Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Memory Verse: “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” Malachi 3:6
Lesson Aim: To help us understand that change is inevitable and prepare us to expect change and to embrace it.
Key Points - God’s creation always changes, but He never changes because He is already everything. - Change is the process of life. - Our thinking is critical to how we cope with and utilize change.
Change! When you start talking about change, some people get nervous and apprehensive. Many of us would probably prefer that things would never change. But that would be impossible because everything in our world changes except for God. God never changes because He is already everything.
Change! When you start talking about change, some people get nervous and apprehensive. Many of us would probably prefer that things would never change. But that would be impossible because everything in our world changes except for God. God never changes because He is already everything.
What is change? Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary describes change as “to make different; to become different; to undergo transformation, transition or substitution.” Change happens all the time because God designed His creation so that things change. Time changes. Our environment changes. People change. We are born; we grow up; we get older; we die. These all happen and we more or less accept these changes. The preacher in Ecclesiastes 3 speaks to this. There is a time for everything and there are seasons: seasons of nature, seasons of life, even seasons of ministry.
Change is the process of life. It is critical to a healthy existence and will always be a part of our lives. Even if we do nothing, things will change. Some changes we look forward to, others are unexpected and unwanted. Although God has designed everything to change, it is not always easy for us when change occurs. Change causes stress, and the bigger the change, the more stress we will feel. However, in order to grow naturally and spiritually, we have to change.
Some changes are pleasant and others are unpleasant, but there is no need to fear change. Rather than fear change, we should expect change, prepare for it and embrace it. Our challenge is to learn how to handle change and initiate positive change in the context of God’s will and purpose for our lives. As we look at ourselves and around us, we can all find things that need to change, but the changes all of us need to experience most are a change of heart and a change of mind. These changes start only through the acceptance of the gift of God through Christ. The ultimate change that we all anticipate is when Jesus returns and we are changed from mortal to immortality.
Understanding change is necessary in order to think differently about change. Our thinking is critical to how we cope with and utilize change because our thoughts affect every aspect of our lives. As a group, the effects of our collective thinking will pervade the life and success of our families, ministries, and the church. God is ready to change us, individually and collectively. Our prayer is that we find the grace to see change from a new perspective and prepare our hearts and minds to co-labor with Christ as He changes us.
Questions and Discussion
- What are some of the changes identified in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. What others can you think of?
- How does God view change? Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; Genesis 8:22; Isaiah 43:18-19.
- What are some of the changes we look forward to? Why? 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
- Using the account in Genesis 37; 39-50, discuss the major changes in the life of Joseph. How did he handle the stress of change?
- Contrast how Joseph handled the major changes in his life and the way the Children of Israel handled change in their lives. Cite specific instances. Exodus 14-17.
- Our perspectives and thoughts are crucial to how we handle change. What can be said about preparing ourselves for change? Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 17:7-8; James 1:5; Philippians 4:11-13.