Marriage
What If I Don’t Think my Spouse is a Christian?
January 23, 2015 by Kyle Borg
“The Bible is clear that a Christian should only marry a Christian. We gather that from where the Lord warned the people of Israel not to "make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst" (Exodus 34:12). Also, Paul instructs us not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14), and he reminds the widow that she is "free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:39). Certainly this wasn't intended to squash our love life, but it's intended by God for our good. I can remember someone once telling me about their non-Christian spouse, how exceedingly sorrowful it was to wake up every morning next to a spiritual corpse. Indeed, I can think of few things more burdensome in this life than to be unequally yoked--to marry someone who doesn't share convictions on truth, life, and eternity.”
40 of the Best Pieces of Marital Advice I’ve Ever Heard
June 25, 2014 by Mark Altrogge
“I’ve been doing a good bit of premarital counseling lately, and I’ve married quite a few folks over the years. There’s lots of great advice in the Bible and other books, but here are 4 of the best pieces of marital advice that have really helped me throughout my marriage. I’m still trying to apply pieces of marital advice, and I’d encourage you to as well, whether you’re getting married in 2 weeks or celebrating your 20th anniversary.”
Beware of Temptations
February 9, 2014 by Alistair Begg
“It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house …
2 Samuel 11:2
At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and away we are liable to meet with allurements to evil. The morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe to those who go out into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence.”
The Covenant of Marriage
September 4, 2013 by Kevin Carson
“As I watched him hold her hands, it was emblematic of the greater answer. Sixty-seven years, one month, 12 days. The question: “How do you make it in marriage?” How can a marriage (your marriage) survive the complexities of life? How is it possible to hold your spouse’s hands almost seven decades after the marriage ceremony with even greater passion than was at the beginning?”
Topics for Conversation When a Man & Woman are Considering Marriage
January 1, 1995 by John Piper
“In each of these sections one item could be added that I have not listed, namely, How do you handle and live with differences? How do you decide what can remain differences without jeopardizing the relationship? So as you deal with each subheading, include that in the discussion.”
The Grand Illusion
August 11, 2013 by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
“I want to let you in on a little secret. Whether you know it or not, your marriage is susceptible to the “American Dream Syndrome.” Through an endless parade of messages in this media-driven culture, you and I are sold the notion that we can have it all—and what’s more, that we deserve to have it all.”
7 Gospel-Centered Principles for Protecting your Marriage
November 6, 2015 by Jim Newheiser
“What Must Be Done to Protect a Marriage?
Almost every marriage begins with joy as newlyweds anticipate sharing life together. Sadly, not all couples live happily ever after. A large percentage of marriages end in divorce. Other couples remain married, but drift apart emotionally due to bitterness or mutual indifference. They share a name and a home, but not a life. What can a couple do to preserve the joyful loving intimacy of their marriage? Consider these seven gospel-centered principles.”
3 Ways the Gospel Changes Marriage
March 11, 2016 by Erik Raymond
“When a new leader is appointed in an organization change is inevitable. The incoming boss will set policy, establish tone, and reflect an attitude in their organization. The same is true for our marriages. The new leader I am referring to here is not a new husband but rather the true husband, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Manifesto for Men
July 25, 2016 by Ed Welch
“Every couple of months it is worth drawing up a fresh husband policy. We can always benefit from a little sharpening of our marital calling, goals, and intentions. Lately, I have been thinking about responsibility.
I am responsible for my marriage. I take this from Paul’s discussion on marriage in Ephesians, which begins, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church” (5:25).”
Biblical Submission: What does it mean for a wife to submit to her husband
August 17, 2009 by Shelley Boston
“Today, one of the most difficult concepts in God’s Word is biblical submission. The word submission is not limited to wives alone. For example, Christians are to submit themselves to each other (Ephesians 5:21), to government (Romans 13:1), and unto God (James 4:7). This is a frequent concept in the Bible. Self-sacrifice is required in each circumstance. Submission is never glossed over to be seen as easy or always convenient. Instead, it is viewed as service unto God.”
7 Ways to Keep Your Wide Beautiful for Life
January 8, 2016 by Brad Hambrick
“Let me begin by saying clearly, the end-all-be-all of a marriage is not having an attractive wife. I do not believe you will be able to read this post and walk away with that conclusion. The goal of marriage is to experience more of God’s love for the church through the delight that a husband and wife take in one another (Eph. 5:32). Attractiveness is but one of those delights.
In this post, I want to examine seven ways that a husband can delights in the beauty of his wife for a lifetime.”
3 Things to Remember about Your (Imperfect) Marriage
February 12, 2016 by Paul Tripp
“Jim got sick and had to forsake his climb up the corporate ladder. This brought stress into his marriage to Jen that he would never have anticipated. Brad and Savannah got busier and busier and quit communicating as they should, and their relationship paid the price. Brent struggled with a secret sin for years, and when Liz discovered it, it almost ended their marriage. India and Frank always seemed to be in a battle for control. It was an exhausting marriage to be a part of. Alfie and Sue never seemed to be in the same place spiritually. Jared and Sally had an infectious affection for one another, but their financial woes brought much stress to their marriage. Jung’s mother pulled her into loyalty battles again and again. It caused lots of conflict between her and Kim.”
This One Commitment Will Keep Your Marriage Together
February 27, 2018 by Kevin Carson
“Can you keep your marriage together?
For those who come to marriage counseling, the majority of the time, this answer is, “Yes.” This is true for most couples where one or both spouses are willing to put in some work. In the country we call it sweat equity. Hard work goes a long way to keep a marriage together. It may not be easy, but, for the majority of marriages, it is possible.”
10 Issues to Work Through Before You Get Married
April 7, 2017 by Tim Challies
“Some people get married too soon. After love at first sight and a whirlwind romance, they quickly plan a wedding, exchange rings, and settle into a marriage that soon turns sour. So much pain can be avoided by working through issues before that wedding day. While courtship and engagement is, of course, the time to plan a wedding, it is also the time to plan a marriage. Here, drawn from the work of Jim Newheiser, is a list of issues to work through before you get married.”
35 Questions for Maturing a Christian Marriage
December 13, 2019 by Jim Elliff
“The following questions are not intended for short answers such as a mere “yes”, but are a means to meaningful discussion between a man and a woman who have vowed to love each other “until death do us part.” Take your time to talk them over. Let the conversation flow. You may answer these questions in any order you wish, or all at one time.”
A Few Practical Pointers on Marriage
January 27, 2020 by Tim Challies
“If you could speak to 70 nearly-married or newly-married couples and give them some practical pointers on marriage, what would you say? That was the question I faced as I prepared for a recent event across town. My first assignment was to speak on the Christian family and then to describe some of the challenges couples may encounter in the first ten years and the ten years after that. Well and good. But then they wanted me to get practical and offer some short-form practical tips on relationship and intimacy. I came up with ten—five related to relating as a couple and five related to sexuality. I thought I’d share the relationship tips today in case they prove helpful to you.”
The Engine That Drives a Good Marriage
February 21, 2020 by Tim Counts
““I do.” With those two words, my life was forever changed. It was a cold but sunny December afternoon. About 200 family members and friends smiled as the pastor who’d mentored me asked me if I would take Melanie as my lawfully wedded wife.”