Here are some thoughts from my talk last night on dating.  For more on this topic, please read Dating and Freedom by Les Newsome and Singled Out for Good by Paige Benton Brown.  You can also checked out Mark Driscoll's talking on dating at http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/religionsaves/dating

Some Things to Think about

1.     How is your relationship with Jesus? (you first need to work on your relationship with Jesus before anyone else.) i.e. Hosea and Ephesians (Christ is the husband we are the bride.) So how is your relationship with Christ?

2.     Are you believing the cultural lies? or Are you believing the gospel?

3.     Do you accept that marriage is for holiness before happiness?

Pieces of advice from Mark Driscoll  The following thoughts are from Mark Dricoll's book Religion Saves.  

1.     Maximize your singleness for God.  Study, preparing for life, travel the world

2.     Do not pursue a serious relationship until you are ready to marry.

3.     Be reasonable. (do not set your expectations to high or to low.)

4.     Do not be legalistic about dating (between a date and dating) 1 Timothy 5:1-2 on treating young Christian girls as sisters.

5.     Do not have any romantic relationships with someone who is non-Christian.

6.     You should be in a romantic relationship with only one person at a time.

7.      He should initiate and she should respond.

8.     You need to look at God puts in front of you.

9.     Feel free to use technology wisely. (facebook, texting, etc.) If you can not talk to the person face to face do not have those conversations over facebook or texting. Use technology wisely.

10.  Only date someone who agrees with you primary theological issues.

11.  Guard your heart. (If you give your heart away too quickly, you will find yourself either pushing to make the relationship work or being heartbroken when it falls apart.)

12.  Marry someone who will be a fit for every season of life that awaits you together.

13.  Do not have any sexual contact until marriage.