Title: Seasons of Transition

Icebreaker: What is your favorite season of the year?

This Sunday our Bishop returned to deliver an on-time message for the season we're entering. We all know that we're nearing the end of 2024 and experiencing this transition into fall and winter. We know that different seasons of the year come with different demands and activities like the holidays. We also know that what we experience in the natural world mirrors what we experience in the spiritual realm, so just like seasons are changing according to our calendar, spiritual seasons are shifting and changing too. In the natural we know that summer doesn't last forever, no matter how much we may want it to. We also know that the busy and potentially stressful holiday season doesn't last forever either. In the same sense, we can trust that good seasons and bad ones are all temporary. Our challenge, both naturally and spiritually, is stewarding each season well and responding appropriately when seasons inevitably change.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I. The Stress of Changing Seasons (Genesis 8:22, Hebrews 11:8)

a. God moves according to certain patterns and principles that he has set forth. God has established patterns of seasons and routine change, for example, and if we are diligent in seeking him in each new season he is happy to be found.

b. Knowing that life and its seasons are ever-evolving, it is important for us to remember that the only constant we can rely on is God himself, he is unwavering and unchanging. This is especially encouraging to know when we go through seasons that seem dry or stagnant, and the same truth keeps us humble when we go through seasons of great progress and achievement. It is God who is with us and at work in us no matter the season.

c. What we need is faith to endure the difficult transition periods between seasons. It can be scary and even frustrating when things that went well in one season no longer seem to work, or when life starts taking unexpected turns.

d. Seasonal transitions often feel like something too big or that we're ill-equipped for is being added to our plate. It may also look like people and/or opportunities leaving our lives. The stress of changing seasons can cause us to falter in our faith and even affect our physical health if we don't know how to manage it. We often seek relief and pray for the stress to be lifted, but stress is a part of life that we can't avoid. Instead, our prayer must be for strength to endure and wisdom to adapt to our changing seasons.

Discussion:

How do you handle change? Are you someone that needs to be in control and prepared for everything, or a bit more go with the flow?

II. Adapting to New Seasons (Isaiah 43:18)

a. When entering a new season the first thing we must do is let go of the old season. We can't walk into a new room of a house if we don't leave the room we're in, and we can't walk into a new season still holding on to the past. Letting go of the old season may involve a physical move, but more often it involves letting go of emotional baggage like pain from the past or too much nostalgia. Letting go also means relinquishing control, God doesn't ask us to know the end from the beginning, he handles that.

b. A new season requires a new attitude and new attire. That means shifting to a higher perspective, seeing things through the lens of faith and approaching problems with a solution-oriented outlook instead of just complaining. New attire may not be literal, but it means putting off old habits. This change requires discernment to understand what habits and skills are needed to navigate this new season.

c. A new season also means access to a new supply (Joshua 5:12). We can't continue to depend on or look for help or provision in the same old places. There are seasons that we may just get by with exactly what we need and no extra - whether that's finances, faith, time, energy, etc. - and then there are seasons where we experience abundance and increase.

d. Most importantly, no matter what season we're facing, our responsibility is to be able to pray and pivot. Knowing that God is the same and he is our source in every season, and remembering that he is our first priority no matter what other demands are placed on us.

REMIND:

H.O.P.E. Fest: H.O.P.E. Fest is back! We're helping the people of our community eat. This is going to be a great time of giving back and enjoying fun community activities. Join the fun THIS Saturday, November 23rd, at 12pm. We hope to see you there!

GriefShare: Grief is one of life’s most difficult journeys, but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you, or someone you know, has lost a loved one you can begin your journey from mourning to joy through GriefShare at City Church. Meetings are held on Saturdays at 9:00 AM in the District Pastors’ Office. For more information please visit citychurchnola.life/GriefShare.

Wednesday Morning Prayer: You can participate in corporate prayer every Wednesday morning at 7 AM on Facebook. Join us each week as we continue to pray for our church, our city, and our nation.

City Life TV: You can watch our Bishop deliver thoughtful messages throughout the week. Tune in to WHNO, channel 20, Saturdays at 10:00 PM.

REPORT:

Please continue to report your in-person and virtual group meetings!

By using the same email you would normally receive, you may update your group information and report your weekly meetings.

If you need help with reporting, please contact your district pastor.

Have an amazing and spirit-filled group!