Are You Ready For It?
by Kris Swiatocho and Pastor Dan Houk
(Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Intentional Relationships for Singles 12-week Bible Study.)
God created us for deep, healthy, and mutually beneficial relationships with our family, kids, spouses, co-workers, and friends. These relationships were designed to transform us into better versions of ourselves. That is how God works in our lives. Our relationship with Him makes us who He always intended us to be, which affects everyone in our lives.
In addition to the world’s definition of what it means to be single, well-meaning Christians often miss the mark with spiritual-sounding advice to their single friends. This advice may be “God will bring you someone when you least expect it,” or “You’re lucky you’re single; being married is hard,” or “God will bring you ‘the one’ in His timing,” or “Maybe God is trying to teach you a lesson.” Though some of these sentiments may be true, only God would know. It’s far more likely due to complex circumstances and our broken world than to any simple factor.
These kinds of comments cause unintentional hurt to single Christians who want to be married. Like many achievements in life, finding the one you want to marry is best approached with the right perspective and effort. We are relational beings, but relationships aren’t easy.
Our primary goal in the Intentional Relationship for Singles study is to help single Christians in their desire to marry the right person. But we also know this curriculum can improve your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. The wisest man who ever lived said: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.“ – Proverbs 9:9 (NASB)
Take your time, invite the Holy Spirit to speak, and answer the questions below. Your answers will help you in determining the value that this study could have for you.
• Have you repeated mistakes from your past relationships, including family and friends?
• Do you struggle to maintain healthy boundaries?
• How healthy is your conflict resolution with others?
• Have you had difficulty defining whether a relationship was dating or friendship?
• Do you have deep friendships?
• Do you believe your relationship expectations fit with reality?
• Do you have people to whom you are accountable?
• Do you want to have an understanding of your identity?
• Do you want a healthier approach to dating that works?
• Do you want to have more fulfilling opposite sex relationships?
• Do you want to better understand God’s desire for your life and relationships?
• Do you want to get married? Why?
Order your copy of Intentional Relationships for Singles' 12-week Bible study to learn more. This study covers topics on why our relationships fail, identity, gender differences, boundaries, conflict, blind spots, friendship (in all our relationships—family, work, church, neighbors, friends), but also intentional friendship, including red, yellow, and green flags, intentional dating, and engagement.
(Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Intentional Relationships for Singles 12-week Bible Study.)
God created us for deep, healthy, and mutually beneficial relationships with our family, kids, spouses, co-workers, and friends. These relationships were designed to transform us into better versions of ourselves. That is how God works in our lives. Our relationship with Him makes us who He always intended us to be, which affects everyone in our lives.
In addition to the world’s definition of what it means to be single, well-meaning Christians often miss the mark with spiritual-sounding advice to their single friends. This advice may be “God will bring you someone when you least expect it,” or “You’re lucky you’re single; being married is hard,” or “God will bring you ‘the one’ in His timing,” or “Maybe God is trying to teach you a lesson.” Though some of these sentiments may be true, only God would know. It’s far more likely due to complex circumstances and our broken world than to any simple factor.
These kinds of comments cause unintentional hurt to single Christians who want to be married. Like many achievements in life, finding the one you want to marry is best approached with the right perspective and effort. We are relational beings, but relationships aren’t easy.
Our primary goal in the Intentional Relationship for Singles study is to help single Christians in their desire to marry the right person. But we also know this curriculum can improve your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. The wisest man who ever lived said: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.“ – Proverbs 9:9 (NASB)
Take your time, invite the Holy Spirit to speak, and answer the questions below. Your answers will help you in determining the value that this study could have for you.
• Have you repeated mistakes from your past relationships, including family and friends?
• Do you struggle to maintain healthy boundaries?
• How healthy is your conflict resolution with others?
• Have you had difficulty defining whether a relationship was dating or friendship?
• Do you have deep friendships?
• Do you believe your relationship expectations fit with reality?
• Do you have people to whom you are accountable?
• Do you want to have an understanding of your identity?
• Do you want a healthier approach to dating that works?
• Do you want to have more fulfilling opposite sex relationships?
• Do you want to better understand God’s desire for your life and relationships?
• Do you want to get married? Why?
Order your copy of Intentional Relationships for Singles' 12-week Bible study to learn more. This study covers topics on why our relationships fail, identity, gender differences, boundaries, conflict, blind spots, friendship (in all our relationships—family, work, church, neighbors, friends), but also intentional friendship, including red, yellow, and green flags, intentional dating, and engagement.
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