2. Nearly half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce/separation
41% of first marriages, 60% of second marriages, 73% of third marriages

3. U.S. has 6th highest divorce rate globally
Nearly half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce/separation
41% of first marriages, 60% of second marriages, 73% of third marriages
U.S. has 6th highest divorce rate globally

4. U.S. has 6th highest divorce rate globally
Nearly half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce/separation
41% of first marriages, 60% of second marriages, 73% of third marriages
U.S. has 6th highest divorce rate globally
1 divorce in America every 13 seconds
Approximately 150 during this sermon

5. Top reasons given for pursuing divorce:
73% - lack of commitment
56% - argued too much
55% - infidelity
45% - unrealistic expectations
44% - lack of equality in relationship

6. #RelationshipGoals
Feb 03 – Family Life: The ‘C’ Factor Feb 10 – Making A Marriage Work, I Feb 17 – Making A Marriage Work, II Feb 24 – On Marriage and Divorce Mar 03 – The Place of Singleness

7. Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…

8. Making A Marriage Work
> Value your spouse above yourself

9. Making A Marriage Work > Value your spouse above yourself
Act as if s/he is more important than you

10. Making A Marriage Work > Value your spouse above yourself
Act as if s/he is more important than you
“In our relationship you are the priority”

11. Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

12. Making A Marriage Work
> Value your spouse above yourself > Express interest in their interests

14. Making A Marriage Work > Value your spouse above yourself
> Express interest in their interests
It’s not about the “garden”
It’s about posture + priority

16. Expectations
Experience
Judgement
{--- Gap ---}
Grace

17. Judgement {--- Gap ---} Expectations Experience - Not here - Didn’t do
- Home at 4
- Do chores
- Make call
- Never again
Experience
- Not here
- Didn’t do
- Not called
- Doing again
Judgement
{--- Gap ---}
Grace

18. Judgement {--- Gap ---} Expectations Experience - Not here - Didn’t do
- Home at 4
- Do chores
- Make call
- Never again
Experience
- Not here
- Didn’t do
- Not called
- Doing again
Judgement
{--- Gap ---}
Grace

19. We choose how to fill this gap
Expectations
Experience
Judgement
{--- Gap ---}
We choose how to fill this gap

20. Expectations
Experience
Judgement
{--- Gap ---}
Grace

21. Expectations
Experience
Judgement
{--- Gap ---}
GRACE

22. Making A Marriage Work
> Value your spouse above yourself > Express interest in their interests > Fill the gap with grace

23. Making A Marriage Work
> Value your spouse above yourself > Express interest in their interests > Fill the gap with grace > Believe the best about your partner

24. Making A Marriage Work > Value your spouse above yourself
> Express interest in their interests
> Fill the gap with grace
> Believe the best about your partner
1 Cor 13v7 – Love bears all things, believes (pisteuei) all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

25. “Upward Spiral of Love”
Unrealistically positive view of spouse:
Illusion created conviction.
Conviction led to security.
Security fostered intimacy.
Intimacy fostered love.

26. Recommendation from study:
In a relationship, find the most generous explanation for each other’s behavior and believe it.

27. Making A Marriage Work
> Value your spouse above yourself > Express interest in their interests > Fill the gap with grace > Believe the best about your partner

28. Making A Marriage Work
> Value your spouse above yourself > Express interest in their interests > Fill the gap with grace > Believe the best about your partner