Tony Evans - Preparing for a Kingdom Marriage: A Couples Workbook to Connecting with Gods Purpose

Preparing for a Kingdom Marriage: A Couples Workbook to Connecting with Gods Purpose

Copyright 2018 by Tony Evans

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). All italics in the Bible texts were added by the author for emphasis.

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Editor: Kathy Davis

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Front cover photographs are the property of their respective copyright holders and all rights are reserved. Couple Stephen Vosloo; hair BonninStudio/Stocksy; landscape Morgan Sessions/Unsplash.

Portions of Appendixes A, B, and C have been adapted or used directly from Kingdom Quest and/or Kingdom Quest Leaders Guide, Focus on the Family, 2015.

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ISBN 978-1-58997-937-6

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WELCOME TO PREPARING FOR A KINGDOM MARRIAGE . We are so excited that you and your future spouse are taking the time to prepare for this monumental decision and transition in your life! Your marriage will be the foundation for your future, in more ways than you can even imagine. Thats why weve put together this workbook to help you open up the lines of dialogue and expand your thinking on some of the more critical aspects needed to turn your vow into wow! It is my desire that your marriage will be the single most rewarding, satisfying, and encouraging area of your entire life. When that is true, theres no telling how God will use you both as individuals and as a couple for His purposes and His glory.

A few pointers as we start our time together. This workbook is intended to be used alongside my book Kingdom Marriage. Now, keep in mind, Kingdom Marriage is written to couples who are already married. So as you read it, you may need to look ahead into your relationship a bit through forecasting, or take my word for it if its something you cant even imagine you and your partner one day doing (like arguing!). Each lesson coincides with a chapter in Kingdom Marriage, so be sure to read that chapter prior to watching the video segment or doing the personal and couple reflection and lesson questions.

In addition, weve put together several appendixes, three of them for you to use before you start your time in this study. These appendixes go into some discovery aspects about you and your partner that will be helpful information and a framework for moving through these lessons. We cover things such as communication, personality, spiritual gifts, purpose, mission, and vision statementsand even your own couples logo!

In Appendix C there is a list of service opportunities. Read through them together and choose which one(s) fit your schedule, the needs of those around you, and your interests. You can choose one or you can do all of them. It is entirely up to you. What we want you to do, though, is to serve somewhere every single week of this study, beginning this week. Your oneness will develop organically as a couple when you serve others together. So look over that appendix before you start lesson 1.

Appendix D includes a chapter from my book Raising Kingdom Kids, in which I talk about the very common occurrence of blended families. If one or both of you already have children, please take the time to read this appendix. I also want to encourage you to view the study questions and lessons through the grid of your entire family, not solely your new marriage, as you go through each week.

Appendix E provides a home budget template to use with lesson 10. And Appendix F offers coaching for mentors working with engaged couples.

Each weeks lesson gives you some time to review the reading material, go deeper in personal application and Bible study, discuss what you are learning, and meet with a mentor or mentoring couple who can serve as guides. It is my desire that as you both move toward your wedding day, you will experience Gods supernatural hand of alignment, unity, and love drawing you together at a level deeper than you even imagined possible.

Marriage truly is the greatest gift given to us on earth. Cherish it and honor it by preparing wisely for it.

Cheering for you,

AS YOU BEGIN to use the thirteen lessons in this workbook, youll see that the first part of each lesson is the Time with Tony Video Segment. These are brief videos in which I introduce the subject of that lesson and encourage you in your study. I hope this personal touch will convey to you and your intended how much I care about you and the success of your approaching marriage.

These videos are part of the program and are provided at no extra charge. To access them, simply go to FocusOnTheFamily.com/MarriagePrep, enter a little information about yourself, and enjoy!

Begin your time together by opening in prayer, then watch the lesson 1 video segment. (See for link.)

Read chapter 1 of Kingdom Marriage individually. Rewrite the following highlights from the chapter in your own words, or, if you prefer, simply reword the statements in a conversation you have with your fianc at a later time. Make sure to write them or speak them in such a way that they will personally apply to you and your future spouse.

1. The foundation of civilization is the family, and the foundation of the family is marriage; therefore, the destruction of marriage naturally results in the destruction of civilization. This is why it is critical that we make strengthening marriages and families an integral part of our lives.