Paradigms The Process Friendship Courtship

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Godly Process Towards Marriage

• Courtship

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Seven Habits of highly defective dating

• Dating leads to intimacy but not necessarily to
  commitment.
• Dating tends to skip the friendship stage of the
  relationship.
• Dating often mistakes a physical relationship for
  love.
• Dating often isolates a couple from vital
  relationships.
• Dating in many cases distracts young people
  from the primary responsibility of preparing for
  the future.
• Dating can cause discontentment with Gods gift
  of singleness.
• Dating creates an artificial environment for
  evaluating another persons character.

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Paradigms
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Psalm 63
On my bed I remember you, I think of you through
the watches of the night Because you are my
help I sing in the shadow of your wings My soul
clings to you Your right hand upholds me  
O God, you are my God, Earnestly I seek you, My
soul thirsts for you, My body longs for you, In
a dry and weary land Where theres not water.
  I have seen you in the sanctuary And beheld
your power and glory Because your love is better
than life My lips will glorify you. I will praise
you as long as I live And in your name I will
life up my hands My soul will be satisfied with
the richest of foods With singing lips my mouth
will praise you.
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The Process

• Friendship
• Courtship
• Betrothal/Engagement/Lobola
• Marriage

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Friendships

• He/She must be a committed Christian
• Similar value or belief systems
• He/She must be of good conduct or character

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Courtship

• Am I ready to enter into a relationship that will
  end in marriage?
• 2. What is the source of these emotions or
  feelings?
• 3. Are this feelings or emotions mutual?

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Summary

• Build Godly friendships
• Watch, wait and pray
• Seek Godly counsel
• Check your motives
• Are you ready for marriage

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GROWING IN COURTSHIP ROMANCE
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Growing and Guarding In Courtship

• Friendship
• Growing friendship
• Guarding Friendship
• Fellowship
• Growing fellowship
• Guarding fellowship

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Growing and guarding through courtship

• Romance
• Growing romance
• Guarding romance

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Romance Wisdom

• A. Romance says I want it now, Wisdom urges
  patience
• B. Romance says, Let feelings decide what
  happens. Wisdom leads us to pursue a purposeful
  relationship
• C. Romance says, Enjoy the fantasy. Wisdom
  calls us to base our emotions and perceptions in
  reality