Key Thought : From the beginning to the end of Scripture, the sacredness and beauty of romance, the sacredness and beauty of romance, love, and intimacy of healthy relationships is revealed.

[Teaching Plan for “Love Stories” March 21, 2012]

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 2:21-15.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why did God make Eve out of a rib of Adam rather than creating her like He did Adam, from the dust of the ground?
C. Personal Application: What kind of things can you do to prevent your romantic relationship with your spouse from going wrong?
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What does it mean that a man and a woman shall be one flesh? Obviously they don’t become one person. How does this one flesh apply to marriage?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Ezekiel 16:8-15.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Have you ever thought of God’s relationship with us as a romantic one? Why would He use imagery that leans toward a feminine response?
C. Personal Application: How do we trust in our own beauty when it was a gift from God? In what ways do we play the harlot? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, ”This is talking about God choosing the nation of Israel as His special people and how they went after other gods. I have a hard time seeing God applying this to us today – the Christians from among the Gentiles.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read John 2:28 and Deuteronomy 24:5.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. How does the Deuteronomy passage indicate God’s approval of the romantic bond between husband and wife?
C. Personal Application: Why didn’t God allow divorced persons who married someone else to each other again later?
1) Even though God explicitly condemns divorce and says He hates it, why are there so many divorces today?
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Do you think God approves
Of big and extravagant wedding displays, or does He look on them as
Wasteful and superfluous?” How do you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Song of Solomon 1:13-16.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Does the Bible represent God’s view of sensual pleasure between husband and wife in a positive, encouraging way, or as a negative, “bad” thing? Where did this idea come from?
C. Personal Application: In what ways has mankind perverted the natural
Desires God gave us in the marital bonding process – emotional, physical,
And psychological? How do these perversions affect a person’s spiritual
Life?
D. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note: “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149)

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