Austin Wadlow, the Salt Company Director at Keystone Church, preached a relationship goals series every Thursday night from Jan. 11-Feb. 8. The series was about what the Bible says about relationships.
Austin teaches through personal experiences and humor, which Salt Company goers enjoy and relate to themselves. His wife, Lesley Wadlow, who is nearing the end of her pregnancy, supports Austin every week he preaches at Salt.
Because some of the students there are in relationships, when he connected his message to his dating experience, many could relate.
On week one, he opened the series with a message about relationships and the question: Why did God give us relationships?
Week two targeted both guys and girls in the audience and what they need to consider before asking or answering the question “Will you marry me?”
Week three was about singleness. The message was given by TJ Sheeley from Cornerstone Church in Ames.
The fourth week was about the purpose of sex.
The fifth and final week of the series was about baggage that many of us have from past relationships and how God’s grace can heal us.
If you would like to hear a message, go to saltankeny.com where you could watch each sermon.
If I were to pick one week that stood out to me the most, it would be the second. At my age and being in college, marriage feels like something I should maybe start thinking about. I’m by no means ready to be married, but something I should start considering.
When thinking about marriage with a guy, he must put “food” on the table, both spiritually and physically. I also have make sure I am able to let him lead me like Colossians 3:18 says: “Wives, submit yourself to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
Before I can think about marriage, I must have a primary relationship with God to have a successful relationship with someone else. Austin gave the example of in weddings, the first set of vows is to God while the second set is to one another.
Austin said, marriage is the most important picture of the Gospel God has given. In doing so, he references Ephesians 5:31-32: “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
Jesus loved the church so much, he pursued her, died for her and is still fighting for her. With that, I must marry a guy that would do the same.
Towards the end of the night, Austin listed things guys and girls must know before they ask or answer the question, “Will you marry me?” Marriage is not your salvation…Jesus is, marriage will not sanctify us, and marry someone who compliments you in fulfilling your calling in the mission of God.
That last point is probably the point that stood out to me the most for the night. I must have a guy who compliments me in fulfilling my calling in the mission of God, not someone who pulls me away from it. If I marry someone who is pulling me away from my calling in the mission of God, my life will be a constant struggle and I will “totally and completely miss out on [my] God-given calling.” That was something I definitely needed to hear.
Each night, I related to something different, and I can guarantee each student did too.
Again, if you’re interested in hearing Austin’s sermons, go to saltankeny.com.
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