The Rocking Chair

A Hearthside Gathering

On God’s faithfulness through every changing season.

A complete, ready-to-use printable Bible study gathering for women, combining an original story, Scripture, meaningful discussion, personal reflection, and simple host materials—all thoughtfully prepared so you can gather around the table and begin.

The people change.

The years pass.

The questions grow heavier.

But some things remain steady.

The Rocking Chair begins with an old wooden chair and the lives that might pass through it—a baby needing comfort, an adult carrying the weight of responsibility, an older soul looking back across the years and quietly wondering: Was it enough? Did I do enough good? Did I love well enough while I had the chance?

The chair keeps the same familiar rhythm through every season. But ultimately, its steadiness points beyond itself.

Centered on Psalm 71:17–18 and Hebrews 13:8, The Rocking Chair turns our attention toward the faithfulness of God across a changing life. The God who taught us in the years behind us remains with us in the season we are living now and in the years we have not yet seen.

Together, participants will consider how we measure a faithful life, what happens when usefulness becomes part of our identity, the difference between honest repentance and endless regret, and how to discern what is still ours to carry—and what belongs to God.

Rather than asking us to remain the same, this Gathering invites us to find our security in the One who does: receiving grace for what is behind us, trusting God with what lies ahead, and asking what faithfulness requires in the season we are actually living.

A Gathering Made Ready for You

The Hearthside Gatherings were created to make meaningful time around Scripture feel both substantial and approachable.

You do not need to write a lesson, develop discussion questions, or figure out how to turn a roomful of women into a Bible study.

It has already been gathered for you.

Inside The Rocking Chair, you’ll find a complete printable experience designed to move naturally from welcome and Scripture into story, conversation, and personal reflection.

Your download includes:

• The complete Participant Packet
• Original The Rocking Chair essay
• Primary and secondary Scripture readings
• Eight Around the Table discussion questions
• Return to This Truth closing reflection
• Two-page Personal Reflection, The Seasons We Carry
• Complete Host Guide
• Invitation
• Table Card
• Scripture Card
• Printable candy bar wrapper
• Start Here Printing Guide
• Permission to Gather guide
• Printer-friendly materials where appropriate

Gather Around a Table—or Begin Right Where You Are

A Hearthside Gathering can be used with a church group, women’s ministry, small group, Sunday school class, book-club-style gathering, a few friends around a kitchen table, or simply on your own.

The Host Guide provides gentle direction without requiring you to become a teacher. The discussion questions are designed to encourage thoughtful conversation rather than search for a single “right” answer.

And if gathering a group isn’t practical right now, the Participant Packet can also be worked through individually as a personal study and reflection.

Simple to Prepare

Everything is delivered digitally so you can print what you need at home or through your preferred print service.

The included Start Here guide walks you through the pieces and printing recommendations, while the Permission to Gather guide explains how the materials may be printed and shared for your gathering.

Bring the packets.

Set the table.

Maybe make something good to eat.

And allow an old rocking chair to begin a conversation about the years behind us, the season we are living now, and the God whose faithfulness remains steady through them all.