Eight Wrong Reasons For Dating A Girl

#1 – “She’s Hot!” – So is hell!  (Ripped that off from Mark Driscoll!)

#2 – “I’m bored & lonely!” – So, because you want “entertainment” you are actually going allow yourself to play games with the heart of a woman that you are not interested in at all?  Suck it up and get some friends!  Go and fill your life with great work, great friends and great experiences!  No woman worth having wants a dude with no life!

#3 – “She Is So Interested In Where I Am & What I Am Doing All The Time And Contacts Me Around 10 Times A Day Just To Check In” – Congrats, you are either dating your mother or a very insecure person–neither one is going to work out for you.

#4 – “She Dresses To Attract Rather Than Dressing Attractive” – There is a HUGE difference!  Women can dress attractive; however, when a girl dresses as to purposefully draw your attention to either her butt/boobs you can bet there is going to be trouble.  (Check outProverbs 7:6-23, the picture of what an ungodly woman looks like…notice what Scripture clearly says about the way she dresses in Proverbs 7:10–if she’s dressed like a prostitute she has “crafty intent!”)

#5 – “She Was Aggressive In Coming After Me!” – Once again, Proverbs 7:6-23 says a lot about the “ungodly woman”…but pay special attention to Proverbs 7:13-22, she came after him, kissed him first, pursued him and flattered him…and it led to a place that none of us want to be!  Men, if you want to find a wife then FIND A WIFE (see Proverbs 18:22), YOU should pursue…not her!

#6 – “I Have The Opportunity” – I teach this as a leadership principle…but is applies here as well, OPPORTUNITY DOES NOT EQUAL OBLIGATION!  Just because you have a chance to date someone doesn’t always mean you should.

#7 – “My Friends Say That She’s Perfect For Me” – Unfortunately, sometimes our friends care more about our social status than what is best for us!  This is not to say that your friends cannot be a good resource for you…just make sure you are listening to God more than your friends!

#8 – “All My Friends Are Getting Married And I Am The Only Single Guy Left” – Yep. think about that…maybe you’re the problem.  and you know what, you can do something about it!  Ask God to make you the man your future wife is praying for, and then respond in obedience when he gives you some direction.  get busy living, man!  Don’t blame God for not providing a wife for you if you’re in debt, out of shape, and undisciplined.  Thank him for protecting his daughter from you!  If you really love your future wife, you’ll listen to Her heavenly Father and build a life worth following!

Written by Perry Noble!

7 Wrong Reasons For Dating A Guy

#1 – “He cute!” – give it time, he won’t be!

#2 – “He has money!” – that can (and most likely will) change!  And money cannot buy the security your heart is longing for!

#3 – “I’m lonely!” – buy a dog, if it whines all the time you can throw it outside!

#4 – “I’m bored!” – Take a zumba class, update your pinterest account and read “The Hunger Games!”  ”But Perry, the trash gets taken out more than me,” you say.  I would tell you that may be true…but the only place trash gets taken to is the dump.  AND…that you are NOT trash, you are a daughter of GOD!!!

#5 – “I feel sorry for him!” – and if you date him for this reason you will one day feel sorry for you!

#6 – “My friends are pressuring me!” – get a new set of friends!

#7 – “I’m getting older and my options are running out!” – so you are going to settle for a fixer-upper?  It won’t be pretty!  Give God time…He knows what He’s doing!

Written by Perry Noble!

10 Reasons I Should Not Be Dating Him/Her

This is an incredible read for young singles written by Perry Noble.

#1 – They are not willing to fight FOR purity.  (Trust me…if they won’t fight for purity with you before you are married, then there is a greater chance they won’t fight for purity after you are married.)

#2 – If they are trying to get me to compromise with what God’s Word says so clearly.  (If they lead you away from God’s Word before marriage, they will do so even more after marriage…the way they have lived in their past and the way they are living now are indicators of how they are going to live when they marry you.  You cannot change them…you are NOT the Holy Spirit!)

#3 – If you are always defending him/her to the people who know me, love me and love Jesus.  (Love is blind…and many times you cannot see the blind spots that others can see so clearly.)

#4 – If you find yourself not wanting to talk about him/her in front of the people in your life that you know may disapprove of the relationship for some reason.  (Because…when this happens you are choosing to ignore what the Lord could be trying to make obvious through others because you are too involved emotionally to make a rational decision.)

#5 – If you know the relationship isn’t really going anywhere…but you don’t want to “break up” because doing so would cause you to be insecure, because you have allowed yourself to be identified by who you are dating rather than who you are in Christ.

#6 – You find out that they are lying to you.  If they lie to you before you are married, then they will lie to you in marriage.

#7 – If you cannot confront them about issues without them losing their temper.

#8 – If you discover that they are unfaithful to you.

#9 – If something about them absolutely drives you insane…but you convince yourself that after you get married “that problem” will go away.  (Actually…it won’t, it will get larger!)

#10 – If the Lord has specifically spoken to you and instructed you to end the relationship but you can’t/won’t because you either “don’t want to hurt them” or you fear that if you end this relationship then you won’t have another chance at one.

Luke 9:20 (Fuse Scripture Memorization Week 3)

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
 || Luke 9:20

Think back to when you were a kid. (Hopefully it wasn’t that long ago.) Remember how every day was an adventure? Remember waking up early on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons and eat cereal with more sugar that your little body could process? Then, you headed outside to all the adventures in store. Maybe you were a princess meeting her prince, or a spy secretly tasked with discovering the neighborhood’s secrets. Were you a cowboy hot on the trail of some bank robbers? Or an astronaut exploring a new, faraway planet? The journey began when you took the first step outside.
As we get older, this scenario can be difficult. Not the imagination stuff – hopefully you’ll always have that – but the first step thing. Older kids and adults are much more concerned about feeling comfortable and safe. We become a little less likely to blazingly pioneer a new path we’ve never taken. We are scared of the unknown. Yet, all we have to do to make the unknown “known” is to simply take that first step.
Read Luke 9:18-20. People throughout history have had all kinds of opinions about who Jesus is. Even while He was walking around on Earth like the rest of us, people couldn’t agree on what to think about Him. When Jesus asked His disciples who the people said that He was, it wasn’t because He was curious or worried that He was leaving the wrong impression. It was because He really wanted to know if they knew Him. Peter answered that question in verse 20. Jesus is the Christ of God, our Lord and Savior.
If you have questions about that whole “first step” deal, don’t miss the importance of what Peter said. Confessing that Jesus is Lord is the first step on the Way.
Have you taken the first step yet?

Reflect
Why can we sometimes become less adventurous as we get older?
Who do you say that Jesus is?
What can be difficult about taking the first steps toward a journey with Christ?
Write a prayer below confessing to Jesus who He is to you. If you’ve never taken the first step of acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, confess to God the reasons why.

John 14:6 (Fuse Scripture Memorization Week 2)

Jesus Answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Do you know what it feels like to be lost? To have no idea where you are, much less how to get where you’re supposed to go? So lost that you’re not even sure how to trace back your steps to where you began. There’s absolutely nothing you can do. Unless someone comes along. Someone who knows where you are, where you’re supposed to go, and how you can get there. Even better, they volunteer to show you the way. You go from being a complete slave to your circumstances to being absolutely free to reach your destination.

That’s how it is with Jesus.

Ever since Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden because of their sin, humankind has been trying to find a way back to God. If history proves anything, it’s that humanity has failed completely to do this on our own. So, God took matters into His own hands and came to Earth to show us the Way. Is it that simple? Well, yes and no. This can be a tricky concept. In fact, some of Jesus’ closest followers were often confused about it.

Read John 14:5-7. In these verses, it was almost time for Christ to return to the Father in heaven, yet some of the disciples still didn’t get it. So, when Thomas asked Jesus where He was going and how they were supposed to know the Way, Jesus decided to make it absolutely clear. In verse six, Jesus says He is the Way. No one seeking God can do so apart from faith in Christ. When we come to Jesus, we also find the Father.

The more we get to know Jesus, the more we get to know God. And knowing God is truly the Way to life.

Reflect

Think about a time when you have been hopelessly lost. Describe how it felt. How did it feel once you finally found your way again?

How do people try to find ways to God?

How have you tried to find a way to God apart from Jesus? Have you found the way through Jesus Christ?

Write a prayer below confessing Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Repent of the different ways you’ve tried to find God in the past apart from Christ.

Commentary from 31 Verses Every Teenager Should Know

Greater

Tonight at FUSE we are starting a NEW Teaching series called GREATER! I am super pumped about it! If you have not read Steven Furtick’s latest book GREATER, you need to! It is absolutely INCREDIBLE! We are going to draw a little from the book, but more importantly from the story of Elisha in the book of I Kings. Here is a snapshot of the book GREATER!

Are you ready to open your imagination to the possibility that God has a vision for your life that is greater?

We all have honest moments when we’re gripped by a desire to feel that what we’re doing matters more. That who we are matters more. In GREATER, Pastor Steven Furtick draws on the biblical story of Elisha to empower you to take a God-given dream from idea to reality, stretch your limited resources and abilities in ways you never thought possible, replace the images of yourself that keep you feeling stuck in the past and make a significant impact with your life starting today.

If you’re tired of being ordinary, it’s time to dream bigger. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to begin, it’s time to start smaller. It’s time to ignite God’s greater vision for your life.

Elevation Weekend: One Generation Away Trailer

You have ALL been waiting!  Here is our Trailer for Elevation Weekend 2013: ONE GENERATION AWAY.

OGA Trailer from Fuse Student Ministry on Vimeo.

Matthew 7:14 (Fuse Scripture Memorization Week 1)

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:14

“Life is a journey.” Ever had someone say that to you? They were probably an adult, and they probably said it after some traumatically embarrassing or heart-wrenchingly tragic event in your life. They meant well. After all, they just wanted you to realize that what ever happened was not the end of the world. The event could actually build character for you in the future…

Well, I’ve got some news for you. They’re right … at least about the “life is a journey” thing. (Whether or not an event builds character depends on the event and your response.) Your life is always in motion, and everyone is always going somewhere. The question is, “Where?”

Read Matthew 7:13-14. Think about your life’s potential, what you can do, who you can be. It seems there’s a number of paths you could take. However, Jesus tells us that’s actually not the case. Really, there are only two: the broad road and the narrow road. You could take the broad road. It’s easy to find and easy to follow. On this road, you can do whatever you want. The only problem, though, is that it’s really no life at all. At the end of that path, you discover that the only thing waiting for you is destruction.

But that’s not what Jesus desires for you. He tells you to enter through the narrow gate. (What is this talk about a narrow gate? Read John 10:7 for a hint.) In verse 14 Jesus reveals that this gate leads to a more difficult path. Not many people find it because it can only be found in Him. However, those who do find it take the only Way that leads to life – and not just eternal life, but an abundant and full life here on Earth as well.

Your journey begins when you choose a gate. Which gate have you chosen?

Reflect

1. Which way are you currently taking in life? The broad way? The narrow Way? Describe how you know.

2. Why do you think the broad way is easy? And what’s so hard about the narrow Way?

3. Write a prayer thanking Jesus for revealing to us the two paths in life. Ask Him to continue helping you as you walk the narrow Way.

Commentary from 31 Verses Every Teenager Should Know

Robbie Seay Band Promo Video – Elevation Weekend 2013

Robbie Seay Band is coming to Elevation Weekend. Here is a promotional video of RSB! You BETTER get EXCITED! It is going to be EPIC!

What is Elevation Weekend?

Elevation Weekend is our version of Disciple Now Weekend.

Elevation Weekend is focused on four key elements.

1. Homes & Small Groups: Students are grouped together in small groups, and these small groups stay at the homes of adults within the our congregation for one weekend.
2. Discipleship Oriented:  Whereas some retreat weekends are more about getting away and hanging out (which is NOT a bad thing), during Elevation Weekend we put a high premium on DISCIPLESHIP.  Students will encounter incredible times of worship led by The Robbie Seay Band, and meaningful messages from our speaker Todd Gaston in large group sessions.  In small groups (which take place at the host home), they then talk about the meaning of the message and how to apply it to their life. It is one of our BIGGEST and BEST events that FUSE puts on every year.
3. Church/Community Focused: Elevation Weekend is very community focused.  The large group sessions are hosted at FBCTW and the small group sessions take place at the host homes.
4. Service Opportunities: Here at FUSE we believe that it is vital for our students to have opportunities to serve in our local community.  Therefore, we provide service projects for our students to do on Saturday afternoon during Elevation Weekend.

We bring in college leaders from all over the state of Texas to lead our small group sessions throughout the course of Elevation Weekend.  These college leaders are students who are walking closely with the Lord, and who have a heart for discipleship.  This year we will be walking through elements of the Old Testament Book of Daniel.  Here is a breakdown of our theme ONE GENERATION AWAY:

Passing down truth from one generation to the next is never easy.  The greatest challenge in this process is maintaining quality.  Something tends to get lost in the exchange.  Leading our kids to embrace the life God wants for them will face many challenges.  It appears that we are always living in the tension of being One Generation Away.  We are One Generation Away from truth (values, faith, and a godly life) becoming extinct.  Or we could be One Generation Away from changing the world.

This reality is not unique to our day.  In 605BC, Israel was facing the same dilemma.  Babylon invaded Jerusalem killed many and then captured the elite to immerse them within Babylonian culture.  Their intention was to convert these Hebrew men and women into model citizens.  Their strategy was to remove God’s truth, values, life, and faith from their life.  Their hope was to change who they were.

Throughout the course of Elevation Weekend, we are going to be studying the Old Testament book – Daniel.  Let’s look at how Daniel’s character determined his direction in leading his generation and nation forward. The world still wants people to conform to its standards and follow its practices.  Just like Daniel, we are one generation away from the truth becoming extinct or from changing the world.

HAVE YOU OR YOUR STUDENT SIGNED UP?  TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS.  SIGN UP HERE!  THE COST IS NOW $74.  FOR MORE INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT JARED.