Married

Best Marriage Ever


Main Idea:

Marriage is a covenant and not a contract. It is a permanent relationship with no end date. No matter how tough things might become, divorce should not an option.


Key Questions: Main Passage Galatians 6:7-9

• What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?

• Examine your marriage. What and where are you sowing in your marriage currently? Are you pleased with your harvest or do you need to make some changes?


• What are some specific things you’ve learned from this series that you are going to do to ensure that you and your spouse never give up in your marriage?


Optional Questions: If needed, include one or more of these scriptures and questions to extend your conversation.


Matthew 19:1-12

• Do you tend to be more selfish or selfless with your spouse? Explain.


• Describe a time when you encountered a tough time in your marriage? How did you get through it and how did that experience affect your marriage?


• How have you seen divorce affect your family or the families of those you know?


Next Steps:

• What’s one thing you will do this week as a result of something you learned from this message?


Downloadable


Talk It Fight Fair


Who do you think is the biggest cheater in professional sports? Pete Rose, Tom Brady, Ben Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Tonya Harding or someone else? Why do you think they thought it was worth it?


• What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?


• Do a reality check: How would you evaluate the way you and your spouse fight? Do you typically fight fair or unfair? Explain.


• Clint said the keys to fighting fair are found in James 1:19, which says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” In which of these three ways do you and your spouse do well when you fight and which do you not?

Optional Questions: If needed, include one or more of these scriptures and questions to extend your conversation.


• Read and discuss James 1:19-20, Proverbs 18:2, Proverbs 21:23, and Ephesians 4:26-27.


• How did your parents handle conflict in their marriage? How has that shaped the way you handle conflict in your own marriage?


• Recall your first fight or one of your early fights as a couple. How has the way you fight changed throughout your marriage?


• What steps can you take to become a better listener in your marriage? If you are a good listener, how has that affected the way you fight with your spouse?


Next Steps:

• What’s one thing you will do this week as a result of something you learned from this message?


Daily Bible readings

Day 1: Proverbs 18:1-13

Day 2: James 3:1-12

Day 3: James 1:19-27

Day 4: Ephesians 5:21-33

Day 5: Ephesians 4:25-32

Day 6: Romans 12:9-21

Day 7: Matthew 18:21-35


Take steps to fight fair with your spouse this week by reading and talking over the following Bible passages.


Downloadable Fight Fair





Best Marriage Ever


“Having a great marriage is not about what you say, but rather what you sow.”


If you’re married or hope to be someday, what is one thing you hope for your marriage?


Discussion Questions

1. Love always assumes the best. Tell the story about a time when you assumed the worst but everything turned out better than you expected.


2. Great changes don’t happen overnight; they require time and patience (Galatians 6:7-9). Does that encourage or discourage you? Why?


3. Marriage is a magnifier; it shows more clearly who you really are. How have you seen this play out in the marriage of someone among your friends or family?


4. Every marriage experiences disappointment, dedication, doubt, and bad decisions. Which of these do you most identify with and why?


5. What is one way you’ve been disappointed by God because He didn’t do something you expected Him to (Luke 1:5-7)? What did you learn from that experience?


6. The marriage that is focused on disappointments eventually destructs. If you were honest, what two or three things would you say your marriage is focused on?


7. God wants to take your mess and turn it into a miracle. What mess do you want God to turn into a miracle today?


8. There is power in a person who persistently prays (Luke 1:8-17). What is one thing you—and if you’re married, your spouse—have prayed for consistently for a long time? Do you think God has heard your prayers? Why or why not?


9. Even when it’s easier to doubt God and we don’t understand what He’s doing, He deserves our trust (Luke 1:18-25). When was a time God did something supernatural through you because you were obedient to Him in your daily choices?


For Further Reading

• Colossians 3:14-17

• Genesis 12:1-5, 18:11-15, 21:1-7

• Luke 11:5-13


Downloadable Married

Single

Best Marriage Ever


Main Idea: Main Passage Galatians 6:7-9

You reap what and where you sow. Be intentional about what and where you are sowing today so that you are preparing for a harvest in your marriage in the future.


Key Questions:

• What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?


• What and where are you sowing right now? Are you pleased with what you’re reaping or do you need to make changes?


• What are some specific things you’ve learned from this series that you are going to do now to ensure you have a successful marriage later?


Optional Questions: If needed, include one or more of these scriptures and questions to extend your conversation.


Read and discuss Matthew 19:1-12

• Do you tend to be more selfish or selfless in your relationships? Explain.


• What qualities are you looking for in a future spouse? Which qualities are most important to you?


• How have you seen divorce affect your family or the families of those you know?


• What things are you afraid of that might make you want to give up on your future marriage? What do you need to do to overcome these fears?


Next Steps:

• What’s one thing you will do this week as a result of something you learned from this message?


Downloadable Single


Fight Fair

Main Idea:

Strive to fight fair in all of your relationships today so that you will fight fair with your future spouse. When you fight you must “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”


Key Questions:

What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?


Do a reality check: How would you evaluate the way you currently handle conflict with others? Do you typically fight fair or unfair? Explain.


Clint said the keys to fighting fair are found in James 1:19, which says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” In which of these three ways do you do well when you fight and which do you not?


Optional Questions: If needed, include one or more of these scriptures and questions to extend your conversation.

Discuss James 1:19-20, Proverbs 18:2, Proverbs 21:23, and Ephesians 4:26-27.


How did your parents and your family handle conflict while growing up? How has that shaped the way you handle conflict with others?


Describe one of the biggest fights or conflicts you’ve been involved in. How did you handle it? How did it get resolved?


What did it reveal to you about the way you handle conflict?


In what ways do you need to improve at handling conflict?


Share an example from your experiences of why it’s important to guard your words and handle your anger when you fight.


Daily Bible readings


Take steps to fight fair in all of your relationships this week by reading and talking over the following Bible passages.

Day 1: Proverbs 18:1-13

Day 2: James 3:1-12

Day 3: James 1:19-27

Day 4: Ephesians 5:21-33

Day 5: Ephesians 4:25-32

Day 6: Romans 12:9-21

Day 7: Matthew 18:21-35lifechurch.tv.

Group Challenge: Memorize James 1:19-20


Downloadable Fight Fair



“Best Marriage Ever” 

How not to be single.


The best way to prepare for marriage—and be successful in marriage—is to stay humble, hungry, and hardworking.


What is the most difficult challenge about being single and why?


Discussion Questions:

How deep do you want to take your Group? Choose from these questions to lead your discussion.


1. Ruth was a widow, a different race than most people where she lived, not a virgin, and lived with her mother-in-law. Do you think those things made life easier or more difficult for her? How do you think those things impacted how people viewed her and her chances of finding a good man?


2. Though she was an unlikely candidate, God brought something great through Ruth’s life: she became part of the family line through which Jesus entered the world (Ruth 4:13-22). Is there something great you believe God will do through your life?


3. When it comes to your life and relationships, what do you desire—what are you hungry for? Do those desires line up with God’s desires for you? Read Psalm 37:4.


4. We sow humility into our relationships by considering others before ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). What’s one way you’ve seen this put into practice?


5. Hard work is a prerequisite for a healthy relationship (Proverbs 13:4). If you want healthy relationships, what is one area of your life in which you need to work harder?


6. Read Ruth 2:10-13. How would you describe Ruth’s perspective and posture? Compare with Matthew 20:28.


7. Before Ruth found a husband and became part of Jesus’ family line, she made choices that prepared her for that moment. How do you think the commitments she made impacted her life (Ruth 1:7-18)?


8. What has God called or equipped you to do while you’re single? Set aside a couple minutes each day this week to ask God and listen to what He says.


9. Whether you’re single, married, divorced, widowed, or anything else, pursue Jesus before you pursue a relationship. Who is one trusted friend you can ask to keep you accountable to pursuing Jesus first in your live?


For Further Reading

• Ruth 1:1-4:22

• Hebrews 12:1-3

• 1 Corinthians 7:25-40


Downloadable Single