a book in the works...
a sneak peak of the table of contents
PT can come and share his work in progress. Contact PT.
Part 1: The Heart of a Christian Single Adult
General Introduction
The single adult life can be a multi-chapter life
The single adult life is the beginning and the end
The medical analogy of diagnosis and operation
Diagnosis: Feeling Single - 10 Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual Profiles
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Operation
Organize the negative feelings
Develop the Positive Feelings
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Part 2: The Present Chapter for the Christian Single Adult
Introduction
The medical analogy of diagnosis and operation
Diagnosis
Redeeming the time
The meaning of “maximizing your singleness”
The morality of single adults
Sexual temptations
Societal expectations and pressures
Prolonged singleness
The meaning of life
Handling life’s problems and challenges
Oh no! Do I have the gift of celibacy?!!!
Operation
Testing celibacy
Developing personal problem solving skills
Dealing with moral failures and past sins
The advantages of singleness
Ready for the second coming
* not yet recorded
Part 3: The Relationship Principles for the Christian Single Adult
Introduction
Single adult are naturally interested in relationships
Biblical principle: to learn before you get into a serious relationship
Diagnosis
1. Confusion
The blurring of gender lines
The loss of the relationship dynamic
2. Conflict
The ongoing conflict in relationships
The top 3 conflict issues
3. Communication
An undeveloped knowledge of gender differences
Gender differences (an introductory survey of men and women's communicational differences)
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Operation
1. Creation
Creating gender identity
Creating a relationship dynamic
2. Conflict
Did God curse relationships?
The top 3 conflict issues resolved
3. Communication
Acquire a general working knowledge of gender differences
Acquire specific working knowledge of your partner's idiocyncrasies
Conclusion: The essence of marriage is a covenant of companionship
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Part 4: The Relationship Applications for the Christian Single Adult
Introduction
The medical analogy of diagnosis and operation
Diagnosis
Defining the nature of the transition
God’s vested interest in successful transitions in life stages
Biblical critique of modern dating
Where are the good men?
Where are the good women?
The marriage with unbelievers
What are you looking for?
Compatibility Issues: match made in heaven?
Are you a commitment-phobe?
The providence of God
Operation
Necessary Preparations for the next chapter
Celibacy as a continuing chapter
Developing gender responsibilities
Finding Mr./Ms. Right
PT’s take on search engines such as eHarmony
Social etiquette, personal hygiene, and other sensitivities
What to accomplish in serious dating
Prerequisites and Preferences in relational commitment
Becoming Mr./Ms. Right
* not yet recorded
Part 5: The Next Chapter for the Christian Single Adult
Introduction
The medical analogy of diagnosis and operation
Diagnosis
Defining the “next chapter”
The next chapter…as a single adult!
Visualizing heaven
Understanding the essence of marriage
The next chapter for the man
The next chapter for the woman
Sex: the state of the situation
Soceraphobia
Operation
The man life chapters and celibacy
Pre-marital counseling is over-rated
Pre-engagement counseling is better
A biblical view of engagement
How to leave your parents and still honor them
Pre-marital counseling for your parents!
Biblical principles of sex
* not yet recorded
Part 6: The Unique Challenges for the Christian Single Adult
Introduction
The medical analogy of diagnosis and operation
Diagnosis
Broken engagements
Pregnancy
Single parenting
The prolonged singleness
The divorced single
The unique challenges of leaving and cleaving
The irrelevancy of the church
Operation
Joseph, an example of a single adult with poise
Decision making: "fork in the road" situation
Learning problem solving skills for the next chapter
God’s answer to Job
Job’s answer about God: Job 23:10
God’s unique and special providence
The church becoming relevant
* not yet recorded
Part 7: The Church and the Single Adult
Introduction
The medical analogy of diagnosis and operation
Diagnosis
The heart of the problem is that singles feel mistreated at church
Why are singles second class? Because....
1. The church focuses on marriage and family ministry
2. The married folks are the leaders of the church
3. The church profiles the single adults in extreme ways
4. The church gathers all singles into one simple category: marital status
5. The married folks look down on singles
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Operation
Two introductory points
1. You must identify the kind of problem it is
2. Learn the theology of an inter-generational ministry
The strategy
1. Balance the teaching in the church
2. Balance the budget in the church
3. Balance the leadership
Conclusion: A response to discrimination, 1 Timothy 4:12
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