Weather the Winter—Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, October 19, 2025

Weather the Winter Speaker: Duncan Crook (An Elder of ReCreate Church) Scripture: John 15:1-8 Episode Summary Duncan Crook uses the metaphor of winter to explore life's difficult seasons - times of loss, health struggles, waiting, or unexplained hardship. Through Jesus' teaching about the vine and branches, we discover how God works through our "winter seasons" to prepare us, prune us, and prove His faithfulness through us. Key Points - Life follows a pattern of sowing and reaping: seed + time = harvest, but the growth is invisible - Winter seasons serve three purposes: God is preparing you for something, pruning something from you, or proving something through you - Remaining connected to God during difficult times is more important than understanding why they're happening - Our faithfulness in winter seasons becomes a powerful witness to God's glory Main Takeaway You can't always choose your season, but you can choose your response. When you stay connected to God through winter, you don't just make it through - you come out mature, pruned, and bearing fruit that reveals God's glory. Memorable Quotes - "The harvest is inevitable, but the growth is invisible." - "I'd rather be cut back than cut off. I'd rather go through trials with God than without God." - "I don't want to just make it through this, I want to get something out of this. I want to come out more mature." - "Some seasons are so hard and cold that survival is success. So just remain." - "The greatest witness you will ever have is when you go through a hard time and simply remain faithful." - "If I have to be pruned and my life has to hurt for a little while, I want it to produce something good. I want it to not be wasted." Reflection Question Are you the kind of Christian who shows up in the cold - who remains faithful even when you can't see what God is doing? Tune in to hear Duncan's inspiring story about running cross-country in freezing weather and how it taught him about showing up faithfully during life's winter seasons. Special Note Join us in celebrating ReCreate Church's 7th anniversary on October 22, 2025! Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly