Gary Thomas - Cherish Bible Study Guide: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage

T he Cherish curriculum is designed to be as personal as is it practical. Each session begins with an opening icebreaker question followed by a reflection from the Bible. You will then watch the video with your group and jump into some directed small group discussion. Note that even though there are multiple questions and activities available for your small group, you dont need to feel as if you must use them all. Your leaders will focus on the ones that resonate most with your unique group and guide you from there.

The final component of each session, the group activity, is where Cherish might diverge from other studies you have done in the past. In this part, each couple will engage in a hands-on exercise that will seek to move the focus of the session from your head to your heart. Think of this time as an answer to the question, What am I supposed to do with this message?

The group activity is intended to be completed during your meeting timeand it will be what you make of it. If you choose to only go through the motions, or if you refrain from participating with your spouse, it will be less likely you will find what youre looking for during this study. But if you stay open and take a gamble, you may discover what so many others have already found to be true: faith comes alive when we take holy risks for God.

Now, if the thought of risky activities make you feel anxious, thats okay. If you fall into this category, just read ahead to each group activity section, and you will know not only whats coming up but also how to prepare yourself accordingly. Finally, remember that none of these exercises or experiences involves anything inappropriate or embarrassing. They are just hands-on opportunities to keep you open to Gods love and help you learn to cherish your spouse.

Following your group time, there will be three more opportunities during the week for you to engage the content of Cherish. Each of the between-sessions activities is based on the understanding of what it means to cherish and be cherished. A complete understanding of this concept includes recognizing how you want to be cherished, how best to cherish your spouse, and how God has cherished you. The challenge is to do at least one of these activities between sessions and to use this study guide to record what you learn.

Starting in session 2, there will be time before the video for you to check in about the previous weeks activity and process your experiences as a group. Note that if you could not do an activity the first week, or if you are just joining the study at this point, you dont need to worry. Just hearing what others have learned will be enough at this stage.

Finally, remember that this study represents an opportunity to discover a new way of relating to your spouse. The videos, discussions, and activities are simply meant to kick-start your imagination so that you are not only open to Gods love but also start letting it change you from the inside out. Just consider what God could do with a group of people who were not only cherishing their spouses but also cherishing one another together in biblical community. Lets jump into