Different Seasons: Part 1 - 'A Season To Rest'

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.

Readings:

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1-8

A time for everything
3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
²         a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Mark chapter 6 verses 30 to 36, 45 to 46

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ …

… Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.




Prayer & Reflection

Heavenly Father, we ask for your help in this long and difficult season. Help us to trust you, and find rest in you.

Give us wisdom, O God, so that in our desire to be productive we look to you and your holy word as to what we should be striving for. And give us wisdom too Lord, to recognize that if want to be productive in the long term, we need times and seasons and rhythms of rest and restoration.

Help us to be honest and open in speaking with you and with our friends about our lives Lord, and by your Holy Spirit would you bring growth in our lives individually and as your church of Good News. We ask this for your kingdom and your glory, in Jesus’ name.

AMEN




Questions to Consider:

1. What kind of season are you in right now? What are the big things that have been going on for you? Is it a season to rest, to sow, to reap or to celebrate?
2. In light of your answer, what are you going to do about it? What plans can you, will you, put in place?
3. Who can you talk to, openly and honestly, about the season you are in – what you have been doing and thinking lately?
4. Is there someone you might help by listening to them and praying for them?
5. What are the things, and people, and places that restore your soul? When are you next doing those things, seeing those people, going to such places?
6. Where does prayer, the Bible, and church fit into your plans?
7. What are your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual and occasional times of rest, replenishment and restoration? (If you don’t have any, find quiet place by yourself, make a hot drink and grab a notebook and pen!)
8. Sometimes decisive action is needed – with prayer and good counsel from wise friends. Any significant changes needed for you?