The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap.
Psalm 92:12-14
Welcome Pastors!
We at Fuller’s De Pree Center are eager to serve you so that you can serve your people well, helping them live fully, fruitfully, and faithfully in the third third of life. To this end, we offer a wide variety of resources and reflections, some we produce and others we recommend.
You may want to begin by subscribing to our free, monthly e-newsletter, Third Third Life. We’ll keep you informed about news related to third third flourishing and resources that will be helpful to you and your church. You can sign up here:
Third Third Resources for Pastors and Your Churches
Flourishing in the Third of Life Course – A great start for a church wanting to serve its third third people well. This six-session, video-based course is designed for adult classes or small groups. It will equip those nearing or in the third third of life to live faithfully and fruitfully so that they might experience abundant life as they make a difference that matters in the world. The content of this course is based on Scripture and science, with lots of real-life applications. Find more details here.
A Note on Costs and Scholarships – The De Pree Center is a non-profit entity as part of Fuller Seminary. Many of our resources are free to the user because of the donors who support our work. Sometimes we charge for experiences and resources in order to cover our operational costs. If individuals or churches can afford the full price of something we offer, that’s great. But we recognize that this is not possible for everyone or every church. Therefore, we have scholarships available and are glad to help out as needed.
To learn more about Mark, click his photo.
Wisdom for Pastors Wanting to Serve their Third Third People Well – Mark Roberts, the Founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third Initiative, has written several articles for pastors who want to serve their third third people well. These articles appear in The Pastor’s Workshop blog:
Third Third Resources for Pastors and their Churches
A New Vision for Pastoring Folks in the Third Third: What I’m Learning
Third Third and the Intergenerational Opportunity
Third Third Difference: A Great Way to Begin Serving Your Third Third Disciples
Gray Hair in Society and Church: Silver Tsunami or Silver Opportunity?
How to Get to Know Your Third Third People – The best way to get to know your third third people – their longings, losses, loves, gifts, talents, insights, concerns, and challenges – is to talk with them, asking lots of questions. (See Mark’s “New Vision for Pastoring” article.) Another way to know what going on with your older adults is by paying attention to recent research. The newly published Second Half of Life Study by AARP and National Geographic is full of up-to-date, researched-based information. Check out this helpful Executive Summary that is available for free online.
Third Third Flourishing Cohorts – Led by De Pree Center trained guides, these cohorts of 5-10 people help participants reflect deeply on the next season of their lives, share their thoughts in a safe community, and experiment with practices that contribute to third third flourishing. Someone can participate in a cohort before or after taking the course, or without taking the course at all. You can find more information here.
Calling in the Third Third of Life – This ten-part study guide – ideal for small groups as well as personal devotions – is the perfect resource for people who are in or approaching the third third of life. Based on the biblical story of Abraham, this guide will help people explore their sense of calling so they might live with God-given purpose. Learn more and/or purchase the guide here.
Third Third Journal – A collection of over 80 articles written by Mark Roberts and others. These writings cover a wide range of topics relevant to the third third of life. You can find the most recent articles here. You can easily access or search all the articles here.
Third Third Webinars – Watch Mark Roberts interview people with expertise and experience that inform third third flourishing. Or, if you prefer, you can listen to these webinars “podcast-style,” not watching but listening only. More info here.
Third Third Curated Resources – Here are a variety of helpful resources recommended (but not produced) by the De Pree Center. Click here.
To learn more about Mark, click his photo.
Speaking for Churches, Denominational Groups, Conferences, and Retreats – Mark Roberts frequently speaks for various groups on third third topics. He seeks to adapt his core content to the particular needs and opportunities of the group he is serving. He often speaks at churches that are launching a new third third ministry emphasis. For more information, you can email Mark here.
The Best Link for Your Third Third People – The section of the webpage you are now reading has been created especially for pastors, churches, and church leaders. The following sections are what we make available to all visitors to the Third Third Initiative page of our website. If you’re going to recommend our third third work to your congregation, you’ll want to point folks to that page.
Featured Third Third Resources
Flourishing in the Third Third of Life
Course by Mark D. Roberts
Price: $125.00 (Leader’s Kit)
This six-session, video-enriched course designed for small groups will equip those nearing or in the third third of life to live faithfully and fruitfully and experience abundant and purposeful life in this season.
Third Third Journal
Journal Articles by Mark Roberts (principal creator) and others
The Third Third Journal contains a variety of articles on thriving in the third third of life.
Third Third Welcome Letter
Introduction by Mark Roberts
Read more about our Third Third Initiative and how we hope it will enable people in the “third third” of life to flourish, for their own sake and for the sake of God’s work in the world.
A Biblical Vision of Third Third Flourishing
Article by Mark Roberts based on Psalm 92:12-14.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…planted in the house of the LORD…they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.
Calling in the Third Third of Life
A Devotional and Small Group Guide by Mark Roberts
Price: $9.99
This ten-part devotional and small group guide, centered on Genesis 12:1-5, encourages us to guide our lives by the callings we have from God, especially for those in or entering the third third of life.
Third Third Resources
Third Third Journal
Journal Articles by Mark Roberts (principal creator) and others
The Third Third Journal contains a variety of articles on thriving in the third third of life.
Third Third Webinars
Webinars about the Third Third
A collection of all the webinars hosted by the De Pree Center’s Third Third Initiative
Third Third Curated Resources
Collection of Resources
We have curated some of the best resources for the third third of life, including books, videos, and excellent organizations.
Have More Questions?
Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Third Third Initiative.