“14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
1. EVERYONE NEEDS FRIENDS.
"9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up. But pity the man who fallsand has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
a. Friendships provide us with a SUPPORT SYSTEM here in the world.
2. Good friends help us GROW.
“17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
a. They are a GOOD INFLUENCE.
3. Good friends help to keep us out of TROUBLE.
“20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20
4. Bad friends only bring us DESTRUCTION.
1 Kings 22:1-8; 17
“14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
“31 whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
WHY DATE?
a. To develop SOCIALLY & to learn how to INTERACT with the opposite sex.
“17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
*Bottom line: We learn from each other.
b. To grow SPIRITUALLY.
“24 spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24
“13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13
*You should ask yourself: How can I help my bf/gf get closer to God?
c. To find the one God has for you to MARRY.
“31 whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
*Date with the intention of finding your husband/wife because dating with no purpose or direction centered on God will bring you all kinds of trouble.
Wrong reasons to date:
1. For physical involvement.
2. For emotional security.
3. Because everybody else is.
WHO DO I DATE?
a. You need to date CHRISTIANS.
“3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” Amos 3:3
*Dating non-Christians will cause arguments over morals, faith, etc.
WHAT DO I AVOID IN DATING?
a. You must avoid ALL situations that will lead to SEXUAL SIN.
“3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” 1 Thessalonians 4:3
“5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires” Colossians 3:5
“18 Flee from sexual immorality.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
“22 Flee the evil desires of youth” 2 Timothy 2:22
“11abstain from sinful desires” 1 Peter 2:11
b. You must set yourself BOUNDARIES & LIMITS.
“3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality” Ephesians 5:3
“15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” Proverbs 4:15
c. PLAN with PURPOSE.
*From the beginning of the date to the very end; keep it Christ-centered.”
“14 clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14
Helpful suggestions on planning a Biblical date:
1. Time – Don’t stay out too late. (Nothing good happens after midnight.)
2. Place – Make sure it’s a public place; don’t go to a spot where you are totally alone.
3. Atmosphere – Avoid places that will arouse your senses for lustful/sexual ideas and feelings. (Ex. Parties, going to movies just to makeout, going to movies with sexual content, being alone, places with low lights and soft music, etc.)
4. Talk & Dress – Certainly avoid talking about sexual things; even crude jokes & don’t dress in a way that makes your date focus on your body – the focus needs to be on your personality!
5. PRAYER – Start each date and end each date with prayer. Give your date to God!
“31 whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (Even dating!!)
“14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
“3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
WHY ARE GIRLS SO WEIRD & WHY ARE GUYS SO STRANGE?
*The Differences*
Girls are….. / RELATIONAL / Guys are….. / PHYSICALGirls are….. / VERBAL / Guys are….. / VISUAL
Girls prefer….. / ROMANCE / Guys prefer….. / ACTION
Girls tend to______their emotions / EXPRESS / Guys tend to______their emotions / THINK
A girls’ sex drive is….. / SLOW / A guys’ sex drive is….. / FAST
“21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.” Proverbs 7:21-23
*Premarital sex is the most powerful & most destructive sin we come across.
What do we do about this?
1. Recognize that God has designed you as an ORIGINAL MASTERPIECE.
“13 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth” Psalm 139:13-15
a. God wants you to be holy – HOLY means “TO BE SET APART” (different)
2. Understand the differences between guys & girls and HONOR ONE ANOTHER.
“10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
“4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
3. Make a commitment to honor God with YOUR BODY.
“15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!” 1 Corinthians 6:15
*God’s creative design is seen in who we are….our response to that design will REFLECT OUR FAITH in either the world’s way or God’s way. You choose!
“14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
WHAT IS MARRIAGE FOR?
1. The woman was created to be the man’s PARTNER.
“20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.” Genesis 2:20
a. God created Eve from Adam’s rib; not from Adam’s skull and not from Adam’s feet. This shows us that a woman is not the boss and she’s not a slave. They are partners.
WHAT IS THE HUBAND’S/WIFE’S JOB?
HUSBAND’S JOB / WIFE’S JOBLove wife like Jesus loved the Church (He died for it) – Ephesians 5:25 / Build up the family – Proverbs 14:1
Protect wife – Ephesians 5:25 / Trustworthy to her husband; Strong & respectable – Proverbs 31:11; 25
Be respectable – Proverbs 31:23 / Take care of the family; work hard for the family – Proverbs 31:21-22; 27
Take care of wife – Ephesians 5:28 / Teach wisdom to her kids – Proverbs 31:26
Serve wife – Ephesians 5:29 / Respect & serve the Lord – Proverbs 31:30
Teach wisdom to his kids – Ephesians 6:4 / Submissive to husband (like the Church is to Jesus) – Ephesians 5:22-24
Body is for wife’s sexual pleasure – 1 Corinthians 7:4-6 / Respect husband – Ephesians 5:33
Remain faithful to wife – 1 Corinthians 7:24 / Body is for husband’s sexual pleasure – 1 Corinthians 7:4-6
*This world says to you and it shows you that marriage is a temporary thing. You get married for the wrong reasons (‘fell in love’, had a child out of wed-lock, for sex, for money & security, for identity, etc.) and then when you’re tired of it, or when you get what you wanted, you can divorce and it’s ok. This is WRONG and it destroys families!
FINAL THOUGHT: Marriage is FOR LIFE.
The only way out of a marriage is by death or if a husband/wife commits adultery.
“39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:39
“9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Matthew 19:9