FELLOWSHIP

As your relationship unfolds, you want to make sure it has a spiritual foundation. For your relationship to be strong, love for God must be the common passion of your hearts. Courtship is the time to grow in your ability to share this passion for God and learn to encourage each other in your faith.

Growing in biblical fellowship involves sharing with other Christians the most important aspect of our lives – the reality of Jesus Christ and His work in us. It involves praying together as well as talking about what God is teaching us and showing us.

Men, it’s our responsibility to take the lead in biblical fellowship. Find out how you can be praying for each other. Take time to talk about what God is teaching you in your individual walks with Him.

There are many other ways to grow in fellowship. You can read Christians books together, talk about sermons after a Sunday service, and discuss how you’re going to apply what you learn. During our courtship, Shannon and I read the book of Acts together and sent e-mails back and forth about what we were learning.

Another important part of fellowship is spurring each other on in righteousness. Nate, a young man from Great Britain, did this in his courtship with Clare by inviting her to point out any areas of compromise she observed in his life. “I would consistently ask is she saw any attitudes or behaviors that were offensive or dishonoring to her, others, or God.”

Guarding the fruit of true biblical fellowship means increasing your love and passion for God, not your emotional dependence on each other. Your goal is to point each other to Him. All the ideas shared for growing in fellowship have to be guarded from abuse. We should never use spiritual activities as a way to grab for more intimacy than is appropriate for our relationship.

One couple I know wound up in sexual sin as a result of their extended times of “prayer” in his car. Others use the façade of “talking about spiritual things” to share every private details about themselves prematurely. Although there’s a place for confessing areas of sin to each other and asking for accountability, this should never be of sexual nature. Our primary source or accountability should be with members of the same sex.

Another part of guarding our hearts in fellowship involves making sure we’re not trying to take God’s place in each other’s lives. If you’re beginning to look to each other as your main source of comfort, encouragement, and courage, something is wrong. Remind each other to find your souls satisfaction in God alone.

Written By: Joshua Harris

From his Book: BOY MEETS GIRL (Say Hello to Courtship)

God Bless Us..

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