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I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. (Ecclesiastes 2:18–20)

After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. (Ecclesiastes 2:3)

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” (Ecclesiastes 2:1–2)

I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:13–14)

These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:1–2)

There once lived a man who had the time, money, and energy to take a prolonged, searching journey. Not just a mind trip. Not across the imaginary back roads of his memory, but into life itself. Because no one was able to restrain him, he held nothing back. Thankfully, he kept an accurate journal of his journey, available for all to read.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre. You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. (Psalm 92:1–4)

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker. (Psalm 95:6)

How am I to enter into the experience of worship? How am I to let it shine? I think I have found something of the answer, thanks to God’s Book and God’s family.

Tucked away in the hymnbook of our Bible, the Psalms, is a grand statement of invitation. I’d like us to think about that ancient hymn, Psalm 95, for just a few moments—to relive in our minds the truth that has been preserved for centuries.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Some crucial questions regarding loving encouragement are worth answering.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25)

It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives....But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. (Philippians 1:15, 18)

Why is the church significant in the community? For at least two reasons. First of all, because churches provide the availability of variety. And second, because churches offer a singularity of message.