Bible study for dating couples pdf: This guide is intended to help you lead a Bible study for dating couples in your church. It contains steps to take and suggestions on how to develop a non-threatening, welcoming group that is conducive to meaningful conversation. Some sections are more general, so you will have to adapt them to your specific context. More information can be found at free bible studies for dating couples and the best bible study for couples.
If you’re a dating couple with a Christian faith and are looking for an opportunity to grow closer to God and in your relationship, then we can help. This dating couple’s bible study is meant to give you a head start on building your marriage with the Word of God, a strong faith-based foundation, and the path to take when conflicts occur, vulnerability to share with one another, encouragement to keep going when it’s hard, and accountability to encourage you when the going gets tough. If you’re looking for a course that will help you not only stay in love but also keep love alive forever, this is the dating couple’s bible study for you.
Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf
The book focuses on the religious importance of studying the Bible as a couple and how it can strengthen a relationship. It provides insight and guidance on how to navigate relationships through a spiritual lens.
The book encourages couples to engage in meaningful conversations about faith and values, offering a space for reflection and growth. It emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation on God’s word in a relationship. Couples are encouraged to deepen their understanding of each other and their faith through studying scripture together.
Overall, this Bible study for dating couples aims to deepen the spiritual connection between partners and help them grow together in their relationship with God. It serves as a tool to strengthen bonds and promote a shared understanding of faith within a romantic partnership.
Have you and your partner ever considered delving into a Bible Study together? What were your experiences like? Let us know in the comments section.
Benefits of Bible Study For Dating Couples
The Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf offers numerous benefits for couples who are looking to grow spiritually and build a solid foundation for their relationship:
- Strengthening communication: Through studying the Bible together, dating couples can learn to communicate effectively and openly about their thoughts, feelings, and faith.
- Deepening spiritual connection: Engaging in Bible study as a couple allows partners to connect on a deeper level spiritually, cultivating a shared faith.
- Building a solid foundation: By studying God’s Word together, dating couples can establish a strong foundation for their relationship, rooted in Biblical principles and values.
- Gaining wisdom and guidance: The Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf provides insights, guidance, and wisdom from the Bible, helping couples navigate various aspects of their relationship.
- Enhancing accountability: Engaging in regular Bible study encourages couples to hold each other accountable in their faith journeys, moving closer to God together.
Best Bible Studies for Dating Couples
If you’re looking for the best Bible studies for dating couples, here are some highly recommended options:
- “The Love Dare” by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick: Based on the popular movie “Fireproof,” this study challenges couples to love unconditionally and strengthen their commitment to each other.
- “Devotions for Dating Couples” by Ben Young and Samuel Adams: This study offers a 9-week plan for couples to grow closer to God and each other through daily devotions, Scripture readings, and discussion questions.
- “The Mingling of Souls” by Matt Chandler: This study explores the joys and challenges of marriage and dating relationships, emphasizing the importance of pursuing Christ-centered love.
- “Crazy Good Sex” by Les Parrott: For couples looking to navigate the topic of intimacy within a biblical context, this study provides practical insights and biblical guidance.
Utilizing the Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf
The Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf is a valuable resource that can enhance your dating relationship. Here is how to make the most of it:
- Set a regular schedule: Choose a designated time each week to engage in Bible study. Consistency is key to making it a habit.
- Pray together: Begin each study session with prayer, inviting God’s presence and guidance into your study.
- Read and meditate on Scripture: Use the provided Bible verses and passages in the Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf to guide your study. Reflect on the meaning and relevance to your relationship.
- Discuss and share: Engage in open and honest conversations about the Bible passages and verses. Share your thoughts, insights, and how they apply to your individual lives and relationship.
- Apply what you’ve learned: Take action based on what you’ve studied. Apply the principles and teachings from the Bible to your daily lives and relationship.
- Continuously evaluate and grow: Regularly assess your progress and growth as a couple. Make adjustments to your Bible study routine as needed.
The Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf is a wonderful tool for couples who desire to strengthen their relationship, deepen their faith, and grow together spiritually. By studying God’s Word and applying its teachings, dating couples can build a solid foundation rooted in love and biblical principles.
Bible Study For Dating Couples pdf
Dating is an exciting time. You’re getting to know someone, and you’re learning more about who they are and what they like.
But dating can also be a stressful time. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment, or to go on a date with someone who seems like they might be “the one.” But this can also lead us astray—we may make bad choices that we later regret.
That’s why it’s important for dating couples to take the time to learn more about each other by reading the Bible together. Bible study helps us to understand our partner better and gives us a chance to talk through any issues that come up during our relationship. The more we know each other, the better chance we have at making good decisions that will benefit both of us in the long run.
For dating couples, the Bible is not just a book of stories and history. It’s a guidebook to help you navigate your relationship.
In this study, you’ll learn how to apply biblical principles to your relationship and make it more fulfilling.
You’ll also gain insight into the Bible’s message of love and marriage.
- Read the following passage from Proverbs. What does it say about your relationship? Why do you think God chose to include this in the Bible?
- What other passages from the Bible would you recommend for couples to read together?
In the Bible, we find a lot of examples of God’s people getting together and falling in love. But in all of those stories, there’s something that seems to be missing: dating.
That’s right. There are no dates recorded in the Bible. And that’s probably because there wasn’t really any dating to speak of back then—the concept didn’t exist until much later, during the Victorian era. So what was it like for people from biblical times? How did they meet their future spouse?
The answer is straightforward: Their parents arranged for them.
But don’t worry! We’re not going to ask you to go back to that system—we know that would be unrealistic and impractical for most couples today (and not just because it would require your parents’ approval). Instead, we’re going to focus on how you can use this ancient tradition as inspiration for your own relationship with Christ!
For many couples, dating is a fun and exciting time. But for some, it can be a source of stress and even fear. If you’re in a relationship with someone who has been hurt in the past or if you’ve had your own painful experiences with love, it might be hard to get into the spirit of things and just enjoy each other’s company.
But if you can start taking steps to be open and vulnerable with each other, dating will become less intimidating and more fun—and eventually, maybe even more meaningful! Here are some tips on how to make it work:
- Talk about what scares you
- Ask questions that make both of you think about what might happen next
- Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want in bed
Free Bible Studies For Couples Dating
If you are anything like me, then you probably have a smart phone and love hearing about new apps! As you know, I am also a huge advocate of marriage and always love to find new ways to work on and help my marriage. Since this the month of “love” I thought it would be a great time to talk about the top 8 apps that I found that can really help you better your marriage.
Now before you say, “Put down the phone and just talk to your spouse,” hear me out! These apps are not to take the place of good communication and quality time together in marriage, but they are an aid to help you better yourself and your marriage. Also, I have found that a lot of military spouses use these apps to help keep connected to their husband during deployment. These are just other little ways to keep that connection even when your spouse is far from home or even just at work!
Have you ever read the book The Five Love Languages? If you have then you know that this book is all about finding out your unique love language (Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, or Physical Touch) and also your spouse’s so that you can show and receive love the best way for both of you!
This app lets you take the survey to find out what love language you are. It also includes a love language challenge “which creates a way for couples to love one another in the love language they speak through a 5-week challenge. Through this experience, participants are guided towards ways to share a more loving relationship by speaking your loved one’s language.”
If you have seen the movie Fireproof or read The Love Dare book then you will love this app that reads just like a devotional. It “…is designed to challenge husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or is healthy and strong, this is a powerful journey you need to experience. If taken to heart, it could change your marriage . . . and your life.”
I must admit this is one of my favorite marriage apps. Lots of fun stuff in this one! “Twoignite exists to improve marriages by helping couples have fun together and enjoy God’s design for marriage.” Here are a couple categories you will find on this app:
Spin the Bottle: “Spin the bottle and get fun tips and activities to reignite your passion for your spouse and engage in conversations with others.” You can spin for these categories: date ideas, couples only, and group questions.
52-Week Calendar: The calendar gives you some kind of “date” that you can do with your spouse each day. Some are at home and some require you to go out. I love having 365 different events to do each day!
Two Ignite Events: “Find real (or virtual) events near you and engage through the app at the event. See live comments from other attendees at the event, check-in at the event, receive exclusive event related resources, or get directions.”
Am I Normal?: “See how your sex life stacks up against other couples. Look at the real stats about sex among married couples in the US. See where you and your spouse land on the spectrum… then find useful tips on improving your sex life.”
Couple AppCouple (Used to be “Pair”) (Free)
Download: iphone | Android
This is another app I just love. The Dating Divas did an amazing post about this app (pictures included) so I am going to direct you to their site so you can find out more about it. I promise you won’t be disappointed! Pair – An App for Couples.
Between AppBetween – A Private Space for Couples (Free)
Download: iphone | Android
This app seems very similar to the one above with a few differences of course! “Between is a space where you can share all your moments with the one that matters. Send text messages and voice mails for free. Share photos to create a timeline just for the two of you. Check and plan your special days together and set reminders for them.”
Focus on the Family AppFocus on the Family (Free)
Download: iphone | Android
I love this app because you can change your “focus” to marriage, parenting, or kids and get different tips and advice. Focus on the Family is known for ministering to families and for their Biblical counsel and help.
“The Focus on the Family iPhone app is the best way for Parents and Married Couples to find support and encouragement on the go as they seek to live out the vital roles that God has called them to. The app equips and educates users to grow in their marriages and raise godly children.” The marriage “focus” gives you:
Best Bible Studies For Dating Couples
How can you find it out?
The word “courtship” does not appear anywhere in the Holy Scriptures. It’s not like that when you go on dates, either. It’s more important to live according to Biblical standards than to debate over what to call the relationship. Even if the word itself isn’t mentioned in the Bible, you can find all the guidance you need for dating with an eye toward marriage in its pages. If you want a healthy relationship, you’ll have to do some digging to find the principles that are most important, because they aren’t laid out in a list form anywhere in the Bible.
Romans 12:2 – Where should believers NOT look to form principles for courtship? Where should believers look?
Are there any worldly influences which have shaped your relationship? If so, what? Are there any worldly practices in your courtship which you think you may need to change or adjust?
What should the central goal be of your relationship based on this verse?
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 – What can you learn from this verse about who you should pursue a relationship with?
Are there any other principles you can learn from this passage?
1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:1-4, Ruth 2:11 –
What kind of things should you be looking for in a partner? Is the focus of these verses external or internal? Why is it important to focus on internal qualities rather than external?
What kind of things should you be doing in order to become the type of person God wants you to be?
Philippians 3:18-20, 1 John 2:15-17 –
What is the worldly approach to relationships? What are some “earthly things” which many couples set their minds on?
Based on these verses, what should you NOT do? What should you do? Are there any examples of areas where you need to either less earthly minded or more heavenly minded?
Psalms 143:10, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Philippians 4:8 –
Is your courtship God-centered? Are you together living for Him? In what ways has your relationship been self-centered if any? What are some specific things you should do in order to make your relationship more God-centered?
How can you spend your time together to make it more God-centered? Give specific applications.
Psalms 119:105 – How can God guide you in your relationship? What should do if you have a disagreement? Are you satisfied with the amount of time you spend together studying the Word? Why or why not?
Proverbs 3:5-7 – How else can God guide you in your relationship? Do you generally pray together when you face a disagreement in order to seek a solution or share your own understanding? Are you satisfied with the amount of time you spend together in prayer? Why or why not?
Proverbs 11:14, 15:22 – What principles can you learn from these verses? How can they be applied to courtship? When during a courtship is the time to get counsel?
1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 – What principles can you learn from these verses? How is God’s way different from the world’s way in the issue of purity? What is the common accepted cultural standard these days? What is God’s standard?
Romans 13:13-14, Ephesians 4:27 – Why might even “good” Christians fail in the area of purity? What does it mean to make no provision for the flesh? What kind of situations are dangerous?
Matthew 26:41, Romans 6:12-14 – How did Jesus’ describe the disciples? Have you ever found that your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak? Are you satisfied with your performance as a couple in resisting temptation? Why or why not? What specific guidelines/standards should you set to safeguard yourselves against your weak flesh? Are there new standards which you need to discuss and set together?
Genesis 24:4 – What was the purpose of Abraham sending his servant on this mission? What is the purpose of your relationship? How would you describe your relationship now? What is your mission in your relationship? Is it purposeful? Are you moving forward toward a common goal?
Reading Assignment: Judges 14;15;16;24;Joshua
Please read the two sections above. Take a moment to answer the questions on your own, then come back and talk about it.
What can you NOT take from Samson’s relationship pursuit strategy?
Where did Samson go wrong when looking for a wife?
How did Samson come to make these choices, in the third place?
How can Samson better convey his ideas?
How did Samson and Delilah’s relationship fail to work?
Which of Delilah’s flaws, if any, deserve the most emphasis?
What, if anything, do you think drove Delilah’s actions?
H. Evaluate the similarities and differences between Samson’s love life and that of Isaac’s marriage.
I. What relationship lessons can you take away from Genesis 24?
J. Is there anything that Abraham did correctly? One who serves him? Rebekah? who are her relatives? Isaac?
K. What are the guiding values that were used to make these choices?
How would you describe Rebekah’s personality?
M. What stands out to you about the servant’s speech? Was he able to get his point across? Which doctrines from the Bible did he uphold? Consider how these guidelines for effective dialogue might be implemented in the context of your partnership.
Bible Study Lessons For Married Couples
A Case-In-Point
- A couple’s primary focus should be on bringing praise to God in all aspects of their lives, including marriage and family.
From the beginning, marriage has been central to God’s glory on Earth (Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”). A wedding is the first event in the Bible and the last. What God created with lofty intent, man has reduced to a level beneath his dignity.
Having someone else who can fulfill my wants and needs is often cited as the modern view of marriage’s ultimate goal. God created marriage to reflect His image, to reproduce a godly heritage, and to stand together in spiritual battle. Your marriage, the love you promise to keep in a covenant, will be the most powerful testimony you can give for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The purpose of marriage is to bring glory to God, not to make man happy.
- Marriage is taking place on a spiritual battlefield, not on a romantic balcony.
The relationship between the image bearers and God was the first target of Satan’s assault on the image of God. After that, Satan attacked the bond between Adam and Eve. If he targeted marriage to begin with, why would we think our marriages would be any different?
The enemy seeks to destroy the image-bearers, the legacy that is passed on from one generation to the next, and I think we tend to forget that our marriage, our family, is a potential target.
I believe that the very definition of marriage is under attack today because of who created marriage, God.
- Your partner should not be seen as the enemy.
Against such mortal enemies as these we do not even fight (Ephesians 6:12). Have you ever looked at your spouse in the morning as your enemy, asking God, “What did you do in bringing us together? ” I have.
However, according to the Holy Scriptures, your spouse is not your enemy. In a very real sense, your spouse is a divine blessing. God has given you a gift despite all of his or her flaws. Either accept it on faith or dismiss it.
- A marriage that prays together stays together.
I went to a friend named Carl Wilson in the early stages of my marriage and said, “Carl, you’ve been married for 25 years. I count five of your offspring. In your opinion, as a young man embarking on a marriage, what is the single most important piece of guidance you can give me? ”
Oh, that’s simple, he remarked. “Pray regularly with your wife.”
I questioned, “Is that it? Do you pray with your wife? ”
We’re at the end of the line.
After that, Barbara and I went home and began praying together. For a few months this arrangement served us well, until the night we each chose a different wall to sleep against. It wasn’t the most relaxing posture, but it reflected our mental and emotional state.
It wasn’t Barbara, but there was something that felt like a tap on my shoulder that night. My inner voice was God’s voice urging me to do the right thing. To quote: “Hey, Rainey!” Why don’t you join her in prayer this evening? The other night, I told her, “I really don’t like her! ”
Yes, but you promised to pray with your wife every day. But God, you know that in this situation, she is 90% wrong!
”
A voice from heaven said, “Yes, but it was your 10% that caused her to be 90% wrong.”
What I really wanted to do was crawl under the covers and ask for forgiveness from my sweetheart for being 10% off.
Then, when I couldn’t get the words out, I asked, “Will you forgive me for…?
”
Together, Barbara and I make a formidable force because we are both independent thinkers with strong convictions. However, through corporate prayer, we have been changed. We have evolved into two independent thinkers who submit their wills to God on a daily basis.
Your marriage and legacy will be forever altered if you take the time to pray with your partner.
- Relationships can be fatally damaged by isolation.
It is written in the Bible (Genesis 2:24) that we are to separate, cleave to one another, and unite into one flesh. When a man and a woman unite in marriage, the enemy of our souls loses. He prefers to drive a wedge between us.
Jesus prayed in John 17 that his church would be unified. He came to the conclusion that when we’re by ourselves, it’s easy to be persuaded by anything.
Disconnection is fatal to friendships and partnerships.
- Couples who are both broken can better construct a marriage and family by using biblical principles.
Suppose you had two architects, two builders, and two sets of plans for the same house, but the results were wildly different. You’d end up with some strange-looking dwellings, no doubt. If you and your partner have different goals for your relationship and family, you can expect the same results in your marriage.
FamilyLife has been arranging Weekend to Remember® marriage retreats for the past 37 years. I think you should go see this with your partner if you haven’t already. Speakers at Weekend to Remember share personal stories and God’s design for happy marriages and families.
7.
Recognizing your faults and asking forgiveness from your partner is a healthy practice.
In order to be healed from our sins, James 5:16 instructs us to “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another.”
Create intimacy in your marriage to the point that your partner can see deep into your soul if you truly care about their health. Do you find yourself unable to let go of anger because of a betrayal? That is something I have experienced firsthand. So I went ahead and asked Barbara, “Will you pray for me?” ”
Perhaps you’re struggling with a negative outlook, a rebellious spirit, or the temptation to do something you know you should avoid. You can heal your relationship with your partner by inviting them deep into your soul.
- You can’t have the kind of marriage God intended unless you and your spouse are willing to forgive each other freely.
When we forgive each other, we do so “just as God in Christ forgave you,” as it says in Ephesians 4:32.
Inability to forgive and/or seek forgiveness destroys harmony and vitality in a marriage.
What makes a marriage work is the presence of two good forgivers, which is why I so admire Ruth Bell Graham’s observation that “a happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” Forgiving someone involves relinquishing the option to take revenge. To be married means giving up the right to punish the other person for a wide range of wrongdoings (or lack thereof). One cannot find unity through bitterness.
- The loss of a willingness to learn is one of the gravest dangers to a marriage.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Most of us do all we can to prevent a heart attack. Why? Because there’s a simple equation: If the heart dies, you die.
Many passages in the Bible discuss matters of the heart. It is true that the Great Commandment is a call to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Listen to your gut. Keep it from getting jaded and unteachable.
A teachable heart is a spiritually-receptive heart. Have you recently asked your partner to forgive you? When is the last time you really heard a child who you may have hurt?
Remember, from the heart flows the springs of life.
- A couple can benefit greatly from having a more experienced couple to look up to as they go through the various stages of life.
What couple do you know? Who’s your person? Newlyweds need guidance in developing healthy routines from the start of their marriage. Having someone to simply say, “You know what? To some extent, this is to be expected. Simply put, this is how things work.
I’ve got some bad news for you if you’re moving into an empty nest with grown children: You still need a mentor. Not because they are bad kids, but because adult children can be more difficult to get along with than toddlers can be. Things didn’t work out the way I had hoped.
When you think of someone to look up to, who comes to mind? Know who you let speak into your life and choose wisely.
- What you remember is just as important as what you forget.
We have a tendency to forget God’s faithfulness, so in 1998 I began keeping a spiritual milestone file to help me remember. With its current 920 entries, it serves as a constant reminder of God’s handiwork both great and small.
What God has done, who God is in terms of provision, care, and deliverance, and the need to trust God and walk by faith are all brought to mind by significant life events.
Forgetting God’s past works leads to losing faith in Him.
- God created marriage for a purpose.
Acts 13:36 says, “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep,” referencing Matthew 28:19, which says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
I want to be about the purposes of God, in my generation, with my wife.She is a partner in ministry.We are not two individual people who are just successfully going our own way.We are two people who work at merging our life purpose and mission together so that we increasingly share it as we move toward the finish line.
The other evening, Barbara and I sat in our living room in two chairs that we bought in 1972 for $5 apiece.They’ve been reupholstered three times.We sat in those chairs, talking about, “Should we reupholster them, or go buy new ones?
In response, I looked at her and said, “You know what?
Our lives have not been consumed by material possessions.
Do we have a nice house now?
Is our standard of living above what we merit? Absolutely. Despite our flaws and the difficulties we’ve faced, we are committed to working together to fulfill the Great Commandment. We are a part of the Great Commission.
My challenge to you is this: As a couple, believe God for too much, rather than too little. Keep A.W.’s words in mind. According to Tozer, “What a pity we plan to do the things we can only do by ourselves.”
The challenges of life and the inevitable disappointments that come with them can sap your strength and faith, so you’ll need to put in some effort as a couple if you want to make it to the end.
- Just like it’s acceptable to have a rookie year once, it’s not acceptable to keep having them year after year.
In our first year of marriage, I was an idiot, constantly disrespecting the worth of my wife.
Whatever you learn, use it. In the 39th year of your marriage, you should not be making the same beginner’s mistakes.
- When talking to your spouse, never use the d-word.
In a marriage, you should never threaten to separate. Don’t ever utter the d-word in public. Try saying “I’d marry you all over again” with the c-word instead.
When I was five years old, my parents had an argument, and even though divorce wasn’t common at the time, I remember it clearly. Your children are very attuned to the quality of your relationship and the way you handle disagreements in front of them. Let them hear of your commitment to one another.
- Recognize and respect your parents.
Honor your parents so that you may live a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12). This is the first commandment with an accompanying blessing.
We are a generation that has criticized and blamed its parents instead of honoring them, but now is the time to make amends and return home to your parents with dignity. One simple way to do this is to write them a tribute and read it to them.
Barbara and I both honored our parents by not giving them the typical Christmas presents—a dust buster, a tie, or a pair of house slippers—but instead by writing letters to them in which we thanked them for being the people they were.
- Different is not necessarily bad; it is simply different.
When Barbara and I entered the “empty nest” phase, we realized that we are much more different from one another than we had previously realized. Here’s the key: your spouse’s differences are new capacities that God has brought into your life to complete you.
As Barbara and I entered our empty-nest years, I told her, “Wherever you go, you make things beautiful.” You see, I didn’t appreciate beauty; I didn’t understand how beauty reflected the glory of God. God gave you a spouse to enrich your life in new ways.
- Marriage and children have a redeeming effect.
The same path that leads to faith in Christ also leads to a godly marriage and family: surrender — giving up your rights to Him first, and then to your spouse, serving them. Being married to Barbara and having six children has saved me from toxic self-absorption.
I must admit that I once believed that God provided Barbara and me with six children so that we could bring them up. Now I think that He gave me six children, so He could finish the process of helping me grow up.Nothing has taught me more about self-sacrifice and following God’s Word than loving and leading my children.
- A man’s wife is his number one disciple.
In countless interviews, Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru in the United States), stressed the importance of a man’s wife as his first and foremost disciple.
Men, encourage your wives to develop their faith in Christ. This is the best course of action you could take. Not only will your wife’s success in life increase as a result of her development in this area, but yours will as well.
- Get close to the baby.
Barbara and I adopted one of our six children because we knew that by caring for orphans, we were showing love to God the Father. Through adoption, I have gained a deeper understanding of the Father’s love (both conditional and unconditional) and of how he chooses to show his love for his children. This is genuine, unadulterated faith.
- Convert your house into a safe haven in case of a tornado.
I spent many a childhood night underground with the potatoes and green beans as I grew up in southwest Missouri. The air smelled musty and old. To avoid a tornado that never materialized, I was underground.
Our marriage, our family, our home will be built in the midst of storm warnings, floods, wind, and rain, just as Jesus compares two builders of two homes in Matthew 7:24-27.
At times, Barbara’s heart rate was over 300 beats per minute, putting her life in grave danger. Prior to us fixing her heart, I often pictured myself as a single parent. Our athletic 13-year-old son was diagnosed with an extremely rare neurological disorder. We had a prodigal son. My father passed away. My ministry paychecks were short. There were difficulties in dealing with people.
Saying “I do” for the rest of your lives is just the beginning of your marriage covenant.
Establish your house as a safe haven in case of a storm.
- Pain will either separate you or be used by God to bring you closer together.
How we respond to God and His Word makes all the difference in how we deal with adversity, according to the Bible. You and your spouse must make the choice to endure adversity together rather than grow apart.
- How men and women deal with pain is drastically different.
A considerate husband will allow his wife her own time and space to grieve in her own way, even if it’s different from his own. Once Barbara stopped having her heart race at over 300 beats per minute, I remember wanting her to just turn a switch and get on with her life. It wasn’t me whose heart was pounding so hard the hospital bed was trembling when paramedics rushed in.
- Inevitably, as we get older, we will experience more loss.
Faith will determine whether you and your partner age with blessings, giving others new life, or curses, turning you into a bitter crotchety old person.
Good loss processing.
- The ability to talk to one another is the relationship’s oxygen tank.
Simply put, find a way to get five, ten, fifteen minutes together to talk every day.Turn the TV off, set the computer aside, take a walk, and just talk with each other.
Barbara and I used to do this all the time, walking around in our garden while chatting away to one another in full sentences without any interruptions from the kids.
- There is no faster the shepherd can go than the sheep can follow.
You are the guardian of your marriage and family’s direction and vision. C. H. Spurgeon once said, “It was by perseverance that the snail reached the ark.” As the spiritual leader of my family, my greatest hope is to persevere through setbacks and reach the finish line.
The kids would flip peas, spill milk, and hide under the table during family devotions when they were younger, but who knows what they actually heard?
There is no faster the shepherd can go than the sheep can follow.
Couples Bible Study Workbooks
If you are a person that has a hard time expressing yourself or your feelings this app can help you out with it’s list of 101 reasons “Why I Love You.” “Get inspired from these quotes, present them to your partner and spark your relationship.” You can email them to your spouse, add the ones you like to your favorite’s list and more!
Loving Her and Honoring Him AppsLoving Her/Honoring Him ($2.99 each)
Download: Loving Her (For Men) | Honoring Him (For Women)
These two apps go together and are great for couples to do together.
Honoring Him: “There are 365 ideas to spark our creativity and inspire us to action. There are 365 accompanying Scriptures to remind us of the privilege it is to love, support and come alongside our men. Our men aren’t perfect. Neither are we. But they are a gift to us, and we need to let them know it.” You can set reminders and also save your favorites. Sounds like a great app to help your marriage!
Loving Her: “We have designed this app to provide for you 365 ideas to cherish your wife. What this app provides for you is a daily idea for cherishing your wife along with a Bible verse to encourage you in your walk with God. The goal is for every husband to not only become a husband who daily makes his wife feel loved and cherished but who also becomes a strong man of God.” Like the other app this also lets you set reminders and add your favorites.
Reader Tip: “Best thing I have done for our marriage is to set a daily reminder to flirt with my husband. I have an alarm and he doesn’t even know that is why I text him romantic or missing him texts daily. It sparks a lot when you follow through!! This advice came from my coach Dani Johnson. Her website has helped our marriage
tremendously!!!” – Sarah
What are some apps you use for your marriage? Is there another way you use your phone to help your marriage?