love, courtship, and marriage

What does the Bible

say about love,

courtship, marriage?

1 Corinthians 13:4-74 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is not…Something you "fall into" - a black hole

Love is not…Infatuation, Emotional loss of control, “Flipped out“, "Couldn't help myself."

Love is not… Evaluating

another by external criteria

"She's a #10"

Love is not… Selfish Interested in "getting" to satisfy your

needs

Love is not…Taking advantage of another

Love is not…Improper need fulfillment

Improper need fulfillment

Love is not…Lust. Hormones.

Lasciviousness, sensuality. "Let's get physical."

Improper need fulfillment

Love is not…

Sex "Making love."

Improper need fulfillment

Love is not…

Idolatry

True Love is…Respectful of the other

person's values, standards and opinions

Unselfish and unconditionalResponsible to seek the

highest good of the other person "for better or for worse"

Stage 1: Courtship

What does the Bible say about “Courtship”?

Huwag kayong makipamatok sa hindi mananampalataya sapagkat anong pakikipag-isa mayroon nga ang katuwiran sa hindi pagkilala sa kautusan ng Diyos? Anong pakikisama mayroon ang liwanag at kadiliman?

- 2 Mga Taga-Corinto 6:14

What does the Bible say about “Courtship”?

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

- 1 Corinthians 15:33

What does the Bible say about “Courtship”?

The Bible seriously warns us about dating non-Christians.

What does the Bible say about “Courtship”?

The Bible seriously warns us about dating non-Christians.

Avoid “missionary dating”

What does the Bible say about “Courtship”?

The Bible seriously warns us about dating non-Christians.

Avoid “missionary dating” Be careful of recreational

dating, where you date for the sake of dating.

The ultimate goal of dating or

courting is finding a life partner.

How young is too young to be in a romantic relationship?

Depends on the individual’s level of maturity, goals, and beliefs.

The younger we are, the less mature we are due to a lack of life experience.

If being marriage-minded is still far off, it is probably too early to begin dating or courtship.

Stage 2: Engagement

What does the Bible say about

“Engagement”?“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Genesis 2:24

What does the Bible say about

“Engagement”?Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.“

Genesis 2:18

What does the Bible say about

“Engagement”?“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (NIV)

Proverbs 4:23

Warnings on Sexual Immorality

1. Ephesians 5:3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Warnings on Sexual Immorality

2. 1 Corinthians 6:13bThe body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Warnings on Sexual Immorality

3. 1 Corinthians 6:18-2018 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

BottomlineAny and all sexual and pre-sexual activity should be restricted to married couples.

Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves

Stage 3: Marriage

What does the Bible say about

“Marriage”?1. Ephesians 5:31For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

What does the Bible say about

“Marriage”?2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-51 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life. 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

What does the Bible say about

“Marriage”?2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

What does the Bible say about

“Marriage”?3. Hebrews 13:4Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.