Youth & Young Adults

The Years of One's Youth, eight lessons by Jeff Smith. This series of lessons compose character studies of young people found in the Scriptures. This class book was written for high school to college age people. It could possibly be used for children as young as middle school although some of the themes in the class would be beyond their comprehension.

What is Dating?

The concept of dating varies from culture to culture. Dating may be defined as “a special kind of friendship between two people of the opposite sex that may lead to courtship, love and marriage.”

For young people who are still schooling or under training, they do not generally date acquaintances. How then would young people get to know one another? It is through group dating. Group dating is one in which a small group of those closer to you is chosen from among a large group of common friends. Group dating provides you with opportunities to learn about one another through communication both verbal and non-verbal.

It is through group dating that you learn to cultivate manners and learn how to give and take, how to conduct yourself in company and to enjoy the company of the opposite sex without being too involved emotionally with one person. Hence group dating offers you opportunities to grow socially in the right way. Many social activities can be arranged such as picnics, fishing, concert going, eating, attending fellowship meetings, etc.

Many a boy-girl relationship instead of being “just be friends” relationship prematurely becomes a single dating relationship, that is, they become lovers before becoming friends. This is infatuation and not true love.

Difference Between Infatuation and True Love

Infatuation is likened to a passing cloud, now here, gone later. Many people can be infatuated with more than one person at the same time: And it is characteristic of teenagers. It is based mainly on physical appearance. It is like the “real thing” to you when you are in it. However, when an infatuated person discovers more of the other party, the feelings often disappear as fast as they appeared. Many are turned off and scared away when the other party responds. It is love of emotion. It is “being carried away by unreasoning passion or attraction” (Webster). Love, on the other hand, is different. When a person is in love, he learns to accept and love the other person more as time goes by. Love lasts and progresses gradually and deeply; and there is understanding and acceptance.

Time brings two people in love closer together, rather than separates them as in the case of infatuation: out of sight, out of mind. A person in love is not bound by chains of anxiety or jealousy. The other party is free to be herself or himself. This does not happen to an infatuated person. True love is giving, not taking. Infatuation is a selfish and possessive emotion. This love of emotion can cause you to be infatuated with someone, for example, a Hollywood film star you don’t even know, and have never met. Genuine love is “a growing experience, based on mutually shared interests, beliefs, attitudes and goals.”

When are you Old Enough to Date and How?

This varies from individual to individual. Some manifest maturity and responsibility earlier than others of the same age. Readiness for dating therefore does not depend solely on chronological age but rather on one’s values, one’s maturity, and one’s understanding of the main purpose of dating which is to develop close friendship. It is not to practice your sex technique and petting skills. Keep yourself pure by taking heed to God’s Word:

1. Be sure to walk in God’s appointed way.
“My son, forget not my law: but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:1-4).

2. Trust in the Lord, acknowledge Him in all your ways.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

3. Listen to parental instruction for your own good.
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Proverbs 1:8-9). Because of their experience, wisdom and knowledge, God can use parents to guide their children in their dating relationships. Parents, it must be realized, do have the benefit of objectivity.

4. Hon our and obey your parents.
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).

5. Exercise self-control.
There is a time for everything. To be self-controlled is to do everything in its proper time. These are words of wisdom from king Solomon (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). Self control is one of the virtues of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul’s advice to young Timothy was to “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace....” (II Timothy 2:22).

6. Don’t be yoked with an unbeliever.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (II Corinthians 6:14-16).

How to Stay out of Trouble

Ninety per cent of your temptations on a date will be overcome if you remember and practice two simple guidelines:

GUYS
a. You will have problems being excited by a look, since most of your prime temptation will come visually; so guard your eyes. Keep a “Job’s covenant,” and you will keep the doorway to your mind and emotions.

b. You will give a girl a problem by touch, so keep your hands to yourself! If you take care of your eyes and hands, you will not be burned on a date.

GIRLS
a. You are going to give a guy problems by the way you dress, so watch it! Don’t dress to stir lust in your boyfriend; dress as if you were going to be ushered into Heaven right on your date, and Jesus will not be ashamed of you. Help keep him from temptation by the right clothes (I Timothy 2:9-10).

b. Keep a “hands off” attitude with your date. It may be hard to say “No” but you must. No heavy necking or petting can develop this way. If your boyfriend doesn't’t understand because he doesn't’t want to understand, repeat it a couple of times, then use this “emergency” prayer:

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Ebooks & Articles For Youth & Young Adults

A Book for Boys and Girls by John Bunyan here

A Children's Bible Read Online here

A Children's Bible ( PDF file) here

A Child's Story of the Bible by Mary A. Lathbury read online here

A Daily Bible Method Reading of the Bible Done Successfully here
(Bible Reading Methods, Structures of the Bible, Best Translations to Use,Where to Start )

A Day Study in Stewardship by Tim Keller here

Bible in Its Making by Mildred Duff & Noel Hope here
(The Most Wonderful Book in the World)

Bibles Stories & Classics read online here

Check out our Children Section here

Directions For Young Christians by Richard Baxter here

Do All to the Glory of God by Watchman Nee here
(Marriage, Mating, Husband & Wife, Parenthood, Friendship, Recreation, Speech, Clothing & Eating, Managing Your Finances etc.)

How to get the Most From Reading Your Bible by Thomas Watson here

Pilgrim's Process by John Bunyan here

The Thomas Welch Story by Thomas Welch here

The Victory List of Bible Promises by Robert Gunn here

The Years of One's Youth eight lessons by Jeff Smith here.
This series of lessons compose character studies of young people found in the Scriptures.

The Young Man Leaving Home by John Angell James here

Twenty Minutes A Day (A Daily Bible Reading Plan) by Robert Gunn here

Wee Ones Bible Stories online here

Young Men Exhorted to Come to Christ by Thomas Boston here

 

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