God’s Will. God’s Way.
Relationships: From Kingdom Kinship to Kingdom Courtship
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
March 1, 2026
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom [His Will] and his righteousness [His Way], and all
these things will be given to you as well.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Sermon in a Sentence
The secret to success in our relationships is God’s Will, God’s Way!
God’s Will: sanctification—holiness, being set apart for God’s use
1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual
immorality;
God’s Way: Covenant Marriage
Matthew 19:4-6 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made
them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one
flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Recommended 6 Stage God’s Will/God’s Way Relationship Pathway
Stage 1: Kingdom Kinship
Stage 2: Kingdom Fellowship
Stage 3: Kingdom Friendship
Stage 4: Kingdom Dating Courtship
Stage 5: Kingdom Engagement
Stage 6: Kingdom (Covenant) Marriage
Stage 1: Kingdom Kinship
Definition: Kingdom Kinship—both parties being surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
(i.e., saved, citizens of the Kingdom, and children of the King) is foundational and prerequisite
for Kingdom (Covenant) Marriage
Key Truth
Before Kingdom Fellowship, Friendship, or deeper relationships, you must first be Kingdom
Family—Kinship
1 Corinthians 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband
dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness
and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What
harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an
unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the
temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will
be their God, and they will be my people." 17"Therefore come out from them and be separate,
says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18"I will be a Father to you, and
you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Genesis 24:1-4 Abraham was now a very old man. The Lord had made him rich, and he was
successful in everything he did. 2 One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said
to him, “Solemnly promise me 3 in the name of the Lord, who rules heaven and earth, that you
won't choose a wife for my son Isaac from the people here in the land of Canaan. 4 Instead, go
back to the land where I was born and find a wife for him from among my relatives.”
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or
take their daughters for your sons, 4 for they will turn your children away from following me to
serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.
Stage 2: Kingdom Fellowship
Definition: Fellowship (Koinonia)—deep partnership, sharing of resources, meals, mission, joys,
suffering, inclusive of all ages, relational stages, and phases of life, getting to know each other,
learning to be spiritual family and genuine friends, doing life together
Key Truth
After establishing Kingdom Kinship, the foundational relationship for all believers is Kingdom
Fellowship
Acts 2:42 (Contemporary English Version) They spent their time learning from the apostles,
and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread [ and prayed together.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had
everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of
all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Stage 3: Kingdom Friendship
Definition: Specific, intentional, non-romantic relationships between believers, of the same or
opposite genders, characterized by mutual encouragement, shared mission, accountability, and
appropriate boundaries.
Key Truth
Kingdom Friendship can lay the foundation for Kingdom Courtship, but it is valuable and
desirable for its own sake.
John 11:5 (Amplified) Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and
Lazarus [and considered them dear friends].
Stage 4: Kingdom Courtship
Definition: Kingdom Courtship is an intentional, one-on-one relationship, within Kingdom
community, that moves a couple towards Kingdom Marriage or an honorable conclusion.
Key Truth
Kingdom Fellowship and Friendship, provide the foundation for Kingdom Courtship that prizes,
promotes, and protects, God’s Will—spiritual “siblings” holiness
1 Timothy 5:1-2 1 Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were your
father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like
sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.
Song of Solomon 8:8-9 8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall
we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver
on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live
in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus
to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of
the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual
immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and
honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this
matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all
those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to
be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not
reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
God’s Will. God’s Way.
Relationships: Kingdom Courtship
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
February 22, 2026
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may
have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom [His Will] and his righteousness [His Way], and all
these things will be given to you as well.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Sermon in a Sentence
The secret to success in our relationships is God’s Will, God’s Way!
Recommended 4 Stage God’s Will/God’s Way Relationship Pathway
Stage 1: Kingdom Family Fellowship (Community)
Stage 2: Kingdom Dating Courtship
Stage 3: Kingdom Engagement (Commitment)
Stage 4: Kingdom Marriage (Covenant)
Stage 1: Kingdom Family Fellowship
Definition: Fellowship (Koinonia)—deep partnership, sharing of resources, meals, mission, joys,
suffering, inclusive of all ages, relational stages, and phases of life, getting to know each other,
learning to be spiritual family and genuine friends, doing life together
Key Truth
In the Kingdom, the foundational relationship for all believers is family fellowship
Acts 2:42 (Contemporary English Version) They spent their time learning from the apostles,
and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread [ and prayed together.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had
everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of
all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Stage 2: Kingdom Dating Courtship
Definition: Kingdom Courtship is an intentional, one-on-one relationship, within Kingdom
community, that moves a couple towards marriage (Kingdom Engagement) or an honorable
conclusion.
Key Truths
1. Kingdom Kinship precedes, and is a pre-requisite for, Kingdom Courtship
Genesis 24:1-4 Abraham was now a very old man. The Lord had made him rich, and he was
successful in everything he did. 2 One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and
said to him, “Solemnly promise me 3 in the name of the Lord, who rules heaven and earth,
that you won't choose a wife for my son Isaac from the people here in the land of Canaan. 4
Instead, go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for him from among my
relatives.”
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their
sons or take their daughters for your sons, 4 for they will turn your children away from
following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly
destroy you.
1 Corinthians 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband
dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do
righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with
darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have
in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God
and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said; I will live with them
and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people; 17 Therefore
come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will
receive you.” 18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the
Lord Almighty.
2. Kingdom Courtship promotes and protects “siblings” sexual purity
1 Timothy 5:1-2 1 Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were
your father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger
women like sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.
Song of Solomon 8:8-9 8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What
shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build towers
of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to
live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the
Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the
authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should
avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way
that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6
and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The
Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects
this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy
Spirit.
Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
