Honor VI _*Honor VI “Dating and Relationships”*_ Intro: Paul is trying to help us understand that we are in a season that required uires devotion to the Lord to overcome the evils of this world. Dangers in Dating 1. *Value in the wrong place* 1Co 7:25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord'smercy is trustworthy. 1Co 7:26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 1Co 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 1Co 7:28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.1Co 7:29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 1Co 7:30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 1Co 7:31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. Lies about value: Lie #1- If someone loves me, only then am I worthy to be loved Lie #2- If I am with someone i will have significance to others Lie #3- If have someone, life can begin to have purpose *2. Filling a void only God can fill* 1Co 7:32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 1Co 7:33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 1Co 7:34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 1Co 7:35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your *undivided devotion to the Lord.* 1. There is a tension in life that we all fight 2. What to do while you wait on someone 3. The two shall become one *3. Temptation through emotional ties* 1Co 7:36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 1Co 7:37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 1. You are not dating who you will marry 2. Don’t date who you would not marry 3. You need to be attracted in all areas 4. You need to court not date; there is a difference *Conclusion:* Honor God not the culture Questions: 1. What did you glean from this week’s message? 2. What part of this message would have saved you heartbreak in your past? 3. If you could advise a person who is dating one thing, what would it be? 4. Do you feel our need for acceptance through relationships is a spiritual thing? if so why? 5. In what ways can we as a church help protect someone who is dating?