Pastor Matthias Haeusel begins our 4-week series on Biblical Relationships with a sermon on Dating.

CG Questions: Biblical Relationships
Week 1: Dating

Questions:

How have you viewed dating in the past? What is the purpose of dating?

How do we approach a topic like dating when the Bible doesn’t specifically address it?

If having your relationship with God in order is a pre-requisite for dating, what should a relationship with God in order look like?

According to CS Lewis’ 4 Loves (see below), what order do you or have you had in the process of dating? What was the benefit or problem with that in your life?

From where do you derive your value as a woman or a man? From accomplishments or achievements? From a spouse or significant other? How does God inform your value?

If you have made mistakes in dating and purity, how can you move forward in a relationship with Jesus? What hope do we have in this area?

Do you struggle with dating, if so what do you struggle with? Is there a lie that you are believing from culture that you need to have God’s Word shed on?

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, Genesis 1:26-27, 2:23-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8,1 Timothy 5:1-2,1 Corinthians 6:9-7:19,Proverbs 6:20-7:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, James 1:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5, Titus 2:1-8, Romans 13:8-14, 14:1-15:7; Philippians 2:4, John 14:15

Notes, Quotes, and Slides:

I. IMAGING GOD

II. A BIBLICAL VIEW ON DATING

Biblical Guidance:

Purity -
Temptation -
Self-Control -
Self-Sacrifice -
Obedience -

“Adam has no one of his nature to and substance to think about. He has no one in his likeness to love, serve, and honor. Left alone, his thoughts would be too wrapped around himself. This was a problem… In his alone state, Adam could not reflect the complete image that God wanted him to reflect. He was not as full an image-bearer of God’s glory as God desired.” -John Henderson, Catching Foxes, p. 70

Definition:

Dating is the process discovery between a single man and a single woman to see if this person might be someone they would want to marry.

THE ORDERING OF YOUR 4 LOVES (C.S. Lewis)

Culture:

STORGE - Affection, Romance, Sentimentality, Warmth

EROS - Romantic / Sexual Love

PHILOS - Friendship

AGAPE - Love of the Will, Commitment,

Scripture:

PHILOS - Friendship

STORGE - Affection, Romance, Sentimentality, Warmth

AGAPE - Love of the Will, Commitment, Service, Divine Love

EROS - Romantic / Sexual Love

III. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

An Encouragement - You are not a second class Christian•

A Warning - God does not promise marriage

A Truth - You don’t become whole when you get married

A Hope - God has something for you in this time that is bigger than marriage

Boundaries - it’s not about how far can I go, it’s about how holy can I be

Purity - What if this doesn’t work out?

Idolatry

-being in a relationship

-pleasure