Introduction to The SEVEN Essentials for Finishing Well
by Dr. Hal Habecker
What does the Bible say about growing older? Are there steps to consider as we work to finish the race and finish it well? Dr. Hal Habecker has pinpointed critical essentials to living and finishing life well. This page offers a brief summary of each. However, if you are looking for more, we offer a SEVEN part study that includes videoes and a workbook as resources. All of which are FREE. We hope you will join the Finishing Well Community of Believers who are learning and working toward the understanding of what it means to finish well. What is God's plan for your life?
Welcome to this discipleship project, Small group bible studyfrom Finishing Well Ministries. We’d like to suggest the following format to engage this SEVEN part series.
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How to Use This Project
To encourage this biblical mindset in retirement is the purpose of this discipleship project. FWM has developed this video series/workbook to focus on seven (7) essentials in life that will help us live well and finish well. It is particularly designed with retired and aging people in mind. We believe God has an incredible mission for us as we age. We have a compelling mission. The workbook follows the video series. The two are designed for personal use or small group use. We encourage its use as a church educational elective, in a Sunday School group, a home group, or a Bible study group (men, women, or couples).
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We also believe that this curriculum can be helpful for those beginning to think about retirement. Thinking through these important issues will give this age group a “head start” in thinking about how God views the value of the retirement season of life.
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Some day in the not-to-far-distant-future, all Christians, particularly aging Christians, will contemplate the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4.6-8. Paul teaches the importance of living life with eternity in view.
There is a Study Workbook available with the series. Please download a free version or you may purchase a hard copy through Amazon (see below).
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You can also JOIN A LIVE GROUP here with Finishing Well Ministries as Dr Hal Habecker facilitates the series via ZOOM. If you are interested, please contact Dr Habecker to find out more details. CONTACT DR HABECKER
The SEVEN Essentials Workbook
The seven-part video series follows along with a study workbook. The SEVEN Essentials Workbook is available for purchase with the link below.
God’s purposes for His people do not change at the age of retirement.
As followers of Christ, we are called to keep growing spiritually, to keep being conformed to the image of Christ, to keep building the church, to keep sharing the Gospel, to keep on being ambassadors for Christ, to keep using our giftedness, and to keep on making disciples in every one of our retirement years. Mobilizing seniors throughout their retirement years is our purpose.
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To encourage this biblical mindset in retirement is the purpose of this discipleship project. FWM has developed this video series/workbook to focus on seven (7) areas of life that will help us live well and finish well. It is particularly designed with retired and aging people in mind. We believe God has an incredible mission for us as we age. The workbook follows the video series. The two are designed for personal use or small group use. Use it in a Sunday School group, a home group, or a Bible study group.
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Some day in the not-to-far-distant-future, all Christians, particularly aging Christians, will contemplate the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4.6-8.
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For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
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Life goes all too fast. Let’s purpose to finish well so that our life will bear witness with our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12.1,2) and with the Apostle Paul. To do just that is the purpose of this video series and workbook.
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Consider these words. Dr. J. I. Packer said it this way; “Runners in a distance race… always try to keep something in reserve for a final sprint. And my contention is that, so far as our bodily health allows, we should aim to be found running the last lap of the race of our Christian life, as we would say, flat out. The final sprint, so I urge, should be a sprint indeed.”
1. We Will GROW – we will not stay the same.
Life is about change. Every day brings change – physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Generally speaking, we resist change as we age. Growing may seem harder as we age. The aging process, however, does not mean that our growth slows. God calls us to grow at every age.
2. We will CONNECT – we will not live alone - we will continue to build strong friendships
The human body is connected. No one part or cell (except cancer cells) lives by and for itself. Ever! The spiritual Body (the church) is connected. Why is this verse important with respect to being connected to each other? Are we more connected or less connected as we age? Why does the world of aging people tend to grow smaller?
3. We will CARE FOR/LOVE OTHERS – we will be there for others in their needs – we will love each other as Christ commanded us to love.
Our model for LOVING OTHERS and CARING for them is our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look at His life first and reflect on the depth of His love and care for us. Following each Scripture, summarize in your own words the depths of His love and care. How did He love? How did He care?
4. We will INVEST in the generations following us
As we consider this 4th essential, “Investing,” consider these questions and discuss them as a group.
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Why does God allow us to age? Why did He ordain the aging years as a part of life?
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What are His purposes in our aging years?
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What are the advantages for each of us in having older and younger people in our lives?
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What are the advantages of older people in the life of a congregation?
6. We will PLAN AHEAD - for when we will not be here.
William Hazlitt wrote that no young man believes that he will ever die, and the truth of the matter, I think, is that in some measure that is true of all men. Intellectually we all know that we will die, but we do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as though it were true. On the contrary, we tend to live as though our lives would go on forever. We spend our lives like drunken sailors (Frederick Buechner, The Hungering Dark).
7. We WILL ANTICIPATE HEAVEN- Eternity with Christ
An essential part of one’s “Plan for the End” is the anticipation of heaven and eternal life with Christ. As one nears the end of life, thinking ahead is critically important. It’s just like taking a trip to a foreign country, which my wife and I have often done. In anticipation of that trip, we will spend lots of time discovering where we will be and making specific plans to see and experience as much as we can during the time of the trip we are about to take.