Growing

Discipleship Short Term Groups

Old Testament Essentials

September 28, 2025 – June 28, 2026
Sundays, 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
59 Worthen Road, Room 204
Matt Giamarco

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is written in it...” (Revelation 1:3). — Revelation opens with John reporting what he received. John, the human author of Revelation, is speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is John addressing the churches (cf. Rev 1:4; 22:8). Of course, the blessing ultimately comes from God, but the voice in 1:3 is John’s narrator voice.

The course is a 40-week walk through the book of Revelation—hearing Christ’s messages to the churches, tracing God’s sovereign plan, and fixing our hope on the victory of the Lamb! I repeat.. THE VICTORY OF THE LAMB!!

A 183-page, wire-bound workbook (with suggested answers in the back) will keep us grounded in Scripture each week. It can be downloaded from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sx1HdhXmhmSPMTE2Lfk-fUaMTCGiRbUh/view

We’ll use an inductive Bible study approach - letting Scripture lead and shape our conclusions. The questions are designed to keep us focused on the text at hand:

1. Objective (Observation) question — What does the passage say?
2. Interpretive questions — What does it mean (in context, to the first hearers, in light of the whole Bible)?
3. Application question — How should we respond in faith and obedience?
4. Discussion-prompt questions — To deepen conversation, accountability, and encouragement.

We’ll pause for fellowship and reflection with Revelation-themed potlucks and open-forum reviews on 2/22/25 (mid-term) and 6/28/26 (finale). No “bowls of wrath”—just bowls of chili. Please note we will be doing a lesson so the potluck celebration will follow.

Practical Help

• https://www.minutemansenior.org

• https://massoptions.org

Spiritual/Inspirational Books

• Aging Faithfully, The Holy Invitation of Growing Older – Alice Fryling
• Aging, The Fulfillment of Life – Henry J.M. Nouwen
• Mid-Course Correction: Re-Ordering Your Private World for the Next Part of Your Journey – Gordon McDonald
• As Our Years Increase, Loving, Caring, Preparing: A Guide – Tim Stafford
• The Virtues of Aging -  Jimmy Carter
• The Broken Way: A Daring Path to the Abundant Life - Ann Vos Kamp
• It's Never Too Late to Begin Again: discovering creativity and meaning at midlife and beyond by Julia Cameron
• Option B: On facing adversity, building resilience, and finding joy - Sheryl Sandbert

Practical Books

• Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes  – William Bridges
• In Case You Get Hit by a Bus: How to Organize Your Life Now for When You're Not Around Later: Abby Schneiderman, Adam Seifer, and Gene Newman
• Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You're 80 and Beyond – Chris Crowley & Henry Lodge
• The Aging Well Bible Study Series by Peter Menconi
• Living an Examined Life: Wisdom for the Second Half of the Journey – James Hollis
• Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life – James Hollis
• Eldercare for Dummies: caring for elderly relatives – Rachelle Zukerman
• The Complete Eldercare Planner: where to start, which questions to ask – Joy Loverde

Career/Vocational Books

• Portfolio Life: The New Path to work, Purpose, and Passion – David Corbett
• From Success to Significance – Lloyd Reeb
• Encore: finding work that matters in the second half of life – Marc Freedman
• The Encore Career Handbook – Marci Alboher
• HalfTime – Bob Bufford
• Second Act Careers – Nancy Collamer

(Hints – use Amazon to preview chapter titles, contents, reviews)