1. SEND International Missionary Orientation Program 2017
Marriage MATTERS
SEND International
Missionary Orientation Program 2017

3. Introduction
Your marriage is the platform of your witness and ministry. Your marriage is high on the “radar” of the enemy, and he seeks to exploit any vulnerability. God designs to use your marriage as a showpiece of His grace and as a model for others.

4. God’s Plan for Marriage
Genesis 2:24
Matthew 19:5-6
I Cor. 6:16
Eph. 5:31

5. God’s Plan for Marriage
Oneness, intimacy
Intimacy
Passion
Commitment
Robert Sternberg’s “Triangular Theory of Love” (1986)

6. God’s Plan for Marriage
1. Oneness, intimacy
Oneness of heart and spirit
Common calling and purpose in life
Common commitment and shared values
Commitment to a complementary ministry and to the other’s growth in fulfilling his/her calling.

7. God’s Plan for Marriage
2. Holiness
Eph. 5 : 25-28
I Pet. 3 : 7
“What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”

8. Challenges
What are the key challenges unique to the mission setting that impact a marriage relationship?

9. Challenges
Transition stress

10. Challenges
Transition stress
Role ambiguity

11. Challenges
Transition stress
Role ambiguity
Lack of boundaries

12. Challenges Transition stress Role ambiguity Lack of boundaries
Culture and language stress

13. Challenges Transition stress Role ambiguity Lack of boundaries
Culture and language stress
Family needs

14. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer

15. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Gender differences in men’s and women’s communication patterns

16. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Gender differences in men’s and women’s communication patterns
Communicating without words – Mr. Potato Head

17. Levels of Communication

18. Levels of Communication
Cliché

19. Levels of Communication
Cliché
Fact

20. Levels of Communication
Cliché
Fact
Opinion

21. Levels of Communication
Cliché
Fact
Opinion
Emotion

22. Levels of Communication
Cliché
Fact
Opinion
Emotion
Transparency

23. The “Feeling Wheel”

24. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Recreation

25. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Recreation
Supporting personal growth

26. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Recreation
Supporting personal growth
Accountability relationships

27. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Recreation
Supporting personal growth
Accountability relationships
Building fences of protection

28. Life Habits of a Thriving Marriage
Prayer
Communication
Recreation
Supporting personal growth
Accountability relationships
Building fences of protection
Freedom to admit need for help

29. What Else?
What other thoughts do you have to share? What has not been addressed?

30. Summary
God designs that you enjoy an ever-deepening and enriching oneness with your spouse as you serve in the mission setting.

31. Summary
Your success in achieving God’s design in your marriage, in the human dimension, depends on your consistency in developing and maintaining specific habits.

32. Summary
Stress is your platform for growth in holiness and character, and for witness.
Keys to constructively growing through challenges are prayer support and personal commitment.

33. Reflection
What are the one or two life habits of a thriving marriage that are most important at this time for us to develop?
What are our first steps within the next three months?
Who will keep us accountable?