Gary Chapman - A Couples Guide to a Growing Marriage: A Bible Study

2006, 2009, 2014 by GARY D. CHAPMAN

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Originally published as Building Relationships: A Discipleship Guide for Married Couples 1995 Gary D. Chapman, Life Way Press

Previously published as The Marriage Youve Always Wanted Bible Study

Cover and interior design: Dean H. Renninger

Cover image: iStock.com/Kangah #14219540

Author photo: P. S. Photography

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1228-7

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Welcome to what may be the most growth-producing experience in your Christian life. A Couples Guide to a Growing Marriage is more than just a study. This course can be a doorway to deeper relationships with God and your spouse. As these two relationships become more intimate, you will grow in self-understanding. As you better understand your emotions, attitudes, needs, and abilities, you will also have a deeper understanding of others. Thus, all of your relationships will be enhanced.

You will learn how to share your life more fully with God and how to draw on His resources. You will also learn how to share yourself more fully with your spouse:

how to understand and be understood

how to express love

how to handle anger

how to resolve conflict.

You will gain insight into your spouses needs and learn how to meet them. In short, you will discover the joy potential in your marriage and your ministry potential for God.

In terms of personal spiritual growth, you will gain consistency in:

meaningful daily quiet time

weekly life-related Bible study

regular Scripture memory

productive prayer

Success will require discipline (doing things when you dont feel like doing them), and it will call for honesty and openness (the willingness to share with others).

God has never called His people to live in isolation. Adam did not say, It is not good for the man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). That was Gods analysis. Our deepest sense of fulfillment is found in sharing life with others. Marriage is meant to be the most intimate of all our human relationships.

The sense of closeness,

of knowing and being known,

of understanding and being understood,

of helping and being helped,

is what marriage is all about. Yet for many couples intimacy is only a dream. A Couples Guide to a Growing Marriage will help you make the dream a reality.

A Couples Guide to a Growing Marriage requires both private time and shared time. In your private time you will study the Bible, pray, memorize Scripture, and complete learning exercises. The shared time will have two aspects: 1) sharing with your spouse, and 2) sharing with a group of couples. Lets look at each element.

In your Bible study you will discover Gods principles for husband-wife relationships. You will pray and memorize key verses of Scripture that have continuous application to life. Plan to spend one hour each week in personal Bible study. You should complete it in the first couple of days in the week because you will apply what you learn in the Bible study during the daily growth exercises.

The learning exercises you complete as part of your Bible study help you identify your ideas, feelings, and attitudes, and thus develop self-understanding. You will apply what you learn in daily growth exercises. These exercises consist of two aspects: 1) conversations with God, and 2) sharing with your spouse.

Conversations with God. One aspect of daily growth will be conversations with God. This private time consists of ten to fifteen minutes each day. You will grow to value these conversations with God as you spend time talking and listening to Him.

Sharing with your spouse. You will learn how to have a brief sharing time (ten to fifteen minutes) with your spouse daily. The purpose is for self-revelation and understanding. You will grow closer in your relationship in these times together. Some weeks you will have an extended time by sharing a learning exercise together.

The group sharing time is one of the most important aspects of A Couples Guide to a Growing Marriage. Interacting with a group provides the encouragement and support needed for consistent growth. You will learn how to share insights from your personal Bible study and gain the insights of others. You will experience the joy of praying with fellow Christians. You will give and receive encouragement in Scripture memory. You share from your marriage only what you feel will help others or those areas where you desire the ideas of other couples. You will not be asked to share anything you do not want to share. The group sharing time will require one to one-and-a-half hours per week. The group will meet at a time and place mutually determined by group members.

Again, welcome to A Couples Guide to a Growing Marriage, the doorway to deeper relationships with God and your spouse. Your first assignment is . You will complete a Bible study, record a prayer request, and perform a learning exercise. Good journey!

Gary Chapman