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Courtship Conference
July 30, 2011
On July 30, 2011, DCC hosted a courtship conference with the goals of:
(a) stirring the families of the church up with a
biblical vision of the place and importance of marriage in God's plan of
creation, providence, redemption, and glory; and,
(b) clarifying the
biblical parameters that define the boundaries of courtship, so that
families will be liberated from the commands of men and thus invigorated
to pursue it with God-honoring confidence and joy.
The conference was not designed as an argument for the courtship model itself, or as a how-to guide for what to do. Rather, it was aimed primarily at those who are already convinced that the dating system does justice neither to God's institutions of family and headship nor to Scriptural wisdom for decision-making and guarding the heart.
Linked below are online media files from this conference for the continuing use of the church.
Gen 1, Gen2, Eph 5 - The Eternal Purposes of Marriage
Pastor Hakim gets things started by proclaiming from Scripture God's purposes for and design of marriage. This is the vision that gives such importance to how we enter into it.
Biblical Philosophy of Finding a Spouse
Pastor Kayser demonstrates from Scripture that within the parameters that God has established (headship of the father, sexual purity, rejecting autonomy, etc.), there are yet many Scripturally approved models of how courtship can begin and proceed. One thing that they all have in common, however, is fathers who are proactive and not passive--throughout their children's lives, and especially in this process.
Gen 3, Gen 6, 1Tim 2 - The Redemptive Practice of Marriage
Pastor Hakim demonstrates from Scripture that God has placed marriage at the center of His plan of redemption, and that Satan accordingly has made marriage a primary focus of his attacks. With so much at stake, it is inconceivable that the Christian would think about proceeding toward marriage on his own timetable and in his own way. Instead, we should be actively fostering, pursuing, and forging marriages in the church--and doing so as biblically wisely and biblically excellently as possible.
1Th 4 - Practical Issues in Finding a Spouse
Pastor Kayser again takes us to Scripture, this time especially to 1Thessalonians 4, to identify the biblical parameters that must inform all of the nitty-gritty decisions that we make in the course of a courtship.
The Basic Responsibilities of Each of the Four Parties
Pastor Swab gives a list of specific things to work on and watch out for, for each of the four parties: dads, moms, sons, and daughters.
Gen 1, Gen2, Eph 5 - The Eternal Purposes of Marriage
Biblical Philosophy of Finding a Spouse
Gen 3, Gen 6, 1Tim 2 - The Redemptive Practice of Marriage
1Th 4 - Practical Issues in Finding a Spouse
The Basic Responsibilities of Each of the Four Parties
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Gen 1, Gen2, Eph 5 - The Eternal Purposes of Marriage
Biblical Philosophy of Finding a Spouse
Gen 3, Gen 6, 1Tim 2 - The Redemptive Practice of Marriage
1Th 4 - Practical Issues in Finding a Spouse
The Basic Responsibilities of Each of the Four Parties