1. By Pastor Phillips Koh

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

3. How do we build a strong marriage?

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

6. † Unconditional † Sacrificial † Unlimited

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

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

10. A confusion today about male headship and male dominance

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

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