Dgw Ta 3-4: Dating For Marriage

Dating for Marriage

Discovering God’s Way - Teen/Adult, Year 3, Book 4

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Dating for Marriage

Written by Dee Bowman

Editors:

Layout & Design:

Robert Harkrider Arline Harkrider

Lauren Mayeux

Special Thanks:

George Hudgins

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Religious Supply Center, Inc 4001 Preston Highway Louisville, KY 40213 1-800-626-5348

TABLE OF CONTENTS Lesson 1: Getting Acquainted With Yourself........................................1 Lesson 2: Human Sexuality...............................................................6 Lesson 3: You and Your Life............................................................12 Lesson 4: Where Are You Going?......................................................17 Lesson 5: You and Your Thoughts.....................................................22 Lesson 6: You and Temptation.........................................................27 Lesson 7: True Love: What is it Anyway?...........................................32 Lesson 8: Dating............................................................................37 Lesson 9: Dating II..........................................................................41 Lesson 10: Marriage: God’s Arrangement.........................................44 Lesson 11: Preparing for Marriage...................................................50 Lesson 12: Watch Out!....................................................................57 Lesson 13: A Review.......................................................................61

Getting Acquainted With Yourself

1

introduction A young boy had been naughty and had been punished on account of it. Retiring to the back yard, he sat on the stoop of a porch at the back door and looked at the clouds passing overhead. He was sad and dejected, and felt sorry for himself. He began to think as the clouds passed over the sun: there must be some reason for all of this, but what is it? Why me? What is life anyhow? I wonder who I am, and what I’m here for. He didn’t understand, but he asked wise questions. There are three basic questions everyone faces early in life: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Your early answers to these questions will help you handle situations that arise throughout the course of your life. They seem so simple, but they’re so important. And the answers are not always easy. Furthermore, it takes thought and time to answer these questions, but it’s your life and it’s worth the investment. Too many people didn’t take the time to deal with these simple questions early on and as a result, they don’t have a happy, productive, and satisfying life.

focus The focus of this lesson is to get acquainted with yourself. That may sound a bit strange, but you’d be amazed at how many people don’t really know themselves. They’ve never really faced themselves and so they are often confused about what to do and how to live. It’s not easy to get acquainted with yourself. It takes a good deal of work and concentration. To do so you must begin at the beginning. At the beginning you will find these Lesson 1: Getting Acquainted With Yourself | 1

three fundamental questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? The answers to these questions will form the foundation for our study in this lesson and will have considerable impact on the entirety of our lessons for this quarter. If we get acquainted with ourselves, form good concepts about who and what we are and where we’re going, the other considerations having to do with dating and marriage will fall nicely into place. Let it be carefully noted that we are interested in what God says about who and what we are, and about what He says about dating and marriage. The voice of the people is not the voice of God. Culture is a poor mentor when it comes to determining our course of action. We are determined to let God speak to our needs. After all, He is our Creator and our Judge. So get you Bible out and get ready for an exciting look at dating and marriage and how you can make a secure, happy life by following the dictates and suggestions of the word of God.

Let’s begin with the follo wing questions: Who am I?

Why am I here?

Where am I going?

discussion Now, let’s take a look at what God’s word says about these questions and how His answers may differ from ours. Who am I? Genesis 1:26–What does this suggest about who I am?

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Genesis 2:18-24–What does this suggest about who I am?

Acts 17:24-28–What does this suggest about who I am?

Discussion question: How am I different from animals?

Why am I here? Genesis 1:26-28–What does this suggest about why I am here?

Proverbs 2:9–What does this suggest about why I am here?

Ecclesiastes 12:13–What does this suggest about why I am here?



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Romans 3:23–What does this suggest about why I am here?

Discussion question: How do I fulfill the purpose for which I am here?

Where am I going? Ecclesiastes 12:1–What does this suggest about where I am going?

Ecclesiastes 12:14–What does this suggest about where I am going?

Hebrews 9:27–What does this suggest about where I am going?

Discussion question: How can we avoid making poor choices about where we’re going?

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conclusion Let’s read James 1:22-25. Here is the perfect means of getting acquainted with yourself. It speaks of a mirror into which we can look and find an accurate reflection of who and what we are. If we are honest about what we see, we can make our lives into something productive and satisfying. If we ignore what we see, we are sowing the seeds for unhappiness and self-destruction. Learn this: “Know thyself” Remember: Ecclesiastes 12:13

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