What to Do: Enjoy a “progressive meal” together and evaluate how your marriage is developing and achieving its purpose. Plan a date that involves three locations in your house or apartment – one for an appetizer/salad, one for a main course, and one to enjoy desert or coffee together.
Location One: Appetizers
Our society’s idea of marriage has shifted over the years. But God’s plan remains the same. How have you seen the world move away from God’s view of the purpose of marriage, sex, roles within marriage, divorce, etc?
- For the Wives: As you enjoy your appetizers, wives share which of the following marital habits you find easier, harder and why: encourage – respect – control – submit – love – manipulate – serve
- For the Husbands: As you enjoy your appetizers, husbands share which of the following marital habits you find easier, harder and why: resent – protect – ignore – respect – lead – serve – criticize – cherish
Location Two: Main Course
God desires for marriage to be a picture of the Gospel – the reality that we are more sinful in ourselves than we know, and yet more loved and accepted in Jesus than we can imagine.
How well is your marriage presently modeling the Gospel to one another and to your family and friends? With 5 as the highest score, each spouse rate how you feel your marriage reflects each of the following qualities.
Love and respect: 5 4 3 2 1
Forgiveness and grace: 5 4 3 2 1
Submission and service: 5 4 3 2 1
Sacrifice and giving: 5 4 3 2 1
Joy and hope: 5 4 3 2 1
Humility and selflessness: 5 4 3 2 1
Talk about one simple next step for how you can help improve a low scoring category.
Location Three: Dessert
Pick two ways you want to intentionally grow together in Christ:
- Pray together at least once a week
- Memorize a Bible verse together
- Read through a book of the Bible together
- Start a marriage Bible study together
- Listen to a sermon online and talk about it
- Pick a time each week to discuss something God is teaching you through His Word.
