Canaan Fellowship

The Seasons of Life

—

in
Canaan Fellowship
Canaan Fellowship
The Seasons of Life
Loading
/

Bill Teubl opens by discussing how people often avoid self-assessment, but as Christians, we must embrace God’s guidance about how we’re doing since He corrects and directs us as a loving Father. He introduces a chart outlining life seasons, acknowledging that while some enjoy tests and others avoid them, spiritual growth requires honest reflection without overthinking. Bill aims to walk through the chart’s columns to show how God speaks to us in each stage of life.

  • Introduction and approach

    • [00:00] Some people avoid asking “how am I doing?” but believers must embrace God’s correction and direction for abundant life
    • [02:16] Warns against overthinking or obsessing over self-assessment; finding the right balance is key

  • Life seasons overview

    • [00:35] Bill introduces a chart with life seasons: childhood (foundations, ages 0-20), decisions (20-35), building (35-60), and influence/legacy (60+)
    • [01:00] Notes age 12 has biblical precedent (Jesus in the temple) and marks transition to abstract reasoning
    • [01:20] Age 20 also has biblical significance for maturity and military service

  • Childhood tasks (ages 0-12)

    • [00:30] Main task: obedience to parents, based on Ephesians 6:1 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord”
    • [01:00] Learning to bend one’s will to godly authority prepares children for future relationships
    • [01:30] Difficulty arises when parents are not godly or ask children to do wrong

  • Late childhood tasks (ages 12-20)

    • [01:20] Main task shifts from obeying parents to learning to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
    • [01:40] This is the most important task in the entire chart – harder than obeying visible parents
    • [02:00] The rebellious 1960s culture discouraged submission to authority, making this harder

  • Season of decisions (ages 20-35)

    • [00:10] Three major decisions: with whom I will live, what my work will be, and what my ministry will be
    • [00:45] Work decisions include discovering skills and applying oneself; avoiding aimlessness
    • [01:00] Marriage decisions – discerning whether called to singleness or marriage and who to marry
    • [01:30] Ministry decisions – how to serve in church, household, and among believers
    • [02:00] Ephesians 5:17 encourages understanding the Lord’s will in these areas

  • Season of building (ages 35-60)

    • [00:15] Emphasis shifts from making decisions to having the Spirit inhabit daily labors in home, work, and church
    • [01:00] Decisions made well bring peace, such as no longer needing to decide whom to marry
    • [01:30] This is the great transformative season – demands of marriage, parenting, and work push us to the cross
    • [02:00] When facing difficulties, we learn to receive the work of the cross and walk in the Spirit
    • [02:30] Society’s avoidance of commitment (delaying marriage, children) leads to immaturity
    • [03:00] 1 Corinthians 14:3 – prophecy means God making Himself real in daily moments, building us up

  • Season of influence (age 60+)

    • [00:15] Task: learning to sit in the gates, speaking to enemies and helping others with decisions
    • [00:30] Psalm 127:3-5 – children are like arrows; the blessed man speaks with enemies in the gates
    • [01:00] Older believers should help younger ones with major life decisions
    • [01:30] Proverbs 31:23 – the husband is known in the gates among elders
    • [02:00] This is a season of influence and legacy, though not necessarily quiet sitting

  • Conclusion

    • [01:00] Bill will continue next time with “trouble,” “provision,” and “blessing” rows on the chart

Scripture References

  • Ephesians 6:1
  • Galatians 5:16
  • Ephesians 5:17
  • 1 Corinthians 14:3
  • Psalm 127:3-5
  • Proverbs 31:23

Generated by AI model deepseek-chat