Marriage Enrichment

1. Marriage Enrichment Understanding Marriage…Knowing Each Other

3. Write out two reasons as to why you are here.

5. In the space below, write out two reasons as to why you are here. 1:00 minute

6. Times Up!

7. Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this…life that God has given you under the sun Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good The basic unit in society is the ________________. When family life deteriorates, society is ___________________. family endangered

8. Prayer God, you instituted the marvelous union of marriage. When two come together in your name, we know that you have not joined them to frustrate them, but to bless them. Help us to follow your will for our lives, putting into practice the love with which you have filled us, so that we might be the blessing to our spouse that you intend. To that end, bless us this evening that our time together might be for the good of our marriages. Amen.

9. Take the “how are things going” quiz, answering yes or no to each question. 1:30 minutes

10. Times Up!

11. The Christian recognizes that God has not only instituted marriage, but that his Word also offers the means whereby family life may be sustained and improved, and whereby the true blessings and joys of family life may be realized.

12. Genesis 2:18-22 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

13. Marriage is not a _____________________ tradition or social development custom humans came up with after years of trial and error an accident

14. Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The relationship between husband and wife goes beyond any other previous human relationship. After your Savior, your husband or wife becomes your #_________ priority – and this doesn’t change even after children arrive in the household. 1

15. Place a mark on the line between 1 and 10 which would describe your feeling (notice, you will do this according to what you think and according to what you think your spouse thinks). Do not consult with your spouse while completing this exercise. After both of you are finished, compare your responses with each other and share why you answered as you did. 5:00 minutes

16. Times Up!

17. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. The basic building block of marriage is __________________________ committed love

18. A Comparison… • ____________________ - this is a “love” that is the flame of _________________. ~ (eros) passion

19. A Comparison… • ____________________ - this is a “love” that is the ___________________ of warmth and friendship. filew - (fil-e-o) feelings

20. A Comparison… • ____________________ - this is a “love” that is not just passion or feelings; it is an _______________ and the resulting ______________ that is taken because of that attitude. agapaw – (a-ga-pao) attitude action

21. Word List (Not every word will be used) reward grace persons/actions mercy will never promised bound Each couple read a passage. Then fill in the blanks. At your table finish the final two exercises at the bottom as well 5:00 minutes

22. Times Up!

23. Remember those promises… • ______, will you take ______ to be your wife? Will you be guided by the counsel and direction God has given in his Word and love your wife as Christ loved the Church? Will you be faithful to her, cherish her, support her, and help her in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?

24. Remember those promises… • ______, will you take ______ to be your husband? Will you be guided by the counsel and direction God has given in his Word and submit to your husband as the Church submits to Christ? Will you be faithful to him, cherish him, support him, and help him in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?

25. Remember those promises… • faithful • Loyal, constant, steadfast • True, devoted, dedicated, committed • cherish • Protect and care for someone lovingly • Adore, hold dear, dote on, be devoted to, admire

26. Remember those promises… • support • Bear all or part of the weight • help • Make it easier for someone to do something • Serve someone

27. A Starting Point On a scale of 1 (not that important) to 5 (very important) write before each statement how important it is to you for your spouse to know this truth about you. On the blank after the statement, write T for “true” or F for “false” if you think your spouse would be able to answer it. Once both of you are done, lovingly share with each other. 7:00 minutes

28. Times Up!

29. Go back to the first page and share with each other what you hope to get out of this marriage enrichment – and your answers to the “how are things going” quiz. 3:00 minutes

30. Times Up!

31. Date Night Game Date Night Devotion Marriage Enrichment Friday, August 24 – Marital Oneness TBA – Barriers to Marriage and Oneness (Part 1) TBA – Barriers to Marriage and Oneness (Part 2) TBA – Communication: A Key to a Great Marriage TBA – Connection: Completing a Great Marriage