Alternative to P2P - Purity Curriculum

• Puberty
• Let me grow
• Peer Pressure
• There is a time for that

Puberty

Objective:  

• This lesson is meant to precede the school presentation to the children about  puberty.
• The idea is to complete the truth for the children by teaching them that  God is involved in their development.
• He develops their bodies and souls ONLY to  live in purity and godliness and glorify His name.  

 Memory Verse  

“So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male  and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

 Lesson Outline:

 First Session:

Using the creation story to illustrate that God is in charge of their development.  

• Today, we are going to begin by reading about the creation of Adam and Eve. We’ll  see that God created us humans in His own image. He used His own hands and  fashioned our bodies out of dust then breathed into us. “And the LORD God formed  man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and  man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7  After God had already created light and separated it from darkness, then formed  the heavens, the seas, the sun, the moon, and the stars; He created the plants and  trees to cover the earth. He then created all living beings, such as birds, fish and all types of animals. God’s last creation was Man. Let’s read Genesis 1:24-29.
• This  passage shows us that Man was created in God’s image and in His likeness. Next, let’s  look at Genesis 2:7-9. In these verses, we see that God made Adam out of the ground  and literally breathed life into him. All that God had created was good. But God noticed  that Adam did not have a companion. In Genesis 2:21-25, we read about the creation  of Eve who came from Adam’s rib. In Genesis 3, we see that Adam and Eve disobeyed  God and ate from the fruit of the tree, which God commanded them not to eat from.  
• As a result, in verse 7, the Bible says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened,  and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made  themselves coverings”.  Before Adam and Eve sinned, they were not ashamed of their nakedness. They were  pure in heart and mind; their eyes also were pure and they respected each other’s  bodies. The Bible tells us that God would walk in the garden and would talk to Adam  and Eve.
• This shows us that they also had a very close relationship with God. But after  they sinned, they felt ashamed and hid from God. They also made clothing to cover  their bodies. And they did not have the same type of relationship anymore.
• This is how  things have been since sin entered the world. Through our Lord Jesus, we are able to  remain pure in heart, mind, and eyes.  From reading about the creation story, we notice that God is the one who is in  charge of creating things. He is also in charge of developing all things that He created.  Also notice that as opposed to everything else, He created us humans by His own hand,  He fashioned our bodies and souls to be in His likeness and image. He is also the one  that develops our bodies during puberty.  
• Puberty is that specific age where God decides that your body and mind will start  to develop and start maturing until you are transformed from being a child to a fully  blossomed adult.  When you will take this lesson of puberty and physical development of your body  in school, you may not hear anything about God, the creator of your body! Isn’t that  weird?  Let me ask you this question.
• If you prepared the greatest project for school, is it  right that someone takes it and presents it the whole school as if it was his own and  not attributing it to you? Of course not! That would be wrong and unfair.  Let me ask you a follow-up question. What if after making your project you  developed and updated it for a very good purpose like helping people and making  everyone happy. Then someone took it and started to use this developed updated  version for an evil purpose, what do you think of that? Of course, that would be sinful  and evil.
• The same applies to your body that God will be actively working in developing  it during puberty and the years of adolescence, for glorifying Him by good deeds. But  Satan will try to convince you that he is the one working in it. Please be reminded and  alert of the fact that Satan is a liar and a murderer. (John 8: 44).
• Our bodies are godly and holy, in fact, we were created in the image of God Himself.  As Christ-followers, we are the children of light and we are pure. Satan tries his best  to get us in trouble by tempting us as he did with Adam and Eve. He wants us to  disobey God. He often uses the media, classmates or anyone else to take our purity  away with ungodly thoughts and actions. He often tells us things like “It’s not a big  deal – everyone else is doing it”. Or “I have to do this if I want to be popular”. Satan’s  goal is to make you forget that your body is God’s creation and to make you think that  it has nothing to do with God. Then he will invite you to use it to destroy yourself and  others. But we need to fight back and hold tight to our purity.  How can we do that? We need to be prepared!  
• Let’s find out how to be prepared. First, I want to ask you some questions. Can a  soldier fight in a war without his weapon? No. Can a teacher teach in class without  having knowledge? No. And can a fisherman catch fish without a rod or net? Of course  not.
• So, for us to be prepared, we need two things:
  • A spiritual plan
  • An educational plan.  
• First, let’s talk about having a spiritual plan. Ephesians 6:10-13 talks about the  armor of God. We are to put on not just part of the armor, but the whole armor of God.  That armor will allow us to stand up to Satan and the temptations he throws at us.  Like we said before, Satan uses all sorts of tricks to get us to sin. His goal is to cause  us to sin and then to be so discouraged that we give up trying to be pure. But we know  that if we are truly sorry for our actions, we can pray and ask God to forgive us. If we  repent, God is merciful and loving and grants us forgiveness.  
• So, our spiritual plan is to put on the armor of God so we can be protected against  Satan’s attacks. What about the educational plan? Knowledge gives us power. And 1  Corinthians 2:16 says that we have the mind of Christ.  
• We need to fill our minds with God’s word, which helps us know the difference  between right and wrong. During this phase of your life, we as Sunday school servants  know that you are growing and changing, and we want to help you through these  changes. As we said before, puberty can be a bit confusing if you don’t know what to  expect. So, you need to have the right information. But you also need to realize that  not everyone has the correct information. Your parents and Sunday school servants  are good people to ask if you have questions. Your school friends are probably not an  accurate source for correct information. Please remember that you can come to us with  questions and we will do our best to help guide you.  
• So, at this time of your life, you’re considered “a tween”. You’re no longer a kid,  but you’re not quite an adult yet. You’re in between stages and your body is starting  to go through many changes. In the next few years, you’ll be making lots of tough  choices, which can affect you in many ways.
• The good news is that all these changes you are going through are normal and  handled by God’s own hidden hands. Not only that, but these are among the healthiest  years of your life. It’s important to remember that God is in charge of all the changes  you are going through. This includes how your mind is growing, how your body is  changing and how your feelings might be different than before.  The best news is that even though you are changing, you are still YOU. Puberty and  adolescence are normal stages of life that every child goes through. God created your  body to work according to His plan. Your growing and changing body might be a  mystery to you, but not to God, He designed it very carefully. We, humans, are the  most amazing creation of God, and the Bible tells us that we were wonderfully made  according to His likeness and image. 

Quick break

• Let’s review some of the physical  changes you might be going through.  
• During puberty, you should expect to  grow in your height and weight.
• The  skin on your face may change and not  be as clear as before.
• You might be  extra tired and feel like you need to  sleep more.
• You also might be  hungrier than before. From His great  love and care, God has prepared a specific hormone (a chemical in your body) called  Estrogen, which is responsible for your growth as a girl to be a young lady and blossom  to be a fully mature adult in the near future.  
• These specific body changes are the following:  
  • 1. Breast development begins between 8 and 13 years of age and continues  through puberty.  
  • 2. The growth of pubic hair starts between 8 and14 years of age and  continues through puberty, the hair becomes darker and coarser and grows  like an inverted triangle.  
  • 3. Growth spurt and weight gain are perfectly normal. Without gaining  this weight, you cannot grow taller and develop the female body.  
  • 4. Underarm hair begins to grow about 2 years after pubic hair shows up.
  • 5.Development of sweat glands which increases sweating. (This requires frequent baths and attention to personal hygiene
  • 6. Acne: Small pimples may appear in the face due to clogging of sweat gland, this needs face washing with lukewarm water twice daily. Avoid touching them to avoid infection.
  • 7. Menstruation: Two years or so after your breasts start to probably get your first period that usually lasts about 2-8 days and comes every 21 to 35 days. A 28-day cycle is common however;, it takes a while before your periods are regular.
    • This is briefly how it workS: Each month, the lining of your uterus thickens with blood, that lining sheds off every month and blood comes out of your private parts. Please don't be scared, this is perfectly normal and all women you know have gone through it safely. Only 2-3 tablespoons of blood are released during your period, but it can seem like a lot more. You have to use special pads during this time; your mom or female servant can help you choose the most suitable brand for your body. Don't worry, all the girls your age and up will be using them! Remember, personal hygiene is extremely important.
  • 8. Vaginal discharge: You may notice white, sticky stuff in your underpants. That's the fluid that keeps your private parts moist and clean. Vaginal discharge may become thicker and stickier at some points during your menstrual cycle. It has a slight odor, but most people can't smell it. Bathing regularly with soap can help reduce the odor. If your private parts become itchy or the discharge has a strong odor or is dark yellow or greenish, you may have an infection and you need to see your doctor.

Quick break!

Remember these very important points about your physical development:

1. Each one of you will go through these changes at different times and rates So, don't worry if you are growing quicker or slower than others. God's timing for you is perfect.
2. These changes are performed by God's blessing and hidden hand that works inside of your body.
   
3. It is for a great cause, and that is, developing you as His mature young man/lady representing Him amongst other humans that may not know Him.
4. Therefore, these changes are very holy and are preparing you to be God’s  Holy man/lady in the near future.
5. These changes should not be a subject for worldly exploration or ungodly  discussions.
6. Be specifically careful from watching any ungodly videos or images that can  destroy God’s beautiful image in your mind. 
7. Be very careful not to engage in any inappropriate exploratory touching  whether of your own private organs or those of others that can turn into  ungodly habits.
8. If you by any chance fall into any of the above-mentioned ungodly habits,  please consult with your father of confession as early as possible to help you  get rid of them through the grace of God.  

Conclusion  

• Today, we reviewed how God created everything, and that He created the first  humans with His own hands at His likeness and image. Today, He is about to work in  your holy body and develop it to become a blossomed adult to glorify His name. It is  our duty to keep our bodies pure for Him.  After Adam and Eve sinned, all people had to deal with temptation. We must  consciously work hard to keep ourselves pure. We can keep our bodies pure by being  prepared.
•  This includes putting on the armor of God and having the mind of Christ. We can  stay on course by keeping God’s commandments and staying away from people,  things, places or situations that tempt us  
• Remember, knowledge is power, so reach out to trusted adults, such as your father  of confession, parents, and Sunday school teachers about any questions you may have.  
• That is why we had you and your parents here today. Don’t be afraid to ask any  questions that you may have and we will answer them with the truth of God. We want  you to be informed with correct information so that you have an understanding and  are not confused.  
• Please do not rely on the TV, movies, the Internet or magazines for information.  
• Remember, all the changes you are going through are normal and you are not  alone. God loves you and has a special plan just for you.  

Let me grow

Objective

To help girls understand the concept of purity and worth in Christ.

Memory Verse
"Do not stir up nor awaken love. Until it pleases" (Song of Solomon 2:7).
"Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house; So, the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him. The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace, Her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors" (Psalm 4 5:10-14)
"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well" (Psalm 139:14)

Introduction
(Background Research for Servants)
Things to keep in mind when preparing for a lesson but not to be included in the lesson.

Hormones are tiny chemicals in a female body that cause these changes during  this age: 

• Breast development
• Body and Pubic Hair growth
• Menstruation or “Period” – why do we bleed?
• Body Odor
• Widening of the hips
• Self-consciousness
• Moods and rages  

1. God’s Plan for Purity:

• Men and women were created to live a holy life, glorify His name  and bear children that also glorify His name.
• God created our organs to glorify Him and to develop unity in a  MARRIED couple. It is part of the marriage relationship designed to  bring them closer. The bond of marriage is responsibility and love.
• It is a profound mystery, beautiful to understand. God’s love for the  church is like the love of a man to his wife; protective, unified and  sacrificial.  

2. How does the Devil mess it up?

• The holy, sanctified and the lifelong relationship of marriage according to  God’s design has been transformed into a casual, temporary and self-serving  relationship.
• Satan took this holy union and said it is just an expression of love and any  two who love each other are allowed to practice it.
• He convinces people it is a basic need of the body and a natural thing to  happen. 
• Encourage all movies, games, cartoons and everything around us to point to sex indirectly and fool people by his twisted ideas about God's plan.

It is important to create a safe space for girls to feel comfortable to have this conversation. The lesson should be more of a discussion than a presentation. Leave room for the girls to share their thoughts and feelings - and keep the main points in
mind.

Activity
Write out the following questions on a giant piece of paper each (5 total) and put them around the room. Give colorful pens and post-it notes to the girls and have them go around to each poster and put their answers up. After they do that- go around and
discuss the answers before jumping into the lesson.

1. Why don't I look like the women on TV and movies?
2. I like to wear nice clothes that attract guys. Is that ok?
3. Why did God give us sex? Is it controllable?
4. I want to know about sexual stuff and learn about it- is that ok? What should I do if I see a bad image?
5. Can I tell my father of confession everything during confession?

Lesson Outline
After a brief prayer and introduction- start answering the questions

1. Why don't I look like the women on TV and movies?
   • God has made each one of us in His image
   • We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
   • Must remember we need to be accepted by God
   • Mention how those on media spend years starving themselves and have teams helping them look good,
   • Our job is to focus on our inner beauty.
2. I like to wear nice clothes that attract guys. Is that ok?
   • Guys are more visual- that means they often look at appearance
   • There is nothing wrong with looking nice- but it is important to protect what God has given you.
   • You can look nice and stylish without dressing provocatively or wanting to get a guy's attention.
   • The guy who just pays attention to looks is not the kind of guy you want attention from.
   • Good guys share values of modesty and purity and worth waiting for.
     Share the video on the model: http://www.modeling-christ.com/

3. Why did God give us sex? Is it controllable?

   • Sex is an expression of love between  two who have been united through the  work of the Holy Spirit. (John 10:6-9)

   • When experienced in the holy bond of  marriage as God has designed it, it is  good.

   • Real love gives and not takes; first, you  give your mind, heart, and soul and  then last even the body to the person  that you loved and bonded with  through God in marriage. This is the  completion of this love, this is the  system that God has created for us in  marriage.

   • Yes, it is controllable, we are not animals. (Galatians 5:16-18)

   • It’s a choice, of course, we can control it by the power of the Holy Spirit  we can overcome temptation, but it is not easy – stay away from the  cliff! (Ephesians 5:26-27)  

4. I want to know about sexual stuff and learn about it- is that ok? What should  I do if I see a bad image?

   • It is normal to be curious about your own body and other bodies.

   • It is important though to understand that there are a time and place for  everything.

   • Talk to your mom or an older female servant regarding any questions  you have.

   • For bad images turn your eyes. You cannot keep the birds from flying but you can  stop them from nesting on your head.  

5. Can I tell my father of confession everything during confession?

   • Yes, he is a representation of Christ and will not judge you.

   • God and your father of confession will be sad for your struggle, not angry  at you.

   • Your father of confession has heard similar things from other people and  he never judges you.

   • He takes your sins and struggles and gives them to  the Lord.

   • Your father of confession will not remember your weaknesses and will  NEVER disclose them.  

Conclusion

• Purity is a process.
• Encourage the girls to have a relationship with God
• Create a safe space for them to be wanting to share with adults like a mom  or a female servant.  

Application  

1. Flee temptation- when put in a situation, escape it. Why tempt it? Come up  with examples with the girls.  

2. Fences- build fences or “protection” around your heart, ears, heads feet,  eyes, etc. Have them come up with examples.  

3. Friends- be careful who your friends are.  

4. Limit Free Time. Think up ideas on how they can keep busy together.  

5. Father God- run to Him. Keep Him in your life. 

 

Peer Pressure

 Objective  

To help 6th graders understand what  peer pressure is and how to combat it.  

Memory Verse  

“Do not be deceived: Evil company  corrupts good habits. Awake to  righteousness, and do not sin; for some do  not have the knowledge of God. I speak  this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33-  34)  

“Now when Peter had come to Antioch,  I withstood him to his face, because he was to  be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat  with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing  those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the  hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.”  (Galatians 2:11-13) 

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Introduction (Background Research for Servants)

Things to keep in mind as preparing for a lesson but not to be included in the lesson.
Read the various links and familiarize yourself with the various facts about peer pressure and realize that it is a serious subject. Even if the examples that the students are giving are not reasonable or seem insignificant- please remember that this is dramatic for them and seems like the end of the world. It is important to create a safe space for them to share their feelings and fears.

Lesson Outline

1. What is Peer Pressure? (Middle School Definition)

• Peer pressure is when we feel compelled to act a certain way because we want to fit in and be accepted by certain people
• Peer pressure is the powerful feeling of pressure from someone your own age that can push you toward making certain choices, good or bad.
• Peer pressure can take number of different forms, spoken and unspoken and can lead to risky, disapproved, or personally unwanted behavior

2. What are the pressures we face

• Unspoken Peer Pressure
  The Huddle: group stands together talking or laughing, maybe looking at something you can't see, with their backs out to other
• 'The look: Kids who think they're cool give a look that means: “We’re cool and you’re not.”
  • The Example: Popular kids simply buy or wear or do something, and  because they set an example, others want to follow.
• Spoken Peer Pressure
  • Rejection: Threatening to leave someone out or end a friendship
  • Putdown: Insulting or calling names to make someone feel bad.
  • Rationalizing: Giving reasons to do something wrong or why it  would be OK to do it.  

3. How do we combat them?

Role Play Scenarios in separate groups  

Activity  

Split the students up into groups and have them act out a variation of this skit and  let the other students guess which kind of pressure this is. Feel free to change the  names or scenarios to make it more appropriate for your students.  

Scenario A-Team Fans (don’t tell other groups this “Trick” is “Rejection”)  

Characters:  Josh, a boy who has just moved to the area. Several other boys who are local team  fans  Setting: Outside the building before or after school or in the cafeteria during lunch  

Action:

• Several boys are standing together discussing their favorite team.  Josh walks past.
• One boy calls out to him and asks who his favorite team is.
• Josh answers with the name of another city team.
• All the boys laugh and turn away from Josh.
• Another boy calls out, “I guess you won’t be at our (team name) party  Sunday!” Josh walks away.  

Scenario B – Substitute Teacher (don’t tell other groups this “Trick” is “The Put  Down”)  

Characters:  Brianna – a polite, respectful middle school student. Other less respectful and  somewhat rowdy students Mr. /Ms. Morgan – substitute teacher  

Setting: A middle school classroom  

Action: 

• Brianna enters the class, greets the substitute, sits down, and prepares to  work.
• Other students enter, notice the substitute, and start spreading the word that  there’s a sub.
• The bell rings, and other students continue to stand and talk, etc.
• The substitute asks each of the other students to take their seats and quiet  down for the morning announcements. 
• Brianna remains seated quietly while other students continue laughing,  messing around, and throwing paper wads, some directed at Brianna.
• Brianna ignores the disruption.
• One student calls Brianna a chicken and adds noises.  

Scenario C – The Math Test (don’t tell other groups this “Trick” is “Reasoning”)

 Characters:  Pete, a kid who didn’t study for a math test. Friends of Pete, who did not study but  have a “cheat sheet” Mr. /Ms. Smith – the math teacher  

Setting: A middle school classroom  

Action:

• Pete comes into the classroom and hears the teacher says there’s a math test.
• Pete mutters something about his mom’s reaction to another failed math  test.
• Friends overhear Pete and tell him not to worry; they’ve got him covered with  the “cheat sheet.”
• Pete hesitates and expresses concern about cheating and getting caught.
• Friends give him reasons why they think it's fine—such as everyone does it,  they’ve done it before, and they didn’t get caught.  

Scenario D – The Party (don’t tell other groups—this “Trick” is “The Huddle”)  

Characters:  Katrina – a nice girl who  likes a cool boy and wants  to be popular.  Mike – the cool boy that  Katrina likes.  Other cool kids  

Setting: An end of school  year party.

• Mike and other kids  are gathered in a huddle around one student who is showing them a new  music video on a portable media player. They are enjoying the video.
• Katrina walks in.
• A few in the group turn and briefly look at her and then at Mike. They don’t  acknowledge her and turn back to the video.
• Mike smiles at her and then gives his attention back to the video and the  group.
• She approaches the group, but they don’t turn to include her.  

Scenario E – The Dance (don’t tell other groups—this “Trick” is “The Look”)

Characters:  Diana a shy girl is wearing simple, plain clothing. Diana’s shy best friend Mark  also dressed in a plain way. Other “popular” students are wearing stylish jeans and  casual shirts.  

Setting: A school dance.  

Action:

• The students in stylish clothes are dancing and laughing.
• Diana and Mark enter and stand apart, watching the others.
• One or two of the popular students notice Diana and Mark and give them “the  look,” which can include looking them up and down, rolling their eyes,  slightly shaking their heads in disapproval, and the like. They also nudge  their friends—without saying anything—to look as well.  

Conclusion  

After each group acts out their skits, ask the students how the situation could have  changed. How could they combat pressure? Write out the examples on a poster or big  sheet where everyone can see it.  

Remind the students that Christ is always with them. That they should always feel  supported and be ok to approach a trusted adult to talk about their problems.  

Application  

Help the students come up with a  plan that they can use to combat peer  pressure by taking some of the  examples they learned about and  discuss how to react in the best way to 

 

There is a time for that

Objective

• Discuss the purpose of dating
• Review the benefits of singleness
• Encourage youth to develop friendships and postpone dating
  

Memory Verse
"To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Introduction
Today, we are going to spend some time talking about the subject of dating. We'll also discuss singleness and friendships.

Lesson Outline

1. God's intention for us as Christ-followers
2. Biblical view on marriage.
3. History of dating.
4. Why shouldn't young people date now?
5. What is the point of singleness?
6. The story of Peter
7. How can you remain just friends with people from the opposite sex?
8. Five attitude changes, which can help you, avoid dating too early

1. God's intention for us as Christ-followers.

• We begin today by talking about God's intention for us as Christ-followers God wants us to be not only physically pure but also pure in our motives, our minds, and our emotions.
• We read in (1 Peter 1:16) ""For it is written 'be holy because I am holy"
• What does the word holy" mean? It means being dedicated to God and following His commands.
  
• Christ is our example in all things. We need to remember that our being which includes our physical, mental and emotional natures, belong to God and they are considered the temples of the Holy Spirit.
  
• We read in (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your
  body and in your spirit, which are God's
• Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes. God has a good plan for our liveS, and He allows things to happen in a specific time. He does this for our own protection and our good.
• (Jeremiah 29:11) tells us "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you' says the Lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope",
• God does not just try to take away the fun from us with His rules. He established them for our own benefit.

2. Biblical view on marriage.

• Let's review the Biblical perspective of marriage. Marriage was the first institution ever created. It was one of the first
  things ordained by God Himself.,
  
• (Genesis 2:24) says " Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become
  one flesh".
  
• Marriage is also held in honor. In ( Hebrews 13:4), we read "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but
  fornicators and adulterers God will judge."
  
• So, from both of these verses, we can see that marriage is God-given, honorable and holy. There is a concept, which states that the joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment. Basically, this means that when two people are committed to each other through marriage, they get to receive the benefits and happiness of closeness.
  
• God has provided sex as a gift to a husband and wife who are committed to each other.
  

3. History of dating.

• Did you realize that dating is a relatively new thing? Let's look at the history of dating. Here in America, before the 20th century, dating involved commitment and responsibility. The end goal of dating was marriage, not simply having fun.
  
• People only spent time alone with the opposite sex with the intention of considering this person as a potential future spouse. the turn of the century, with the invention of cars and movie theaters, the culture of dating began to change. It was looked upon differently and the purpose shifted from a serious time to evaluate another person, to an opportunity to show off and act coo! by being with several different people.
  
• The idea of dating has evolved as Hollywood used it to promote their products and make money. Suddenly there was a lot of pressure for young people to compete with each other for dates with popular people and the ability to brag
  about how many people they were in relationships with.
  
• Unfortunately, our society followed Hollywood and began to conform to its
  ways.
  

4. Why shouldn't young people your age date now?

• There are many good reasons not to date at a young age. First, dating is a result of people being self-seeking or self-loving.
  
• Dating without any commitment only fulfills our personal needs or lusts by using others and not caring for them,
  
• It is a selfish act and does not teach us true love, which is selfless.
  
• We read in (1 Corinthians 13:5) that love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil"
  
• Dating also distracts us from making good friends because of our focus on outward appearance and not genuine inner qualities.
  
• The end goal of dating is not marriage and therefore the relationship is useless and not beneficial. Dating at a young age also decreases the time period we are single, which is a time God uses to grow and build us.
  
• What is the point of singleness?
  
• But for the present time, God has given you a period of time to remain single.
  
• What is the point of singleness? Singleness is a season of our lives, is unmatched in opportunities for growth, learning,
• At this point in your lives, you are responsible for your schoolwork and maybe some household chores. But other than that, you are not working outside of the home or having to take care of many other responsibilities.
• Therefore, this is the best time for you to continue growing and learning, and to spend time serving others before you have the added responsibilities, which come when you are older.
  
• This is not the time to be focused on boyfriends and girlfriends. Dating at an early age causes people to look at things they don't have instead of enjoying life with God, friends, and family.
  
• God wants us to enjoy the season of life we are in now, rather than looking ahead and wishing we were older.
  
• He has made this time for us to develop and wants us to grow in patience and trust. In the right time, He will provide all things for us including our love lives. Being single has a special purpose to God. We read in 1 Corinthians 7:32 "But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord"
  
• Single people are able to dedicate more time and energy to serving God because they do not have a spouse and children to care for.
  
• Trusting God to take care of every part of our lives can be hard, but it is important.
• Rushing ahead of His timing can bring trouble. The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing
• As our memory verse explains, "To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven'". Just because something is good doesn't mean we should pursue it right now.
  
• We must remember that the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. We should not chase after things that can harm us
• God has a perfect plan for your life. More than likely, that plan includes marriage, and if so, somewhere in this world, God has the right person for you. There is a time to pursue marriage, but the time is not now.
  

5. The story of Peter

• Let me tell you a story about a boy named Peter. He was an impatient boy who always dreamed about the future,
  
• One day as he was wandering in the forest, he saw an old woman who gave him a crystal ball. With it, he could skip any moment of his life and move ahead into the future. One day in school, Peter was bored in class and used the crystal ball to fast-forward the time. He continued to use it to skip large portions of his life.
  
• Many years later, at the end of his life, Peter realized the emptiness of such an existence because he robbed himself of life's richest moments and memories. He regretted using the crystal ball and was saddened about his impatience.
  
• He wondered how much of his life he had missed. Many times, we also want
  things to happen right now. But by wishing for this and focusing too much
  on the future, we forget about all the blessings we have right now. We may
  miss out on the unforgettable experiences and memories of today.
  
• Rather than concentrate so much on dating, we should focus on building friendships. It is very important to keep your relationships with the opposite gender out of the romantic zone
  
• In 1 Timothy 5:2, Saint Paul instructs his spiritual son, Timothy, to treat younger women as "sisters, with absolute purity". And in 2 Timothy 2:22, Saint Paul writes "Flee also youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart"

6. How can you remain just friends with people from the opposite sex?

• First, understand the difference between friendship and intimacy. Remember, intimacy means closeness, and it is
  inappropriate for young people to become too close with others of the opposite sex.
  
• It is wise to set physical and emotional boundaries with others so that you are not tempted to become too close to them.
  
• Next, be inclusive, not exclusive. This means that you should include others in activities with the opposite sex rather than spend time alone together
  
• It is important that you do not isolate yourselves with another person but be in groups instead
  
• It's also important that you spend time with people of the same gender at your age because you will find that you have more in common with them.
• Finally, make sure to set aside some time for service. Serving along with others is a great way to know friends in a deeper way while doing something useful at the same time
  
• There is a lot of pressure from society on you to become involved with dating at your age.

7. Attitude changes, which can help you, avoid dating too early

1. So, let's think about five attitude changes, which can help you avoid dating too early
   
2. First, every relationship is an opportunity to model Christ's love. Relating to people the way Christ did, in a kind and compassionate way, will prevent us from becoming self-centered
3. Second, remember that your unmarried years are a gift from God. Enjoy this time of your life. Many times, young people can't wait to grow up because they think adults have a lot of freedom. But adults have so much responsibility and little time to enjoy life.
   
4. Third, it is important to realize that you don't need to pursue a romantic relationship before you are ready for marriage. In fact, getting involved with someone at a young age will likely bring about heartache
   
5. Remember the concept we talked about before - the joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment. Without a commitment to marriage, you cannot experience the true joy of intimacy with another person.
   
6. When people are only dating, they have no rights over the other person. In marriage, however, a husband and wife become one body and therefore, this is a completely different relationship than simply dating.
   
7. Finally, it is critical to remember that you should avoid situations that could compromise the purity of your body or mind
8. True purity flees as fast and as far as it can from sin and compromising situations. Protect your heart from sinfulness. Proverbs 4:23 says "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
   
9. There are a few final concepts to remember. Most likely, people who are dating at your age will not marry that person in the future. This is because teens have not yet fully developed mentally or emotionally, and therefore adolescents are not able to commit to another person.
   
10. Lifelong commitment requires a great deal of maturity and sacrifice. Finally, we cannot love as God loves and date as the world dates. God's love is about putting others first, but dating is really about pleasing ourselves.
    

Conclusion
We talked a lot about dating and God's plan for teenagers. The real purpose of dating is to evaluate someone for marriage. It's important to use this time in your life to develop friendships and continue growing. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns; please feel free to talk to any of us. We are here to help and support you.