There is no substitute for the preaching and teaching of God's Word. Each weekday on enjoying the journey, Scott Pauley leads us in a brief study of Scripture.

Today, on the weekend pulpit, we are happy to share a full-length Bible message given through Scott's pulpit ministry. These messages were recorded live in a local church or gospel event in recent days. It is our prayer that the message will be a help to you today. I've met your men at some of the men's conferences in the past and fellowship.

I do know this, that this is a church that Jesus loves and died for and wants to bless.

I believe that. How many of you believe that?

If you didn't,

I don't think you'd be here today. The reality is churches go through seasons, just like every one of us goes through seasons. There's seasons of life. My wife and I have been married for 27, almost 28 years

now. Our children are grown, and so we have our first grandchild. I've

joined the ranks of the crazy people with thousands of pictures to show, you know, and it's a new

season for us, and we're enjoying it. But I've learned something. Some seasons are more enjoyable

than others. Can I get a witness there, yes? Frankly, when winter's done, I'm ready for it to be done.

And I'm ready for spring, ready for the next season. Churches go through seasons like that.

Difficult seasons, challenging seasons. I grew up around the Lord's work. My dad,

pastor to church in Beckley for 33 years. My grandfather was an old-timey mountain preacher. I worked for a pastor and helped train lots of young preachers at Crown College for almost 20 years. And now I'm with hundreds of pastors and churches, year after year for year in evangelism.

And here's what I've observed.

They're all different, and they're all the same.

I mean by that, every church is unique, just like the body is unique.

The church is a body.

So everybody is unique.

And yet, everybody is the same in this sense.

If it's a living organism, how many of you are alive today?

Would you raise your hand, please? You're alive. Good. If your neighbor didn't raise her hand, check on them real quick. If you're living, your body goes through changes. Some of them you may like. As you get

older, some of them you may not like. I'm there now.

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