Tony Dungy - Uncommon Marriage Bible Study

This five-week study is designed to be used in a variety of ways: in a small group setting, in a mens or womens study, in conjunction with a church-wide campaign, or one-on-one with your spouse.

To get the most out of this study, you will need a Bible and the book Uncommon Marriage, which tells the story of the Dungys marriage and provides the context for the questions and discussion topics in this book. (Please note that the chapter numbers that follow quotes from Tony and Lauren in this study tell you where to find that passage in Uncommon Marriage.)

Although the book and the study can be used separately, you will benefit most from the experience if you use these resources in conjunction. This study includes suggested readings from Uncommon Marriage to correspond with each weeks session.

Here are a few ideas about how you can implement this Bible study in a variety of contexts.

You may want to participate in this study with a small group, with several sets of friends, or with a Sunday school class. The ideal group size is three to six couples, but depending on the format of your group, you could also meet as a larger group for part of the discussion and then break into smaller groups for sharing and prayer. Some groups meet on a weekly basis; others find it works better to meet every other week. You can determine the schedule that best suits the needs of your group.

Another option is to go through this study in an all-mens or an all-womens small group. This approach may be a good option for gender-specific classes that meet in churches or for informal groups of friends. Additional content specific to men and women is available online at coachdungy.com.

If you are interested in using Uncommon Marriage as a church-wide campaign, go to coachdungy.com, where you can access information and resources to help you implement this series at your church. Youll find sermon notes, tips for leaders, promotional materials, and video trailers so your entire congregation can focus on building healthy marriages as a community.

You may want to go through this study one-on-one with your spouse. The content is relevant regardless of the stage of your relationship whether youve been married for years, are newlyweds, or are engaged to be married. It may be helpful to set aside specific times to discuss the questions to ensure that you have a chance to engage with the material together.

Before Your Session: Tells you which chapters to read in Uncommon Marriage and informs you of anything else you need to do to prepare for the session.

Getting Started: Offers an icebreaker to spark conversation and set a comfortable tone for group meetings.

Building an Uncommon Marriage: Guides your group through discussion questions based on the Dungys experiences and the book Uncommon Marriage.

Looking at Gods Word: Provides relevant Scripture verses to help you understand and apply what God says about the topics addressed in the session.

Wrapping Up: Helps you focus on takeaway points you want to remember and apply in the week ahead.

On Your Own: Gives you and your spouse connecting points and questions to discuss after the session.

May God work in these next five weeks to help you grow as a group, as a community, as a church... and especially as a couple.

SESSION 1

AN UNCOMMON FOUNDATION