THE DATING GAME:
“SO YA WANNA GO OUT?”
PART II
In groups discuss the following question:
“But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY DEFECTIVE DATING:
1. Dating leads to __________________ but not necessarily ________________________.
2. Dating tends to skip the “________________” stage of a relationship.
3. Dating often mistakes a ____________________ relationship for __________________.
4. Dating often _________________ a couple from other vital relationships.
5. Dating, in many cases, distracts young people from their responsibility of preparing for the future.
6. Dating can cause a discontentment with God’s gift of ___________________.
7. Dating creates an artificial environment for evaluating another persons character.
FIVE ATTITUDE CHANGES THAT WILL HELP YOU AVOID DEFECTIVE DATING:
1. Every relationship is an opportunity to model Christ’s ______________.
2. My unmarried years are a ______________ from God.
3. Intimacy is the reward of _________________. I don’t need to pursue a romantic relationship before I’m ready for marriage.
4. I cannot “___________” someone outside of marriage.
5. I will avoid situations that could compromise the purity of my body and mind.
“Throw off everything that hinders and run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1
FINAL THOUGHT: “You and I will never experience God’s best-in singleness or in marriage-until we give God our all. We’ve held onto old attitudes, foolishly clutching a lifestyle that the world tells us will bring fulfillment. God asks us to hand them all over to Him.”
TRINITY YOUTH
WEEKEND WORSHIP SERVICE
“SO YA WANNA GO OUT?”
PART II
In groups discuss the following question:
“But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY DEFECTIVE DATING:
1. Dating leads to INTIMACY but not necessarily COMMITMENT.
- Often dating encourages intimacy for the sake of intimacy- two people getting close to each other without any real intention of making a long-term commitment
- People date because they want to enjoy the emotional and even physical benefits of intimacy without the responsibility of real commitment
- Intimacy without commitment awakens desires-emotional and physical-that neither person can justly meet
- I Thess. 4:6; SOS 2:7
- Intimacy without commitment is like icing without cake, it can be sweet, but it ends up making us sick.
2. Dating tends to skip the “FRIENDSHIP” stage of a relationship.
- C.S. Lewis describes a friendship as two people walking side by side toward a common goal.
- Intimacy without friendship is superficial
3. Dating often mistakes a PHYSICAL relationship for LOVE.
- I Cor. 13
4. Dating often ISOLATES a couple from other vital relationships.
- Elisabeth Elliot states, “ Unless a man is prepared to ask a women to be his wife, what right has he to claim her exclusive attention? Unless she has been asked to marry him, why would a sensible women promise any man her exclusive attention?
- The exclusive attention so often expected in dating relationships has a tendency to steal people’s passion for serving in the church an to isolate them from the friends who love them most, family members who know them best, and sadly, even God, whose will is far more important than any romantic interest.
- Eph. 4:11-16
5. Dating, in many cases, distracts young people from their responsibility of preparing for the future.
- One of the saddest tendencies of dating is to distract young adults from developing their God-given abilities and skills. Instead of equipping themselves with character, education, and experience necessary to succeed in life, many allow themselves to be consumed by the present needs that dating emphasizes.
- Hebrews 12:1-2
6. Dating can cause a discontentment with God’s gift of SINGLENESS.
- God gave us singleness – a season of our lives unmatched in its boundless opportunities for growth, learning, and service – and we view it as a chance to get bogged down in finding and keeping boyfriends and girlfriends.
7. Dating creates an artificial environment for evaluating another persons character.
- it creates an artificial environment that doesn’t demand a person to accurately portray his or her positive or negative characteristics.
“…throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new person because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness-righteous, holy, and true.” Ephesians 4:22-24
FIVE ATTITUDE CHANGES THAT WILL HELP YOU AVOID DEFECTIVE DATING:
1. Every relationship is an opportunity to model Christ’s LOVE.
- Eph.5:1-2; Matt 22:37-40
2. My unmarried years are a GIFT from God.
- Until you realize the gift of sigleness, you’ll probably miss out on the incredible opportunities it holds\
- As a single you have the freedom right now to explore, study, and tackle the world.
3. Intimacy is the reward of COMMITMENT. I don’t need to pursue a romantic relationship before I’m ready for marriage.
4. I cannot “OWN” someone outside of marriage.
5. I will avoid situations that could compromise the purity of my body and mind.
- Where, when, and with whom you choose to spend your time reveals your true commitment to purity
“Throw off everything that hinders and run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1
FINAL THOUGHT: “You and I will never experience God’s best-in singleness or in marriage-until we give God our all. We’ve held onto old attitudes, foolishly clutching a lifestyle that the world tells us will bring fulfillment. God asks us to hand them all over to Him.”