Faith & Worship

 

There is a way of thinking that looks at our lives as going through various seasons as we grow from childhood to old age. And it seemed good to look at both how the Bible looks at spring, summer, autumn and winter in relation to the the people in it, and also to our own lives.

When looking at the seasons of the year, particularly in relation to farming practices, we need to consider how they vary around the world. As this is a Bible study, we begin by briefly looking at the seasons in Palestine, which has a Mediterranean climate dominated by a hot dry summer and a mild wet winter.

Most of its rainfall falls between October to April/May when lighter spring showers announce the coming of the dry season. Ploughing and sowing take place between October to November when Autumn rains have begun to soften the ground. Cereal crops such as barley are harvested between April and June, and grapes, olives and figs are gathered in July/September when ripened by the summer sun.  Plenty of opportunity for celebration and festivals!

As a comparison to the seasons that define our farming/horticultural/gardening year we shall also consider the seasons as they reflect our own lives.

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot...' (Ecclesiastes 3)

‘Even to your old age and grey hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.’ (Isaiah 46:4)

 

It is formatted such that each individual study can be printed off on 2 double-sided sheets of A4 for distribution to a group.

The studies have enough material to keep a group going for an evening, with background notes and plenty of discussion points.

Contents

Study 1 - Spring

Study 2 - Summer

Study 3 - Autumn

Study 5 - Winter

View a sample from the book (pdf) via this link

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