Path

Success

PathCreated with Sketch.

Warning

Path

Error

FREE SHIPPING Every Day With Purchases Of $60 Or More Of Eligible Items. Online Orders Only.
Cokesbury

10 Gospel Promises for Later Life

  • By Jane Marie Thibault
$11.49
($13.99)
Product Description

“May you live to be 120!” This old Jewish birthday blessing leads to a question Jane Marie Thibault regularly asks attendees at her workshops and retreats: Would you accept the gift of 120 years with joy and gratefulness, or would your response depend on your circumstances?

As Thibault is now an older adult herself and has been working with older adults as a clinical gerontologist for nearly 30 years, she has been confronted by the challenge many older adults face in relating to the message of the Gospel in this later season of life.

The material for 10 Gospel Promises for Later Life emerged as Thibault began to explore questions spawned by this blessing and compiled a list of ten challenges aging presents and the fears that accompany these challenges: fear of being left alone at the end of life, fear of not being good enough to go to heaven, fear of being a burden to others, fear that there’s nothing to live for now that the best years are over, difficulty believing in an afterlife, regretting missed opportunities to use talents, fear that it’s too late to fix relationships, feeling unneeded, wishing life had been different, and fear of extended suffering.

            Thibault then took these fears to the Gospel in a spirit of prayer and meditation. As she read she asked whether the Gospel speaks to the fears of aging, whether there is any good news in the “Good News” for older adults, and whether aging as a Christian is different from aging in secular society. The message she found is that Jesus offers the promise of abundant life to the older adult. Some of the Gospel promises that emerged were:

·        We are the beloved children of God the good parent.

·        We have a mission and purpose that is lifelong.

·        As spiritual siblings, we are interdependent upon each other for mutual care and assistance.

·        Powerlessness is powerful.

·        All that is, is gift, and God will continue to provide for us. 

·        Forgiveness is offered to us, but it must be shared.

·        Suffering can have meaning for ourselves and others.

·        Renewal is necessary for life; it is never too late to grow in wisdom and grace.

·        Death is not the end of life.

·        We will never be left alone; Christ is with us always.

            In each chapter Thibault addresses a particular fear, giving an example of how it has affected the daily life of a person in a negative way. She then presents a response, a promise of the Gospel. After examining the promise and discussing how it provides a message of hope in later life, she provides questions for personal reflection and group discussion.

            10 Gospel Promises for Later Life is an excellent resource for older and middle-aged adults and for those who care for them. The structure is well-designed for small group or Sunday school class study.
free shipping iconEligible For Free Shipping
Usually ships in 4-5 business days. Ships from a Cokesbury Connect Partner.
  • Additional Details
  • Kit components
    The following items and their quantities are included in the kit product: 10 Gospel Promises for Later Life

    Quantity Included ItemFormatSKUIndividual Price
  • Additional Details
    Product Specs
    • SKU: 9780835898010
    • Manufacturer: Upper Room
    • ISBN 13: 9780835898010
    • ISBN 10: 0835898016
    • Strategic Partners: Methodist
    • Language of Text: English
    • Publication Date: 01/01/2004
    • Format: Paperback
    • Author: Jane Marie Thibault
    • Page Count: 144
    • Width: 6.24 inches
    • Height: 0.35 inches
    • Length: 9.20 inches
    • Weight: 0.03 pounds

     
    Shipping & Returns
    This item is available for return. At Cokesbury, we offer various expedited shipping methods for an additional charge during checkout. However, products with long lead times and those shipped from a Cokesbury Connect Partner are not eligible for expedited shipping. If you select expedited shipping at checkout and your order includes items that cannot be expedited, you will receive a notice explaining that not all items are eligible.