The Online Pastor

In our final episode for this series, we cover some questions on dating, break-ups and  how singles might be offered some language for understanding physical attraction, chemistry, and sexual desire. 

As we wind down our series, I share some personal insights about the way I navigate certain seasons, including being "open" or "closed" to dating, reframing dating as part of spiritual growth, and the great joy of intimacy with Jesus. 

We get into the nitty-gritty of how churches can shift some assumptions, language, and inclusion of singles in the church. Along the way we give some very practical ways to parents, pastors, congregations and friends on how to journey with people in this season of life.

"Why are you still single?" and other unhelpful (though often well-meaning) comments by people in our community. My most requested topic (by both marrieds and singles) so...hopefully I do some justice to this and create some understanding that well-intentioned doesn't always mean well-received. 

Now it's time to get real about some of the struggles of being on your own. (We also get into some practical ways to support your single friends!) Not an exhaustive list, but a good conversation starter... if it has been hard for you share some of the ways in which being on your own can be difficult. 

We talk about how being single allows you to focus on building healthy friendships and relationships. I also hypothesize that maybe dating today is such a hard experience because we haven't learned to develop healthy friendships before we date, and maybe if we focussed on good friendships, dating (and marriage) might be easier and healthier. The book of Proverbs provides some challenging insight as to the uniqueness of friendship and the gift we are too each other as friends.

One little verse shifted my entire perspective on singleness...today we talk about Adam, naming the animals, and how your season of alone-ness usually contains a specific invitation from the LORD. 

Today we spend some time explicitly naming the benefits of singleness - something we don't do often enough! 

Ever had someone ask you if you are "called to be single?" While the intention may be good, the question isn't very helpful... I start off this series by addressing one of my biggest pet peeves with framing the conversation around singleness in the church.  

Ever gotten frustrated or felt unseen in your spiritual community as a single person? Or maybe you know singles in your church and don't know how to engage with them.  Ever felt like one sermon on the topic didn't even come close to covering all the types of singles, different life phases, struggles, and joys of being on your own? Today we launch an entire series dedicated to singleness, following Jesus, spiritual formation, and the church! Oh and when we say "single" we mean everyone who ain't married: never been married, divorced, single parents, widowed... we are coming for you!