Life is all about connection — with God, with self, with others, and with the world.
Whether you're single, married, or single again, God has an amazing plan
for your relationships that (if followed) can allow us to engage
in life-giving connections with others.
The giving of one's self to another in any capacity
is a gift to be guarded... never cheapened.
|
 |
 |
The Bible reveals that being single can in many ways be a blessing... not a curse.
Yet it seems like our culture tells
singles they're incomplete until they
find that "special someone".
We recognize the unconditional embrace that's found in Jesus and aim to be a church where no one ever feels like a third wheel, whether "single" or "single again." |
God ideal for marriage involves mutual surrender to each other, but statistics locally and globally indicate this is a concept many people resist.
Connection Church will be a community where marriages thrive spiritually, relationally, and emotionally for the good of the entire household, the future of our children, and the sacred gift it simply is. |
Biblical Foundations
- Humans, being created in the image of God, are inherently relational beings. (Genesis 1:26)
- Our inherent relational nature is expressed in a variety of God-given contexts including family, marriage, work, and the Church (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 12:14).
- Humans were created as heterosexual, gendered beings who were expressly blessed by God to be fruitful and multiply. Sexual union between a man and a woman is only to take place within the marriage covenant (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18, 21-24; Hebrews 13:4).
- Jesus reaffirms the marital covenant as existing between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-9).
- The sexual union between a husband and wife has been designed by God to bring them together as "one flesh," creating a solid foundation on which to build a family (Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:31).
- In sexual union, both body and soul are deeply impacted... a person who engages in sex outside the bond of marriage hurts his/her relationship with God, self, and others (1 Corinthians 6:13, 18-20).
|
Things all singles should consider:
- Stability matters: It's easy to look for someone else to "complete you," but it ends up putting your weight on someone else instead of your own relationship with God. If you can stand on Him first, you then have a foundation to build on.
- Standards matter: Make a detailed list of the type of person you would marry. Then if you date determine not to date anyone less that what's on that list. If you date someone who doesn't share your standards, they'll lower yours.
- Manners matter: Never date anyone who is rude to the waitress, their family, or you. That tendency now usually means something later.
- Grace matters: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. The perfect person doesn't exist outside of Jesus Christ... and if He chooses to love us, perhaps we can choose to love and forgive each other. Never at the expense of convictions, though... but as one.
- You matter: Don't pretend as tough you don't have a voice, because you absolutely do. Whether or not the singles or the marrieds outnumber each other in the church, we all need each other.
|
Four ways to grow in your marriage:
-
Marriage preparation: We love to give couples wanting to be married the best launch possible, so we ask anyone seeking to be married by pastoral staff to participate in pre-marriage preparation. Options include personal mentoring and/or class settings.
-
Mentoring: One way newly married couples can grow into a healthy marriage is by finding marriages that can help serve in couple-to-couple mentoring relationships. Informal get-togethers around meals and prayer can really help develop goals and accountability.
-
Fresh Start retreats: Retreats are offered at least once a year, giving couples an opportunity to getaway together for a weekend of learning, practicing, and recreating. It's not only a time to engage in a fun date night, but also through a cooperative learning experience connect with other couples who are also committed to developing effective skills for vibrant marriage s.
-
Counseling Referrals: Sometimes it helps to sort out marital issues with a member of our staff. Pastoral counseling is available for up to three sessions for couples wishing to pursue a healthy resolution together.
|
|
