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Nurturing your marriage. SEND International Missionary Orientation Program 2014. Introduction. Your marriage is the platform of your witness and ministry. Your marriage is high on the “radar” of the enemy, and he seeks to exploit any vulnerability.
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Nurturing your marriage SEND International Missionary Orientation Program 2014
Introduction Your marriage is the platform of your witness and ministry. Your marriage is high on the “radar” of the enemy, and he seeks to exploit any vulnerability. God designs to use your marriage as a showpiece of His grace and as a model for others.
God’s Plan for Marriage • Genesis 2:24 • Matthew 19:5-6 • I Cor. 6:16 • Eph. 5:31
God’s Plan for Marriage • Oneness, intimacy Intimacy Passion Commitment Robert Sternberg’s “Triangular Theory of Love” (1986)
God’s Plan for Marriage 1. Oneness, intimacy • Oneness of heart and spirit • Common calling and purpose in life • Common commitment and shared values • Commitment to a complementary ministry and to the other’s growth in fulfilling his/her calling.
God’s Plan for Marriage 2. Holiness • Eph. 5:25-28 • “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”
Challenges • What are the key challenges unique to the mission setting that impact a marriage relationship?
Challenges • Transition stress
Challenges • Transition stress • Role ambiguity
Challenges • Transition stress • Role ambiguity • Lack of boundaries
Challenges • Transition stress • Role ambiguity • Lack of boundaries • Culture and language stress
Challenges • Transition stress • Role ambiguity • Lack of boundaries • Culture and language stress • Family needs
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer • Communication Gender differences in men’s and women’s communication patterns
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer • Communication • Recreation
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer • Communication • Recreation • Supporting personal growth
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer • Communication • Recreation • Supporting personal growth • Accountability relationships
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer • Communication • Recreation • Supporting personal growth • Accountability relationships • Building fences of protection
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage • Prayer • Communication • Recreation • Supporting personal growth • Accountability relationships • Building fences of protection • Freedom to admit need for help
Summary • God designs that you enjoy an ever-deepening and enriching oneness with your spouse as you serve in the mission setting.
Summary • Your success in achieving God’s design in your marriage, in the human dimension, depends on your consistency in developing and maintaining specific habits.
Summary • Stress is your platform for growth in holiness and character, and for witness. • Keys to constructively growing through challenges are prayer support and personal commitment.
Reflection • What are the one or two life habits of a thriving marriage that are most important at this time for us to develop? • What are our first steps within the next three months? • Who will keep us accountable?