"Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis
2:24
Welcome to Champions at Marriage Ministry.
From Pre to Post marital workshops, you
and your spouse will be empowered from weekly
classes for a lasting marriage from a biblical
viewpoint. We believe that happiness
in marriage isn't a destination, but a journey that is worth
taking and should be FUN!
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the student to marriage and the family from a Christian perspective. Through this course the student will answer questions such as: Relationships in the family, how is the family defined, our responsibilities concerning marriage and the family, how to take ownership and solve our marital problems.
B. LEARNING GOALS
The major goal of the course is to provide you with new lenses through which to view marriage and family systems. Subsidiary goals of Marriage and the Family are to allow you to:
Develop an understanding of the family life cycle, relevant sociological perspectives, and the significant variations that occur within the family system from culture to culture and even within our own culture.
Explore the stages that the family goes through and analyze the tasks that family members must accomplish at each stage.
To learn how to stick together (Bonding Elements), reframing responses and gauging reactions and securing your relationship through social supports.
C. COURSE OUTLINE
Week One – The Origin and Purpose of Marriage
Week Two – Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation
Week Three – Faith and Marriage
Week Four – Honor, Communication and Conflict Resolution
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 2:25-3:2, 3:7
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 13:4
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Titus 2:3-5
So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 1 Timothy 5:14
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22-33
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. Proverbs 12:4
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MARRIAGE -
Start each day with a kiss. Decide to begin the day with love.
Wear your wedding ring at all times. Let it be a visual reminder of your commitment.
Go on a date with your spouse once a week. Even if it's just for coffee, dedicate time for the two of you.
Accept differences. Try to remember that once you thought your spouse's idiosyncrasies were cute. Your chances of changing them are slim, so decide to live with them.
Be polite. Are you more polite to co-workers or store clerks than you are to the one you love? Practice good manners at home.
Be gentle. Harsh words and actions have no place in your home. Choose to be kind to those you love and who love you.
Give gifts. While diamonds are a girl's best friend, a card, a single rose, a favorite candy bar can also do the trick.
Smile often. Put on a happy face and let it determine your disposition. Remember how meaningful the glances were which you once gave each other.
Touch. A pat on the back or a soft caress of the cheek can show love and connection.
Talk about dreams. Get your conversation beyond coordinating schedules and talking about the kids. Take time to talk about ideas and dreams.
Give back rubs. Another day you'll be on the receiving end.
Laugh together. Find something daily to share a laugh about. Life is complete with laughter.
Do what your spouse wants before being asked. Anticipate your spouse's needs and jump right in to help. Put his or her needs before your own comfort.
Listen. You don't have to solve problems, just be an active listener. Turn off the TV, put down the newspaper, and give your spouse your full attention.
Encourage. The best way to give support is to encourage your spouse to do his or her best, to feel confident, or accomplish great things.
Call your spouse. Check in with each other throughout the day - just to say Hi or I love you.
Hold hands. Take a walk or watch TV while holding hands.
Look your best. Comfort doesn't have to be socks and a T-shirt for bed every night.
Apologize. Almost as good as I love you is I'm sorry, forgive me. Marriage isn't a game where you keep score. It's not important who's right.
Ask, What can I do to make you happier? You may be surprised at how simple it is to please your spouse.
Reminisce about your favorite times together. Talk about special times you shared, and create new times together.
Pray for your spouse daily. Don't let a day go by without praying for your marriage, your spouse, and your family.
Watch sunsets together. Find the beauty in life and share it.
End each day with a hug. Decide to end the day with love.
The Marriage Covenant. Marriage is the most
important institution known to mankind. From
this union we learn God's basic purpose of
marriage is to bring two individuals, male and
female together, and make them become one
(Genesis 2:24).
What are the Seven Commitment for the Marriage
Matters Ministry?
We commit to be a listening ear to divorcee, separated,
and widowed
We commit to be fair and never agree with one spouse
over the other
We commit to help resolve any marital conflict with
respect and care
We commit to be spiritual and practical source for new
marriages
We commit to share any word from God to enrich your
marriage
We commit to provide resolution skills using biblical
principles
We commit to be a source of encouragement and
affirmation
PRE-MARITAL COUNSELOR
Premarital Workshops. Before you say, "I Do,"
learn the steps to have a successful marriage.
The premarital workshops will uncover God's
plan to marital readiness, identifying relational
strengths and weaknesses resolution skills, and
much more.
Can you attend the Marriage Alive workshops during the pre-marital session. YES!
Eight sessions include
the following:
1. Pre-interview:
To go over outlines
To determine if couple is ready to begin counseling
To schedule counseling sessions, if necessary
2. Six sessions:
eview of tapes listened to previously
Answer any questions
Go over necessary topics
Handouts for completion will be assigned.
3. Final Session
To be scheduled 1-month prior to wedding date
4. Additional Information
dditional recommended tapes/videos will be
available
" © 1998 by Enroll E. Stephens, Jr. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene Oregon. 
