1. WATCH OUT! Dating and Relationships

2. Where we started 1) God created male and female relationships to be the best picture of His love for His people that we have. That means that dating friendships should be encouraging each other toward Christ and that they should be more engaged in community, serving and loving others. 2) We talked about doing everything for the glory of God. Our whole- hearted love of our God will be the single most important attitude in our approach to dating and relationships. 3) We talked about preparing for dating by growing in our love for God and in the character the Bible tells us to cultivate, by communicating with and obeying parents, and by making sure that what we expect of dating and think about dating is being shaped by Biblical truth and not by our culture.

3. Culture Expectation #1 Always be on the lookout for the cute guy or cute girl we might get into a relationship with; we’re just waiting for romance to happen! BUT: 1) First, if we’re just looking for a romantic relationship or a boyfriend/girlfriend to be so much fun, that makes our hearts beat faster, we’ve likely entered the danger zone – idolatry! 2) The Bible calls us to patience and contentment with what God has for us right now.

4. Cultural Expectation #2 Love and relationships are about finding someone who meets what you want, who will let you be you and love you for being you. BUT: 1) This is contrary to everything the Bible tells us about love 2) This again reflects a misplaced hope. Yes, you want to think about the kind of person you would want to marry – and it’s someone who loves Jesus more than he/she loves you.

5. Cultural Expectation #3 You can make wise decisions about dating, relationships, and sexuality regardless of what you listen to, watch, how you dress and act, etc. BUT: 1) Why would we think we can surround ourselves with music, youtube, and movies that re-enforce the culture’s expectations and goals for relationships and sexuality and end up being biblically pure and faithful? 2) The Bible’s call is to live an integrated life of purity

6. Cultural Expectation #3 “An integrated life is one in which the gospel informs every area…we believe a life where gospel purity is integrated into the whole will not only strengthen how you handle yourself in dating but will also remind you that dating is but one area of life where you are called to live before God with clean hands and a pure heart.”

7. Cultural Expectation #4 Anything is fine (and fun) as long as no one gets hurt. Or the “Christianized” version: The Bible doesn’t really say anything about dating, romance, etc., so it’s really up to us to decide what physical boundaries we’re comfortable with, as long as we don’t cross the sex line.

8. Cultural Expectation #4 BUT: 1) The Bible’s most comprehensive book on love, marriage, relationships, and sexuality, repeats one line multiple times – do not awaken love before it’s time. - Our culture’s perspective is always – do as much as we can right now; how far can we go without sinning? The Bible says exactly the opposite. Do not awaken love before it’s time. - “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” Prov 22:5

9. Cultural Expectation #4 2) The Bible does give us some guidelines on physical boundaries. - 1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” - I am not saying that any guy or girl who like each other shouldn’t hang out and spend time together. But I’m saying if it is going to work, if it is going to be biblically faithful, wise, and God honoring, it has to be a friendship, not a special sort of relationship where romance and physical interaction are a key part.

10. Two Questions 1) First, why do I want to date or be in a relationship? What’s my goal and purpose? 2) Am I willing to consider Biblical wisdom, to trust and believe the Bible, and let it guide my life?