Talk

How to Date

Ben Stuart
September 23, 2019

Continuing our collection Single, Dating, Engaged, Married, Ben Stuart challenges the way dating is viewed in our culture today and gives us 7 things to consider in the dating process.

Key Takeaway

Cast all your cares about dating on the Lord. Lean not on your own understanding but on God to set your path straight during this dating season. God advises us to be patient when evaluating if we are meant to run next to someone for all of our days.

How you should date…

1.   Date prayfully.

2.   Date with clarity.

3.   Date with autonomy.

4.   Date with purity.

5.   Date graciously.

6.    Date with community.

7.   Date patiently.

“
“Dating is not something you secure to feel safety; it is proximity for the purpose of evaluation.”
”
Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you trust God with your story to find you a life partner?

Scripture References

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

2He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.
3I want you to swear by the
Lord
, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
5The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”
6“Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said.
7“The
Lord
, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
8If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
5Trust in the
Lord
with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
26An honest answer

is like a kiss on the lips.

22He who finds a wife finds what is good

and receives favor from the

Lord
.

16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
17But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
16A kindhearted woman gains honor,

but ruthless men gain only wealth.

22What a person desires is unfailing love;

better to be poor than a liar.

14For lack of guidance a nation falls,

but victory is won through many advisers.

6Surely you need guidance to wage war,

and victory is won through many advisers.

Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.