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MARRIAGE MINISTRY

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The following comes directly out of the book, Married People: How Your Church Can Build Marriages That Last, by Ted Lowe & Doug Fields
 
Vision:

• The church needs to be a place where marriages grow stronger, and there needs to be a vision of how to do that
• When the church becomes and advocate for marriage, it makes a positive statement to those in and out of the church
• We want to be a place that helps build marriages that last.
• Acknowledgement that marriage takes constant work; and it isn’t just a fairy tale, especially for those in the church.

Why is Marriage the Church’s business?

• Because children need a loving mother and father who are together
  • Children cannot thrive with emotional, financial or marital strife
• Because a husband and wife is an illustration of Jesus and his Church
  • Marriage reflects the relationship between Jesus and his church
  • Ephesians 5:25-27

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

• What do marriages at Christ Church say about Jesus and what do the marriages say about Christ Church?

• Because Marriage is a spiritual issue
  • When marriage isn’t working it robs us of our best relationship with God
  • Marriage, by its very nature, is transformative
    • God uses our marriage to make us more like him,
    • Friends, jobs and other relationships may come and go, but because a marriage is meant to last forever it has the potential to draw us closer to God over time.
• The Church “has to” minister to marriages
  • When a marriage is strong there is more investment in the ministries at church
  • When a marriage is falling apart attendance and participation and giving falls apart
  • Caring for marriages is one of the greatest tools for the church – to disciple insiders and to reach outsiders

 
Resources Available for Marriage Support
Contact Robin Quick, rquick@christch.org, for more information
 
DVD Series
Visionary Marriage: Building a Marriage with a Mission, Rob Reinow
           
Books
7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage, Kim Kimberling, Phd
With the subtitle Strengthen Your Most Important Relationship, this book outlines foundational building blocks to enrich marriages and draw spouses closer to each other.
The Love Dare, Stephen and Alex Kendrick
This 40-day challenge is an opportunity for couples to understand and practice unconditional love. Intentionally focusing on your marriage will reap benefits.
Love & Respect, Emerson Eggerichs
Psychological studies affirm that unconditional respect for men is as powerful as unconditional love for women. Using Ephesians 5:33, “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” Love & Respect explores ways to break unhealthy cycles in a marriage.
 
Online Resources
http://lysaterkeurst.com/2014/01/5-scriptures-to-pray-over-your-marriage/
http://www.thepinkishlife.com/20-conversation-starters-for-married-couples/
http://www.thepinkishlife.com/20-conversation-starters-for-married-couples/
http://staymarriedblog.com/same-team/
http://www.happywivesclub.com/9-date-ideas-that-wont-break-the-bank/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/trust-building-exercises-for-couples.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tk-ways-to-stay-in-love-despite-the-years_55d4c615e4b0ab468d9f6086