God has a plan for every part of your life. He has a plan for your career, your church life, your community service, your financial life, your social calendar, and ultimately, your spouse and then your family.
Jeremiah 29:11-13, Psalm 37:3-4, Galatians 2:20
If we believe God really does have a plan for your life, then to “date” in a way that doesn’t honor Him just doesn’t make sense. So, how do we date in a way that honors God?
Make a list of your “non-negotiables” based on scripture
- Christian – 2 Corinthians 6:14
- Growing in their faith – Philippians 3:12-14
- Kind – Ephesians 4:32
- Compassionate – Luke 10:30-35
- Servant – John 13:1-9
- Trustworthy – Proverbs 6:16-19
- No pressure to do physical stuff – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
Narrow your pool of potential dates to those who agree with your “non-negotialbles”
- Watch people in various situations
- Talk to people who know them to find out if they’re for real
- Get to know someone before agreeing to go out with them – group settings are the best place to see them for who they really are, and to take the pressure off of you
Make God the center of your relationship
- Pray together – Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2
- Study together – not only together, but make God’s Word a vital part of your relationship – 2 Timothy 2:15
- Guard yourself against being alone in compromising situations – Galatians 6:1
- Guard what you watch and hear together – movies, concerts, TV shows, comedy routines, etc – Philippians 4:8
- Guard against allowing friends to soften your convictions – 1 Corinthians 16:13
Enjoy the relationship
- Don’t stress
- Don’t put unrealistic expectations on the other person or yourself – financially, socially, looks, working out, being something your not
- Encourage the other person more than you speak negatively to them 10 to 1
- Be creative planning dates – keep things simple at first – find mutual places of interest or activities of mutual interest
If the relationship doesn’t work out, then that person should ALWAYS say that they are better for having known you.
I welcome any thoughts on this stuff, and I’ll be glad to share them with the group.
Pastor Warren
ghbcyoungadults 
This is great stuff!! the only thing i would add to this list is that once you have gotten to know your “significant other”, you need to let them know up front your list of non-negotiables. The reason for this is because this is a win win for you. If they have been putting on a show for however many months the two of you have been “getting to know one another”, then the show will end there due to the fact that they will have realized they can’t change you. Also this will save you much wasted time in the sense of you being tempted and everything that comes with that. On the other hand this is also a win win because if they are on the same path you are, when you bring this up they will firmly agree with you! You will probably have the response of “I was going to say the same thing!” So this point and respect in all areas (especially from male towards females) is the only things i would add to this Christ-centered dating page. This is awesome!! Can’t wait to be back in HCO!! love you guys!
JA
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jesse,
You’re exactly right! You should have the talk about your “non-negotiables” very early in any relationship. It will prevent any confusion about where you stand, and it gives the other person a chance to proceed knowing what you’re about. The key to all this is being up front and communicating. If the other person wants to continue forward knowing where you stand, then you have taken off the pressure for either of you to be something your not.
Most relationships are built around being your “best” in front of that other person. You go places and do things you’re good at or comfortable with, but that isn’t a real picture of who either of you are.
You don’t build a real relationship on your “best”. You build it on reality. Starting from a base of your relationship with Christ being what is important gives you the opportunity to immediately move the relationship in the right direction, whether it lasts a month or a lifetime.
WG
LikeLike
yes sir! i completely agree! that was an awesome blog!
LikeLike