JOURNEY into “Better Relationships” Closeness Is Required

Journey into “better Relationships” TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS “JOURNEY” “U” MUST BE SPIRITUALLY PREPARED

Building Solid and Sure Our business is not to build quickly, but to build upon a right foundation, and right spirit. Life is more than a mere competition as between men and women; it is not who can work best; it is not who can rise highest in the shortest time, but who is working most patiently and lovingly in accordance with the designs of God.

TRIVIA QUESTION What King of Judah had 28 sons and 60 daughters?

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships Lonely In The Mist Of All That Beauty! Hey Wifey!!!… Gen. 2:18a “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” God’s creative work was not complete until He made woman. He could have made her from the dust of the ground, as He made man. God chose, how- ever, to make her from the man’s flesh and bone. In so doing, He illustrates for us that in marriage man and woman symbolically become one flesh. This is a mystical union of the couple’s hearts and lives

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships Our very existence is relationship oriented… Rom. 5:5b “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us” It’s the spark that ignites the flames of our love for God and one another!! If it’s gifts you want than: 1 Cor. 12:31 “But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way” Understanding that we are all different, but that God’s Holy Spirit is what holds us together for one common goal —“Love of God and of others”

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything A. First, We must understand the classifica- tions of love 1. All these loves expressed through us! a) eros (air-os) Physical or Sexual Intimacy b) Phileo (phi-lay-oh) Brother & Sister type, friendships an such Matt. 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners’” Here those speaking attempt to belittle “the Christ” by the word association of “friend of tax collectors and sinners” but as always Jesus wins out by the souls that are saved!!!

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything A. First, We must understand the classifica- tions of love 1. All these loves expressed through us! c) storge (store-gay) The family environ- ment type Parental in nature d) AGAPE (uh-gah-pay) Love uncondition- al, sacrificial 2. All four must be active in order for the marriage (relationship) to work and work good… 3. Joining a church, having great faith, spitting out a lot of Bible verses, liv- ing certain doctrines is not the end- all-be-all

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything A. First, We must understand the classifica- tions of love 3. Joining a church, having great faith, spitting out a lot of Bible verses, liv- ing certain doctrines is not the end- all-be-all Jn. 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another” You have to care for one another—PERIOD! B. second, we must realize the consequences of not loving 1. All we say is just noise…1Cor. 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal”

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything B. second, we must realize the consequences of not loving 1. All we say is just noise… Like a dull knife; just ain’t cuttin; “Just Talking Loud, and Sayin Nuttin” a) Talk must be a part of what you are as man & woman/Husband & Wife… There needs to be commo!!! Eph. 4:15a “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ”

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything B. second, we must realize the consequences of not loving 2. All we know is negated…1Cor. 13:2a “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge.. But have not love, I am nothing” a) Don’t be a “blow-heart”…1Cor. 8:1 “Now about foods sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” Don’t talk about it; Be about it!!!

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything B. second, we must realize the consequences of not loving 3. All our faith means nothing… 1Cor. 13:2b “And if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” The real question is not what we believe about Jesus, but what difference He has made in our lives a) What kind of faith…Gal. 5:6b “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships I.What’s Love Gotta Do With It— Everything B. second, we must realize the consequences of not loving 4. All our sacrifices are nullified… 1Cor. 13:3 “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” a) Love—the start point…Jn. 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one an- other. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” This is not asked of us; It is Commanded!!!

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships !!Owner of a lonely heart!! I am constantly moving towards a better relationship with my wife (Toni). A lot of times I’m moving slower than she would like, but I’m coming to the understanding that I do not want to complete this journey without her. Understanding love has taught me that I need her in my life to be “happy”. God showed me myself some times back, and I did not like what I saw. I want to love better so I stay close to Him. The consequences of being without love is something I never want to experience

THE PHRASE THAT PAYS!!!!!!!!!! MY FAITH WILL NEVER RISE ABOVE THE LEVEL OF MY CONFESSION

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships B.elievers I.nformation B.efore L.eaving E.arth

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships WHAT IT SAYS This is my Bible, I am who my Bible say I am, I can do what my Bible say I can do. I have what my Bible say I have, my Bible teaches my spirit, my spirit teaches my mind, and my mind teaches my body. My Bible is full of promises and command- ments, my Bible has good and bad examp- les. How do I know my Bible is true? By comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual things. I study my Bible to show myself approved, rightly dividing the Word of God.

Journey into “Better Relationships” The Foundation for Better Relationships Next Week!!!! The Supreme Ingredient in Relati0nships