Autumn of Christian Life Session Highlights
Session 1 – What’s it all About? – Finding Meaning
* Biblical connection – Finding meaning from Jesus’ advice to his disciples (Luke 12:22-31) and in New Testament letters.
* Dialog & story – Finding meaning in later years from other Christians
* Key statement – “But autumn, that season when life’s building phase is over, often offers the increased flexibility needed for a better response to God’s call – if we are willing to listen.”
Session 2 – After the Chase – Am I Ready?
* Key questions – What will I do now that I’m free from the constraints of the race? How can the church help those in Autumn adapt to the changes in this stage of life?
* Modified debate about a true story – We are old yet able; should we move from our home to a retirement/independent living facility that is connected to assisted living and nursing home care facilities?
* Biblical connection – Producing fruit even in Autumn; God models preparation for Sabbath rest
Session 3 – Plentiful Harvest or Scarcity?
* Stories of struggles with being generous Christians
* Biblical connection – Jesus’ promises and his repeated admonitions about money and greed
* Readings from theologians and pastors – Abundance and scarcity; generosity and spiritual maturity
* Key question – How can we encourage one another to develop a plan for sharing God’s gifts?
Session 4 – Change and Loss
* Biblical connection – Boasting in our hope - and in our suffering (Romans 5:1-5) and not losing heart (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
* Personal reflection on the experiences of loss and change in each season of life
* An unsparingly honest story of the pain one woman feels as the result of numerous changes in the Autumn of her life.
* Key question – Where is God in all of this?
Session 5 – Why Suffering? Why Loss?
* Dialog – A “questioning Christian” asks several theologians and Christian authors a series of questions about suffering and loss.
* Biblical connection – Job, recognizing that his friends are no help at all in his suffering, cries out to God (Job 19). Yet following his painful cry, Job expresses hope!
* Key concept – Jesus rejected the power-full way and chose instead the way that led to his suffering and death, the way of the cross. Out of Jesus’ death came new life and out of our suffering comes new life.
* Action – Consider ways to respond to suffering and to those who are suffering
Session 6 – Wisdom – Sharing Across Generations
* Choral reading – The joy-filled and poignant sharing of wisdom between Autumn and Spring, between Autumn and Summer, and between Autumn and Winter emulates Greek theater.
* Biblical connection – Proverbs 2 says wisdom comes from the Lord; James 3 says “Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.”
* Key question – What wisdom will you share?
Session 1 – What’s it all About? – Finding Meaning
* Biblical connection – Finding meaning from Jesus’ advice to his disciples (Luke 12:22-31) and in New Testament letters.
* Dialog & story – Finding meaning in later years from other Christians
* Key statement – “But autumn, that season when life’s building phase is over, often offers the increased flexibility needed for a better response to God’s call – if we are willing to listen.”
Session 2 – After the Chase – Am I Ready?
* Key questions – What will I do now that I’m free from the constraints of the race? How can the church help those in Autumn adapt to the changes in this stage of life?
* Modified debate about a true story – We are old yet able; should we move from our home to a retirement/independent living facility that is connected to assisted living and nursing home care facilities?
* Biblical connection – Producing fruit even in Autumn; God models preparation for Sabbath rest
Session 3 – Plentiful Harvest or Scarcity?
* Stories of struggles with being generous Christians
* Biblical connection – Jesus’ promises and his repeated admonitions about money and greed
* Readings from theologians and pastors – Abundance and scarcity; generosity and spiritual maturity
* Key question – How can we encourage one another to develop a plan for sharing God’s gifts?
Session 4 – Change and Loss
* Biblical connection – Boasting in our hope - and in our suffering (Romans 5:1-5) and not losing heart (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
* Personal reflection on the experiences of loss and change in each season of life
* An unsparingly honest story of the pain one woman feels as the result of numerous changes in the Autumn of her life.
* Key question – Where is God in all of this?
Session 5 – Why Suffering? Why Loss?
* Dialog – A “questioning Christian” asks several theologians and Christian authors a series of questions about suffering and loss.
* Biblical connection – Job, recognizing that his friends are no help at all in his suffering, cries out to God (Job 19). Yet following his painful cry, Job expresses hope!
* Key concept – Jesus rejected the power-full way and chose instead the way that led to his suffering and death, the way of the cross. Out of Jesus’ death came new life and out of our suffering comes new life.
* Action – Consider ways to respond to suffering and to those who are suffering
Session 6 – Wisdom – Sharing Across Generations
* Choral reading – The joy-filled and poignant sharing of wisdom between Autumn and Spring, between Autumn and Summer, and between Autumn and Winter emulates Greek theater.
* Biblical connection – Proverbs 2 says wisdom comes from the Lord; James 3 says “Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.”
* Key question – What wisdom will you share?