- What are some things that are really important for you that help your family create a happy and secure home?
- What are some things that you do or want to do that will help create a strong spiritual foundation for your family?
- One of the biggest influences in your children’s view of God will be what they learned and saw in your home. How does this knowledge influence your responsibility as a parent?
- Hospitality can sometimes feel overwhelming. What are some some things that make it difficult for you? What are some things that you really enjoy when you do practice hospitality?
- What are some of your individual passions? What are some things that you enjoy doing together that can serve others?
- If you don’t know what your passion is, don’t try to be “spiritual” or “philosophical” about it. What brings you a lot of satisfaction when you do it? What is something that you’re good at? What touches your heart? What is something that you regret not doing?
At the end of your life, what would you love to be able to look back and know that you had done something about?
- Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” - Colossians 3:7 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Romance and Intimacy – Group Discussion
- Think back to when you fell in love. What are some romantic moments that you shared?
- What was most memorable about your wedding day and what do you fondly remember about your newlywed days?
- What are some things that you both enjoy doing together?
- What are some things that you would love to do together that you’ve never done before?
- “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it…” Genesis 1:28
“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.” Proverbs 5:18
God is the designer of sex. Sex is a gift from God. How has our culture perverted sex?
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” Song of Solomon 6:3
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” Song of Solomon 6:3
God is the designer of sex. Sex is a gift from God. How has our culture perverted sex?
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1CZK0MN1eY 8:50-13:20
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl257AMe9Ng
Marriage and Money – Group Discussion
- Why do you think money is mentioned so many times (more than 800!) in the Bible?
- “Only 32% of Americans would be able to cover a $5,000 emergency with cash without going into debt for it.” (per Gallup/Bankrate survey) How would if feel/how does it feel, to be able to cover that type of emergency without going into debt for it?
- What are some goals with money that you have for your family?
- Did you have a good financial teaching in the family that grew up in? What are some way that you can pass on financial wisdom to your children?
- What is keeping you from saving or what motivates you to save?
- “How you spend your money says a lot about who you are as a person.” “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What do you think about these two quotes?
- What are your thoughts concerning a budget? What stops you from making/sticking to a budget, or what motivates you to keep a budget?
- How would it feel to have no debt of any kind?
- Saver vs. spender, which one are you and which one is your spouse?
- 30 year Mortgage – http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-the-30-year-mortgage-robs-your-future/
Going Through Hard Times As A Family
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” (Mark 14:34, NIV) Jesus experienced sorrow “to the point of death.”
Hard times can either distance us or bring us closer
We need both the winds of hardship and winds of relief to sweep across our lives if we are to be truly fruitful.
Unity and supporting each other, lean on each other, one team
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Importance of Having a Strong Support System and Being a support system
Growing Stronger as an individual and as a family
understanding God’s will
Romans 8:28 Consequences of our actions vs. something that happened through no fault of our own
When it’s a consequence of our own actions, we blame ourselves or others, when it’s something that happened by nature, we tend to blame God
Fallen world – Job (sin and nature)
“In this world you will have trouble, but have heart for I have overcome the world.”
Being a believer in God does not insure us from hard times
Hard times can either distance us or bring us closer
Unity and supporting each other, lean on each other, one team
When you’re going through hard times in life, what questions do you tend to have towards God?
What are some difficult things that you’ve had to experience in life?
What are some things that you learned while going through hard times?
Who/what was most helpful during hard times?
https://acoupleonpurpose.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/what-not-to-say/
One Marriage, Two Personalities – Group Discussion
“When we’re willing to put forth effort to understand our mates and help our mates understand us, this softens our hearts and opens the door to intimacy.” Rick Johnson, Becoming Your Spouse’s Better Half
Which personality types are you?
Primary vs. Secondary
Briefly go over each personality, possibly show a quick video clip.
Strengths and weaknesses.
Personalities in the Bible. Talk about spirituality for each personality.
Emotional needs of each personality.
As we learn to appreciate each other’s strengths, we can complement each other beautifully and become a dynamic team.
