Make romance a priority in your relationship. This is often easier said that done. The job. The kids. The responsibilities. It can be very hard to make time for each other. That is why I pulled together this session around dating. So that we can learn together to be more intentional in developing intimacy & fun in our relationships. Unless you are a newly wed, sometime It can be hard to be creative. Yet most of us were at one time. When we were dating. When we got engaged. We will explore some approaches to get take back that creative side that has been dormant (or perhaps find one that was previously unknown! 😉) This material was pulled together from several sources, including the "Date Night Challenge 2013" DVD and Date Night material prepared by Ted Cunningham. We hope it is helpful to you in being more purposeful in bringing "play" into your relationship.

1. Date Night Study
PLAY!
Facilitated by Kyle Keldsen

2. Kids on Dating

3. Dating is an Investment!
Recognize the incredible
worth of your marriage!
“Marriage should be
honored by all and the
marriage bed kept pure.”
Hebrews 13:4

4. Agenda
Logistics
Goals & Objectives
Initial Schedule
Planned Approach
Intro Video Clips
Ice Breaker
Next Week’s Plan

5. Logistics

6. The Gardners

7. Why are we here?
What hopes do you
have for this study?

8. Goals & Objectives
Get you more one-on-one time
together
Marriage is modeled after
Christ’s relationship with the
church
Help the creatively or
romantically challenged ;-)

9. Dating Helps Relationship
1. Prioritize Your Marriage
2. Remove Distractions
3. Try Something New
4. Rediscover Passion and Desire
5. Ask Great Questions

10. “Love as distinct
from ‘being in love’
is not merely a
feeling. It is a deep
unity, maintained
by the will and
deliberately
strengthened by
habit…”

11. Initial Schedule
This week - here
Jan 21 - Out/Date 1
Jan 28 - *Extra Date?
Feb 4 - In/Share Date 1
Feb 11 - Out/Date 2
Feb 18 - In/Share 2
Feb 25 - School Vacation Week

12. Class Time = In
SHARE REVIEW PREPARE

13. Date Night = Out
Have fun!
Be a student of your spouse
Some ideas may be better
with longer dates and/or
discussions

14. Planned Dates
Play: Have fun without serious
conversation
Laugh: Lighten up & don’t take
yourself too seriously
Dream: Picturing a special future
together
Adventure: Try something new &
risky

15. Ted Cunningham
on Dating
Prioritize Your Marriage
Your Relationship is a Model
for Your Kids
Beware the “Kid-Centered
Home”

17. Do tell!
Wives - Introduce You & Your
Husband to us
Husbands - Tell Your Engagement
Story
Wives - Let us know what he left
out!

18. Your thoughts?
Scripture
Roles
Illustrations
Run or fight!

19. A Grown-up Play Date!
Have fun without serious
conversation
Pick from the list…or invent
your own!
Ask questions to fuel future
dates or events

20. How long
does it take
you to
unwind?

21. Why does play feel
irresponsible to
adults?

22. What barriers
have
prevented you
from having
fun together?

23. How can we
overcome these
barriers to play?

24. 3 Activities
You’d Like
Your Spouse
to Try?

25. In closing…
If you can’t enjoy life, you
probably can’t enjoy your
spouse.
What can you do today to
better appreciate & enjoy life?
Go out and PLAY!

26. [Sources]
This presentation should be considered “non-commercial use” of the sources &
material listed here:
Date Night Challenge [DVD], produced by Focus on The Family. (2013). Can
be purchased from CBD or Amazon.
Ted Cunningham, Prioritizing Your Marriage in the Midst of the Grind, Date
Night Challenge. (2013). Retrieved from: http://woodhills.org/wp-content/
uploads/2013/01/Prioritizing.pdf
Ted Cunningham, 4 Dates/4Weeks, Date Night Challenge. (2013) Retrieved
from: http://woodhills.org/datenightchallenge
CS Lewis Quote from: http://fiercemarriage.com/christian-marriage-quotes
New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 09 Jan. 2015

27. Contact
@kkeldsen
www.aligned-intent.com