The third episode in a 4-part series titled “The Bible, the Body, & the Brain”

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Episode Summary/For Further Exploration

These are lessons and recordings from our Young Adult Ministry-wide "Summer Bible Study Series" in the summer of 2023. In this episode, join our Young Adult Minister, John Lemons, along with special guests Christina Hearne, Kristin Prasad, and John Holloway as they talk about what the Bible has to say about aging and why it is an important part of how we follow Jesus.

*If you have thoughts or questions, we’d love to talk with you! Email your questions to youngadults@fbchav.org or john@fbchsv.org*

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Items Referenced in the Episode:

Book:

How God Works

Quotes from book referenced in episode:

“Data from across the world shows the effects of that storm. Wherever you look, people’s happiness across the life span follows a U-shaped curve, with its nadir occurring right around age fifty. Happiness starts to decline in the late thirties and early forties, bottoming out between the late forties and early fifties, before beginning to rise again from the late fifties into the seventies and eighties. At that point, people’s happiness tracks show a good deal of variability that depends on whether and when serious health issues arise….

“...A similar pattern is revealed by antidepressant use. Data from twenty-seven European nations documenting the consumption of these drugs shows an [hill-shaped] pattern across the same ages. Antidepressant use starts increasing in the mid-twenties, peaks in the late forties, and then drops through the sixties and seventies. In fact, the data make clear that people are three times more likely to take antidepressants around the age of fifty than around the ages of twenty or eighty.”

David DeSteno, How God Works

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 90:3-6, 10

3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered... 10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2 Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. 4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. 5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. 6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”

Philippians 1:20-26

20… And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Hebrew 10:23-25

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 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.

James 1:27

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Quotes Mentioned:

“Occasionally, weep deeply over the life that you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Feel the pain. Then wash your face, trust God, and embrace the life that he’s given you.”

John Piper on Grief

Kate Bowler: A Blessing for the Life You Didn’t Choose

3 Things to Consider:

1 - You are not alone. This may not be universal but it is ubiquitous.
2 - Lean into it. Talk about it for your benefit and others.
3 - Seek Community.

Bible Studies… Guys/Girls Nights… Large Group Outings

Questions Asked of the Panel:

Question 1:

Tell us who you are and where we might see you around town or around church…

Question 2:

Briefly share any insight you have on this topic or, perhaps, anything that you would add to what I shared earlier…

Question 3:

Christina - share with us how you have changed and grown as a Young Adult. And, is there anything that you now would say to yourself at previous stages of your time in FBC Young Adults?

Question 4:

John - can you share with us from your experience about the importance of relationships? How have those gotten you through? How would you encourage Young Adults to seek out mentoring relationships with older adults?

Question 5:

Kristin - not long ago you went through your own Young Adult phase and now you are the parent to Young Adults... what do you see that is similar and what do you see that's different? Also, what is different about Median Adult ministry - what do we have to look forward to?

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Resources & References for After You Listen

Your Happiness is More Likely to Hit Rock Bottom at Age 47.2

Research Shows People Become Increasingly Unhappy Until Age 47.2

Middle-age Misery Peaks at 47 Years of Age

Number of antidepressant prescriptions issued to various age groups

Antidepressants and Age

Divorce Rate for Adults Ages 50 and Older Has Roughly Doubled

Divorce Among People Over 45 Has Been Rising Since the 1990s