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Proverbs 30:18, 1918“There are three things that are too amazing

for me,four that I do not understand:

19the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,and the way of a man with a maiden.

Proverbs 30:18, 1918“There are three things that are too amazing

for me,four that I do not understand:

19the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,and the way of a man with a maiden.

Dating and Marriage is Fertile Ground for Joy and

Trouble!

Quick Definitions:

Dating

“DTR”

Courtship

Engagement

Marriage

What’s the point?Isaiah 62:3-5

3You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. 5As a young man marries a maiden, so

will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice

over you.

What’s the point?Ephesians 5:25-33

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as

Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave

his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the

wife must respect her husband.

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-257the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath

of life, and the man became a living being.

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-257the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath

of life, and the man became a living being.

1. God was his Lord (MASTER)

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-258Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had

formed.

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-258Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had

formed.

2. God gave him a job (MISSION)

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-25

18The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for

him….”

22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called

‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.”

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-25

18The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for

him….”

22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called

‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.”

3. God gave him a date (MATE)

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-25

24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25The man and his wife were

both naked, and they felt no shame.

The Plan for the Ultimate Dating Relationship

Genesis 2:7-25

24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25The man and his wife were

both naked, and they felt no shame.

4. God gave the safety and beauty of MARRIAGE

Relationships the way God intended

1 Timothy 5:1-21Do not rebuke an older man harshly,

but exhort him as if he were your father.Treat younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers,and younger women as sisters,

with absolute purity.

The Big Idea

Romans 12:10 (NRSV)10love one another with mutual affection;

outdo one another in showing honor.

Four Questions to Ask Yourself:

Four Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Is it the best thing for her (him) that I date her (him)?

Four Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Is it the best thing for her (him) that I date her (him)?

2. Is it the best thing for me that I date her (him)?

Four Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Is it the best thing for her (him) that I date her (him)?

2. Is it the best thing for me that I date her (him)?

3. Is this consistent with what I feel is God’s call on my life?

(i.e., is this the best thing for the kingdom?)

Four Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Is it the best thing for her (him) that I date her (him)?

2. Is it the best thing for me that I date her (him)?

3. Is this consistent with what I feel is God’s call on my life?

(i.e., is this the best thing for the kingdom?)

4. Is God in this? Is this God’s leading, or am I forcing this?