Category Archives: Adult Ministries

To have an effective senior adult ministry, we need to begin with a biblical view of old age. As we look at Scripture we find that seniors matter to God and still have a purpose to fulfill.

• Old Age: What Saith the Scripture?
• Scripture Memory Bible Verses for Senior Adults (looks at verses applicable to old age)

3 Factors in an Effective Senior Adult Ministry

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Based on a biblical foundation, these three factors should enter into the development of a senior adult ministry.

1. treating them with respect and honor, dignity and worth (Lev. 19:32; Prov. 23:22) not pitying them or seeing them as bothersome or in the way — ready to learn from and gain wisdom from them (Job 12:12)

2. meeting their needs in accordance with our God-given responsibility (1 Tim. 5:1ff) not ignoring or forgetting about them — ready to reach out to them with love and compassion

• Resource: Age Level Characteristics: Adults Module Download (One of the four adult age levels included in this resource relates to older-aged adults.)

3. encouraging them to keep growing in their walk with God and to live out His continued purposes for them (Ps. 71:18; 92:12-15) not to feel useless and give up regardless of their physical condition and life circumstances — ready to integrate them into the Body and open meaningful doors of opportunity for them

Articles:

• Mentoring by Older Men
• Mentoring by Older Women
• Motivating Senior Adults to Learn
• The 87-year-old Missionary – sees her retirement home as a mission field
• When Are You Too Old To Be a Children’s Minister?
• Why You Need Senior Adults in Your Church

Books:

• 101 Ways to Reinvest Your Life by Steve Sjogren, Janie Sjogren
• Don’t Write My Obituary Just Yet: Inspiring Faith Stories for Older Adults by Missy Buchanan
• Extending Your Heritage by J. Otis Ledbetter, Randy Scott
• Growing Older & Wiser (Lifeguide Bible Studies) by Dale & Sandy Larsen
• Improving with Age: God’s Plan for Getting Older and Better by Stuart & Jill Briscoe
• Joy Boosters: 120 Ways to Encourage Older Adults by Missy Buchanan
• Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults by Missy Buchanan
• No Wrinkles on the Soul: A Book of Readings for Older Adults by Richard L. Morgan
• Senior Saints: Growing Older in God’s Family (Fisherman Bible Studyguide Series) by James & Martha Reapsome
• Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms by Missy Buchanan

Other Helps:

• Large Print Bibles
• resources on grandparenting

Helpful Resources about Senior Adults Ministries

The following resources can help you develop an effective senior adult ministry.

Articles:

• 5 Ways to Serve Elderly Church Members
• Why You Need Senior Adults in Your Church

Books:

• An Age of Opportunity: Intentional Ministry by, with, and for Older Adults by Richard H. Gentzler Jr.
• Catch the Age Wave : A Handbook for Effective Ministry With Senior Adults by Win and Charles Arn
• Senior Adult Discipleship: Essentials for Effective Church Ministry to Senior Adults by Bernard M. Spooner, ed.
• Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century: Step-By-Step Strategies for Reaching People over 50 by David P. Gallagher
• Senior Adult Ministry Volunteer Handbook by Mikal Keefer
• Vision For The Aging Church: Renewing Ministry For And By Seniors by James M. Houston, Michael Parker
• Working the Gray Zone : A Call for Proactive Ministry by and with Older Adults by Charles G. Oakes

Resources for Caregivers of Aging Adults

Books:

• Caring For Your Aging Parents by Barbara Deane
• Complete Guide to Caring for Aging Loved Ones by Focus on the Family
• The Complete Eldercare Planner Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help by Joy Loverde
• The Caregiving Season: Finding Grace to Honor Your Aging Parents by Jane Daly
• The Eldercare Handbook: Difficult Choices, Compassionate Solutions by Stella Mora Henry R.N.

Jesus said His followers need to be like little children (Matt. 18:3; 19:14).

Here is the problem:  By the time we have reached adulthood, that child-like trust, transparency, and sense of awe so vital to our spiritual growth and relationships with one another has been replaced with walls.

Adults Build Walls for Different Reasons

Walls to Block Out Unwanted Feelings:

How quickly we learn that life doesn’t always go our way, that it sometimes includes suffering.  Bad things do happen to good people.  And, it doesn’t feel good.   We try to block out the negative reactions these events can cause, repressing our feelings.  Why?  Perhaps we have learned along the way that big boys don’t cry, that we shouldn’t be a wimp.  We may have gotten pegged as not having enough faith.  If we don’t feel, then we won’t react.  If we don’t react, we won’t have to be uncomfortable around others.  We’ve learned to mask our feelings so well that sometimes we aren’t even honest with ourselves about how we feel about both the good and bad of life.

Result:  We lose that child-like awe and wonder.

Walls to Keep a Distance Between Us and Other People:

Too often, as children, we are hurt by the very people who we most look to for care, understanding, attention, and love … parents, family, teachers, best friends.  Perhaps we were neglected, abused, rejected, or betrayed.  We feel like we’ve been let down.  Relational hurts, especially those experienced early in life, can cause us to say, “Never again.”  We try to prevent the same thing from reoccurring.

Result:  We no longer have that child-like trust.

Walls to Hide Who We Really Are:

We didn’t make the grade, get the part, or win the competition.  We felt the shame of disappointing our parents or teachers.  We were put down one too many times.  Soon we don’t even like ourselves.  We begin to play the part, saying and doing what we feel people expect of us.  We don’t want others to see our weaknesses or failures so we begin to make excuses or blame someone or something else.

Result:  We no longer have that child-like transparency.

Walls Can Keep Us From Growing Spiritually

If you are a teacher of an adult Bible class, you soon realize that these same walls also keep truth and growth opportunities from getting in.  Consequently, part of our task as teachers of adults is breaking walls down.

The Breaking Walls Down Training Session for Teachers of Adult Bible Classes gives nine different tools you can use to chisel away at those walls.