The Other Side of the Mountain
Isaiah 46:4
Series Title and Purpose
- "On the Edge of Eternity: A Conversation on Aging"
- Introduction to the first lecture: "The Other Side of the Mountain"
Aging: A Matter of Mind and Attitude
- Satchel Paige's question on aging
- Emphasis on the mental aspect of aging
Anecdote: Mrs. Simpson
- Example of a dynamic elderly person
- Her impact and final moments
Old Age: Expectation vs. Escape
- Senescence vs. Senility
- Three differentiated ages of the elderly: chronological, physiological, psychological
Five Reasons to Study Old Age
- Critical need for a Christian perspective
- Lack of biblical insights in existing research
- Fastest growing segment of the population
- Statistics on aging population
- Greatest spiritual resource and labor pool
- Importance of elderly in the church
- Lack of focus in seminary curriculum
- Insufficient training for pastors in geriatrics
- Generation gap
- Importance of intergenerational relationships in the church
Biblical Perspective on Aging
- Scriptures emphasizing the value and honor of old age
- Key verses: John 42:12, 17; Proverbs 9:11; Isaiah 46:4; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:1
- Focus on Psalms for Elderly People
- Psalm 71: Prayer for old age
- Psalm 37:25: Assurance of God's faithfulness
- Psalm 92: Flourishing and bearing fruit in old age
- Biblical Examples of Positive Aging
- Simeon and Anna in the Gospel of Luke
- Characteristics of godly elderly people
- Warnings and Examples of Negative Aging
- Examples of biblical figures who did not end well
- Conclusion
- Encouragement to live a godly life at any age
- Emphasis on the importance of a positive and purposeful old age
- Closing Reflection
- Reflection on the value of living life fully, with a poem by an anonymous friar in Nebraska
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.
About the Contributors
Howard G. Hendricks
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, known simply as “Prof,” directly or indirectly touched millions of lives in the evangelical community and beyond. For more than sixty years Prof served on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), where he taught more than ten thousand students. He served as the chairman of the Center for Christian Leadership for over twenty years. He also ministered in person in more than eighty countries. Through speaking engagements, radio, tapes, films, the sixteen books he authored and coauthored, countless journal and popular-market articles, his service on numerous boards, and his work as a chaplain to the Dallas Cowboys (1976–1984), his reach was and is worldwide.
His legacy, in partnership with Jeanne, his wife of more than sixty-five years, includes four children and six grandchildren. Holding large audiences enthralled at venues such as Billy Graham’s conference center or Promise Keepers’ stadium rallies, Prof would confide, “It’s wonderful to be here with you, but I have a group of delicious students waiting for me back at the seminary.”
Contributors
