Eric & Vonetta Williams Christ Tabernacle’s Marriage Enrichment Program That’s us babe! Our Life: Our Future

Agape Phileo Eros Marriage Counseling Entering a relationship is like entering a maze. And you have to know the proper path that will lead to a quality marriage. That path is friendship, courtship, commitment, marriage. We take the couple back through the three stages to help edify their relationship. At each junction establishing a contract that consist of guidelines, goals & responsibilities that are objectively based on an external model (Christ & Church) and that benefit both parties. Contract Stick to the contract!

Or Scripture Ecclesiastics 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A rope of three strands is not easily broken.

String, Rope, or chains... Ecclesiastics 4:12

1)What is it a relationship, 2)What are its dynamics, 3)How to assess our relationships 4)What is the standard model Our objectives:

People Finances My Spouse Relationship? Problem The state of being related or connected in some way to another person What are Some believe that the “issues” are the problem in a relationship. The real problem is that they may not know what a relationship is.

What connects us? String Rope Chain ? Why is this important? 1.When we got together it was about us. 2.But as time goes on we grow as individuals; 3.but as our relationship matures, we acquire things that depend on us staying together. 4. Trials and situations can put a strain on the relationship and threaten us and our “us” stuff. 5. We need something strong enough to keep us together. How strong is your relationship? We have to make sure we are connected by love and not circumstances; and that this love is strong.

What connects us? String Rope Chain ? What do you think a string relationship is like? Weak Won’t last Ball of string represents circumstances. Explain what will happen to the relationship when it runs out. String Relationships Rules: No commitment/responsibility Built on: circumstances Symptoms: Emotional, Disappointment Out come: Separation/divorce

What connects us? Rope Chain Chain Relationships Rules: Set your own Rules Based on: Fight for control, revenge. Symptoms: Argue, distrust, dishonesty, neglect, abuse, fear Outcome: violence, broken spirit, hard heartedness String Relationships Rules: No commitment/responsibility Built on: circumstances Symptoms: Emotions, Disappointment Out come: Separation/divorce Explain what happens to the love when situations pull on the relationship. Describe the strength of this relationship.

What connects us? Rope Chain Relationships Rules: Set your own Rules Based on: Fight for control, revenge. Symptoms: Argue, distrust, dishonesty, neglect, abuse, fear Outcome: violence, broken/hard heart String Relationships Rules: No commitment/responsibility Built on: circumstances Symptoms: Emotion Out come: Separation/divorce Describe the strength of this relationship. Explain what happens when situations pull on the relationship. Rope Relationships Rules: Based on agreeable standard Built on: Commitment Symptoms: Tight/closeness, endurance, trust, compromise, understanding/empathy Out come: Built to last

Love Flawed Struggles Love SIN Flawed 1Corinthians 11:3 God is the head of Christ What is the true model for a relationship? Christ is the head of man Man is the head of woman What is this relationship based on? Love But Sin entered the world an man became flawed. And love flowed only one way, from Christ to man. Consequently the love that flowed between us now became flawed. Add to that the affairs of this world, selfish desires, and the struggles of life. Many of us say we will leave without trying when we feel our spouse is not giving us the love we deserve. But when we did not love God, that’s when He showed us how much He loved us by sending His son to die for our sins. And the loved flowed both ways again. And we must put Christ in our relationship so love can flow properly between us. Christ acts as a conduit of God’s love and filters out all the unpleasant factors that can poison a relationship.

Love Human Flaws Struggles of Life Stick to the contract Make your “love” payments The enemy won’t repossess your relationship. Love Please mess up! Please please mess up! You need a contract That reflects God’s love And is based on God’s word