By Pastor Phillips Koh

“Marriage is made in heaven, but its maintenance begins on this earth.”

How do we build a strong marriage?

1. AGAPE LOVE A strong marriage rests on a strong foundation of love The Leaning Tower of Pisa

† Unconditional † Sacrificial † Unlimited

2. BIBLICAL ROLES BASED ON EPHESIANS 5:22-33

2. BIBLICAL ROLES BASED ON EPHESIANS 5:22-33 (cont’d)

A confusion today about male headship and male dominance

A stereotyping of gender roles to cook to clean to nurture children to serve husband Culturally conditioned role of wives

3. UNLIMITED FORGIVENESS Forgiveness functions as a spiritual lubricant for smoothing frictions in relationships

4. GOOD COMMUNICATION 5 Levels of Communication (based on John Powell’s book) 1) Cliché conversation  Superficial in nature 2) Reports about others  No personal issues

4. GOOD COMMUNICATION (cont’d) 3) Judgment  Offering personal opinions on some issues or people 4) Gut level  Sharing of personal feelings 5) Peak  Making oneself vulnerable

5. PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT A commitment to develop your partner’s spiritual gifts and natural talents

6. EMOTIONAL INTIMACY 3 Different kinds of intimacy: Physical Emotional Spiritual

7. DEPENDENCY ON GOD Only God can give us complete satisfaction or total fulfillment (John 10:10; John 4:13-14)