1. Marriage and Dating: A Biblical Perspective

2. What is Marriage? Marriage is a Covenant –A Covenant is a PROMISE 1 Samuel 18:3/ 2 Samuel 9 Genesis 15:9-17/Jeremiah 34:18-19 God is the the ultimate Covenant Keeper; He is the ultimate Promise Keeper; Our promise keeping should reflect God’s covenant, promise keeping character –The Reason we take PROMISES seriously is because God does (everything we are/have is by promise) –The Marriage Covenant is not just a declaration of present love but a PROMISE of future love; it is unconditional

3. Do you, John, take Jane whom you now hold by the hand to be your lawful and wedded wife, and do you promise in the presence of God and these witnesses to be to her a faithful, loving and devoted husband, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?

4. Do you, Jane, take John whom you now hold by the hand to be your lawful and wedded husband, and do you promise in the presence of God and these witnesses to be to her a faithful, loving and obedient wife, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?

5. What is Marriage? Marriage is a Covenant A Covenant creates predictability in an unpredictable world, therefore providing true security

6. The Purpose of Marriage Marriage is created for the welfare and happiness of mankind –Marriage is an ordinance given by God for the promotion of man’s happiness and God’s glory –Genesis 2:24: Joy is experienced in an Intimate Union

7. Though Adam had God, it was not good that he was alone with just God. Though God may satisfy our deepest longings, he does not satisfy all of our longings. God does not exclusively fill the human heart. He made humankind to need more than himself. The staggering humility of God to make something that was not be fully satisfied with the Creator and the creation is incomprehensible.

8. The Purpose of Marriage Marriage is created for the welfare and happiness of mankind –Marriage is an ordinance given by God for the promotion of man’s happiness and God’s glory –Genesis 2:24: An Intimate Union Marriage sanctifies us –Ephesians 5:25-27/1 Peter 3:1-2; 2:21-25 –Through the husband’s Christ-like leadership –Through confrontation –Through its’ permanence

9. The Purpose of Marriage Marriage is to reflect the relationship of Christ and the Church to the watching world –Unconditional, permanent love of Christ (Romans 5:8 love) –Beyond the “Just-Us” Mentality: Shared vision

10. For Dating Marriage is a covenant –You need to get to the point where you know enough to commit because you’ll never know everything. Vision, Character, Spiritual Maturity/Life Maturity, Chemistry (Personality/Physical) The Purpose of Marriage –Joy in Oneness Don’t date out of emptiness Beware of Counterfeit Oneness (Emotional, Spiritual, Physical)

11. For Dating The Purpose of Marriage –Sanctification Through Husbands Leadership: –Find a man who can lead you Through Confrontation and Permanence –Find a person rooted in the Gospel –Help each other grow in the Gospel –Reflect Christ to a watching world Starting now seek to be a couple that serves