Ben Stuart - Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age

praise for

single. dating. engaged. married.

Ben is a dynamic voice for this coming generation. And apart from a correct view of God, this subject will shape more of your life than any other.

JENNIE ALLEN, FOUNDER OF IF:GATHERING AND AUTHOR OF NOTHING TO PROVE

Scriptural. Helpful. Standout. In the flurry of conversation around singleness, dating, and marriage, Ben Stuart charts a navigational framework of Scriptureinterwoven with story and statisticsthat will help people of any age chart the often choppy waters of relationships.

LOUIE GIGLIO, PASTOR OF PASSION CITY CHURCH, FOUNDER OF PASSION CONFERENCES, AND AUTHOR OF GOLIATH MUST FALL

Our happiness and health in life are directly proportional to our happiness and health in our relationships. What Ben Stuart shares in this book might have more influence on your life than anything else you will read this year.

CLAY SCROGGINS, LEAD PASTOR, NORTH POINT COMMUNITY CHURCH

Ben Stuart has more experience helping young adults discover Gods will and direction for their relationships than anyone I know. Ben will inspire and equip you to grow through each relationship stage and point you to Gods eternal purposes.

CRAIG GROESCHEL, PASTOR OF LIFE. CHURCH AND AUTHOR OF FROM THIS DAY FORWARD: FIVE COMMITMENTS TO FAIL-PROOF YOUR MARRIAGE

Every bit of life is demarcated by particular features, or characterized by specific festivities, just like seasons in a year. Ive learned that every demarcation, whether festive or miserable, can be used powerfully by God. Ben Stuart does an extraordinary job exploring and explaining how.

DAVID CROWDER, RECORDING ARTIST

Ben Stuart has created a masterful relationship handbook for anyone who wants to get from single to dating to married in a healthy way that is enjoyable instead of stressful.

SHAUNTI FELDHAHN, SOCIAL RESEARCHER AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FOR WOMEN ONLY AND FOR MEN ONLY

Young people today have an increasing challenge when navigating life from singleness to marriage. Ben Stuart shows us that each season of our lifesingleness to marriageis connected, and they mean more to God and our life than we realize.

CHAD VEACH, LEAD PASTOR OF ZOE CHURCH, LOS ANGELES

The road map that Ben so brilliantly lays out in these pages will lead you to exactly where your heart truly wants to go. Dive in, friend. It will be worth it!

SHANE BERNARD, MUSICIAN, WORSHIP LEADER, AND MEMBER OF SHANE & SHANE

In an age when courtship is considered archaic, marriage postponed, and intimacy expected at the mere swipe of the screen, Single. Dating. Engaged. Married. is a much-needed anchor for those in the troubled waters of dating and relationships.

MARIAN JORDAN ELLIS, AUTHOR OF SEX AND THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN GIRL AND STAND

Ben Stuart offers the church a needed primer on pursuing marriage in the modern age.

DR. RUSSELL MOORE, PRESIDENT, ETHICS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION

Ben masterfully uses Scripture to take us down a path of understanding what God intended for man, woman, and marriage.

JONATHAN POKLUDA, TEACHING PASTOR, WATERMARK CHURCH, AND LEADER OF THE PORCH, DALLAS, TEXAS

This is an invaluable resource that will help countless young adults maximize joy and minimize unnecessary pain while navigating the various stages of romantic love.

TIMOTHY ATEEK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BREAKAWAY MINISTRIES

Ben is wise, authentic, humorous, and utterly effective at opening Gods Word in ways that transform a soul.

KEN WERLEIN, FOUNDING PASTOR, FAITHBRIDGE CHURCH, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Im confident that whatever stage of relationship you are in, you will benefit from the wisdom put forth in this book.

JAMIE IVEY, AUTHOR OF IF YOU ONLY KNEW AND HOST OF THE HAPPY HOUR WITH JAMIE IVEY PODCAST

Ben Stuart tackles one of historys most complex and confusing subjects with clarity and candor.

GREGG MATTE, PASTOR OF HOUSTONS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND AUTHOR OF UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL

2017 Ben Stuart

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MEV are from the Modern English Version. Copyright 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-0-7180-9843-8 (eBook)

Epub Edition August 2017 ISBN 9780718098438

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017946407

ISBN 978-0-7180-9789-9 (trade paper)

Printed in the United States of America

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To my beloved bride, Donna.

The fire in my heart and light in my eyes.

Lets run this race forever.

Texas A&M University possesses a unique culture. It combines the traditions of a rich military history with the earthiness of agricultural and mechanical schools, anchored with a whole lot of we-can-do-it-because-were-from-Texas attitude. I loved going to college there, though, admittedly, when I arrived as a freshman I knew surprisingly little about the school.

So I will never forget the first time I entered the football stadium, Kyle Field. The football game did not start until the next day. Yet my roommates and I joined the throng of more than ten thousand of our fellow classmates as we entered the stadium a few minutes before midnight.