kingship as Good News, or only as a threat to your autonomy? Are you okay with him threatening your autonomy? Why or why not?

• [3-4] Are you interested in keeping Jesus’ commandments? Can you think of some of his specific commands that are beautiful to you? Can you think of some of his commands that are difficult for you? Have you experienced times when you’ve chafed under his authority and wanted to escape his presence? Can you think of times when you have outright resisted his commands? Are you continuing in any specific, willful rebellion against him in any areas of your life right now? Do you have someone in your church that you could talk to about things like this?

• Read Exodus 20:12; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Hebrews 13:17-18; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 5:5. Being made right with God also means having our relationship to human authorities restored. We are called, for the Lord’s sake, to honor, submit to, and pray for those in authority over us, whether the human institution is the family, the state, or the church. Through faith in Christ, we can be inclined toward respectful submission rather than resentful rebellion. Do you bristle under authority? Why or why not? Are there specific areas where you resist or complain about the authority of those over you? Do you pray for those in authority over you? How do you pray for them? Do you think, if you brought your relationship to human authorities into your relationship with Jesus through prayer, that you could have a renewed attitude toward human authorities?