nurturing your marriage
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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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NURTURING YOUR MARRIAGE
SEND InternationalMissionary Orientation Program
2014
IntroductionYour 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
1. Oneness, intimacyIntimacy
Commitment
PassionRobert 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
1. Transition stress
Challenges
1. Transition stress2. Role ambiguity
Challenges
1. Transition stress2. Role ambiguity3. Lack of boundaries
Challenges
1. Transition stress2. Role ambiguity3. Lack of boundaries4. Culture and language stress
Challenges
1. Transition stress2. Role ambiguity3. Lack of boundaries4. Culture and language stress5. Family needs
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer2. Communication
Gender differences in men’s and women’s communication patterns
Potato head ad.mp4
Levels of CommunicationCliché
Levels of CommunicationCliché
Reporting
Levels of CommunicationCliché
Reporting
Judgment
Levels of CommunicationCliché
Reporting
Judgment
“Gut”
Levels of CommunicationCliché
Reporting
Judgment
“Gut”
Peak
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer2. Communication3. Recreation
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer2. Communication3. Recreation4. Supporting personal growth
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer2. Communication3. Recreation4. Supporting personal growth5. Accountability relationships
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer2. Communication3. Recreation4. Supporting personal growth5. Accountability relationships6. Building fences of protection
Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
1. Prayer2. Communication3. Recreation4. Supporting personal growth5. Accountability relationships6. Building fences of protection7. 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?
