How do I know if I am ready for a relationship

This is one question that is asked time and time again and is not a clear cut and dry answer.

Definitions

Relationship:

the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.

Family Relationship:

We are all here because of the relationship between a man and a woman.

these are a our generally our first relationships either biological or chosen we are brought into a relationship with people

parents grand parents, adoptive parents, these are our family

and a beautiful representation of the relationship we have with God who is our father, Christ who is our brother

Friends:

77% of awake time with friends

88% of awake time communicating with our friends for those 13-18 years old on social media or face to face

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”- CS Lewis

friendship is something we choose to participate in. It makes our lives so much greater. however we want to be extremely careful as to who we are friends with as it can influence us very greatly

Community

We all are parts of community. whether we know it or not we all engage in communal relationships

Dating

This is one of the one we are all wondering about

Can anyone tell me a bible verse about dating?

Guess what it doesn't say anything about it

now this makes it difficult for us to have a biblical world view, or does it?

Last week we discussed creation

Genesis 2:18–24 ESV

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

One thing to note is the term helper used here does not place to woman as less that man but rather expresses the mutual need that the two have for one another. nothing in all creation could be there for Adam the way that eve was. they needed each other and loved each other. they became husband and wife and held fast to one another

This one flesh is the two people becoming one flesh. It is the most intimate thing that could ever be done as the man and woman are joined together sexually, physically, emotionally and spiritually

Why we date:

Matthew 19:5–6 ESV

5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

We date because we want to find someone that is our other half

Life is meant to be done with another person we are literally made to be with another person

“Within this Christian vision of marriage, here's what it means to fall in love. It is to look at another person and get a glimpse of what God is creating, and to say, "I see who God is making you, and it excites me! I want to be part of that. I want to partner with you and God in the journey you are taking to his throne. And when we get there, I will look at your magnificence and say, 'I always knew you could be like this. I got glimpses of it on earth, but now look at you!”

Marriage is a beautiful picture of the love that God has for us.

We also desire in all we do is to glorify God

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

so when we date we are called to do so in a fashion that is god honouring

This means dating should be:

mature

premissable

pure

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 ESV

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We are called to honour God

Ephesians 6:1–4 ESV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Who to date:

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Who not to date:

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

People who dont glorfiy God

people who pull you from God

Advice:

DAte someone who makes you love God more

Date someone when you are maturing

Song of Solomon 8:4 ESV

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.