CONSIDERING MARRIAGE?
QUICK STUDY GUIDE
Need help now with CONSIDERING MARRIAGE?
This Quick Study Guide contains excerpts from our Keys For Living book on CONSIDERING MARRIAGE, to offer an immediate overview, concise answers, with biblical hope and practical help.
Are you fit to be tied?
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
Philippians 1:9–10
Marriage is a lifelong commitment, so it’s important to receive good counseling for life’s challenges. Whether you’re already married or you’re seeking premarital counseling, it’s normal to have lots of questions.
Many people attend couples counseling before marriage. Counseling for married couples comes in many forms. Couples may take a premarital questionnaire or attend premarital workshops or a premarital seminar to get answers to their questions before marriage.
God designed marriage to be a committed covenant relationship between a man and a woman—a sacred, sanctified relationship of mutual love lasting for a lifetime; and a Christian marriage is a covenant agreement in which a man and a woman, both committed to Jesus Christ, are legally, physically, and spiritually joined as husband and wife.
Whatever the form, it’s important to seek counseling on marriage early to prepare you for a successful marriage ahead. That’s why we’re here – to provide counseling for marriage with a free, helpful guide.
Practical Tools and Resources to Go Deeper!
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH | LIFE LEADERSHIP | REAL RELATIONSHIPS
NOT SURE ON HOW TO START?
LEARN: WHAT ARE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT MARRIAGE?
Get your free Key to Hope on CONSIDERING MARRIAGE. The download will be sent to your email.
WOMEN OF FAITH SHOW with ALITA REYNOLDS
Inspiring conversations that will encourage you to live the life you were created for.
Do you want to experience a deeper relationship with Jesus?
Do you need some encouragement that your story has a purpose?
Join Alita Reynolds, the President of Women of Faith, as she and her featured guests inspire you to live the life you were created for and equip you to walk more fully in God’s purpose for your life.
Whatever your story, your life matters, you belong, and God wants you to live victoriously. You’ll meet a wide range of guests who impact the kingdom in meaningful ways every day. Their stories will inspire you to believe that when we walk by faith, ANYTHING is possible.
COLLECTION OF CLASSES
Take a deep dive into complete and comprehensive teaching.
Learn with our collection of classes found by subscribing today PLUS receive so much more.
Our Women of Faith Collection of Classes are designed to help you and those you care about deepen your relationship with Jesus and make practical changes in your life. Sign up to watch the Women of Faith Collection of Classes at LIFTABLEtv and start moving toward the FREEDOM you crave.
Whatever you’re facing, your life matters, and God wants you to live in victory. Today is a great day to begin.
Preparation for Marriage Partnership
A couple needs to have an accurate understanding of each other’s expectations and desires. Preparation for Partnership is an excellent exercise for opening the door to meaningful communication. Both parties should complete each sentence in writing and then talk through each point.
- My definition of love is ...
- My reason for marriage is ...
- My way of handling conflict is ...
- My way of dealing with anger is ...
- My preference for spending free time is ...
- My concept of the role and responsibilities of a spouse is ...
- My concept of the role and responsibilities of a spouse is ...
- My views on sex within marriage are ...
- My commitments to my extended family are ...
- My commitments to my future in-laws are ...
- My expectation regarding time with friends (following marriage) is ...
- My position on the use of alcohol is ...
- My experience with illegal drugs is ...
- My priorities for spending money are ...
- My priorities for saving money are ...
- My experience with debt and my commitment regarding debt are ...
- My goals for marriage are ...
- My desires regarding children are ...
- My commitment to be actively involved in a church fellowship is ...
- My spiritual goals and desires are ...
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”
(Proverbs 16:16)
Wrong Motives for Marriage
- “I want to marry because all of my friends are getting married.”
- “I want to be married so I won’t feel like a failure.”
- “I want to fulfill my romantic dreams.”
- “I want to get out of my painful home life.”
- “I want to get even with the person who rejected me.”
- “I want a better family life than I had while growing up.”
- “I want to prove that I’m stable and can make a commitment.”
- “I want the wholesome family ideal.”
- “I want to please my family.”
- “I want to please my friends.”
- “I want to please the person I’m dating.”
- “I want to please God, who said ... ‘It’s not good for the man to be alone’ ” (Genesis 2:18).
- “I want to have sex whenever I desire.”
- “I want to have children.”
- “I want my children to grow up in a two-parent home.”
- “I want someone so I won’t be alone.”
- “I want someone to benefit my career/ministry.”
- “I want someone to need me.”
- “I want someone to make me happy.”
- “I want someone to take care of me financially.”
- “I want someone to take care of me emotionally.”
- “I want someone with whom I can grow old.”
“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
(Proverbs 21:2)
Our Commitment to Grow Together Spiritually
- We commit our lives to Jesus Christ and submit to His control. (Luke 9:23)
- We commit our home to God and pledge to make it Christ-centered. (Joshua 24:15)
- We commit our bodies to each other and vow to be sexually faithful. (Hebrews 13:4)
- We commit our finances to God and will honor Him with our tithe. (Malachi 3:10)
- We commit to reading the Bible and praying with each other daily. (Psalm 119:105–106)
- We commit to not going to bed while still angry with one another. (Ephesians 4:26)
- We commit to nurturing each other through loving encouragement. (Hebrews 10:24)
- We commit to admitting our weaknesses and to seeking prayer support in order to change. (James 5:16)
- We commit to growing with each other into a deeper relationship with the Lord. (Hebrews 10:22–23)
- “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
Key Verses to Learn
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9–10)
Key Passage to Read
1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Dos and Don’ts for Those Contemplating Marriage
Don’t
live in your past.
Do ...
Look for the positive in the present. (Isaiah 43:18–19)
Don’t
focus on your fiancé’s past mistakes.
Do ...
Focus on your fiancé’s choice to marry you. (Proverbs 10:12)
Don’t
expect to change your fiancé.
Do ...
Accept your fiancé the way he/she is. (Romans 15:7)
Don’t
expect your fiancé to meet all of your needs.
Do ...
Expect God to be your primary Need-Meeter. (Philippians 4:19)
Don’t
expect oneness to be equivalent to sameness.
Do ...
Aim for unity while accepting that no two people always think the same. (Romans 15:5–6)
Don’t
criticize your fiancé’s parents.
Do ...
Speak about them with kindness and understanding. (Ephesians 4:29)
Don’t
nag your fiancé.
Do ...
Make your position clear; then commit it to prayer.
(Proverbs 19:13)
Don’t
joke about sexual promiscuity.
Do ...
See sexual intimacy as a picture of the holy union between Christ and His bride, the church. (Ephesians 5:3–4)
Don’t
joke about divorce as an option.
Do ...
Eliminate the word divorce from your vocabulary. God hates divorce! (Malachi 2:16 NLT)
Don’t
rationalize, “It’s okay to have sex—we’re engaged, and we’ll be married soon.”
Do ...
Realize that sexual responsibility before marriage demonstrates that you will be sexually responsible after marriage. (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
Don’t
disregard a check in your spirit.
Do ...
Talk with someone who knows your fiancé well in order to discern the cause of your uneasiness. Then wait for God’s confirmation. (Psalm 32:8)
What Is Premarital Counseling?
- Premarital counseling is practical advice given to a couple in preparation for marriage.
- Premarital counseling involves teaching a couple open and honest communication in preparation for marriage.
- Communication is sharing and understanding each other, both verbally and nonverbally.
- Communication is listening and responding respectfully.
- Communication involves a willingness to be honest and vulnerable.
- Communication is listening and responding respectfully.
- Communication involves a willingness to be honest and vulnerable.
- Communication is sharing and understanding each other, both verbally and nonverbally.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 15:22
LIVE IN VICTORY!
100+ BIBLICALLY BASED RESOURCE TOPICS
READY TO GO DEEPER?
Be coached and equipped to boost your spiritual strength, experience real relationships, and be the life leader you are.
Want to learn more about our other 100+ topics? Check out the Women of Faith Resources, to discover biblical hope and practical help on these topics. The Women of Faith Resources are designed to help you – and help you help others – overcome difficulties, grow in maturity, and move forward in life.
God desires to give you hope as you face life challenges, problems and difficult trials. The good news for us, God specializes in redemption and transformation. He takes that which was lost and restores it. He takes that which was dead and gives it life. He takes that which had no hope and rewrites its story. This is our God! As you pray today, ask God boldly to transform the thing inside you that you want to see changed forever!
Thank you for your interest and support in Women of Faith. We pray God will encourage, equip, and empower you with His life-changing truth.
