Nurturing your marriage

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?