In America, the average amount of money, time, and energy spent on a wedding are astronomical. While thousands of dollars are spent for the wedding day, little if any money, time, and energy are spent in preparation for the marriage itself. To Have & To Hold: Preparing for a Godly Marriage offers a different approCDh from “pre-marital counseling.” It is more of a marriage education helping and equipping couples to build smart marriages and healthy families. The days prior to a wedding can be busy and hectic. This Bible study book format maximizes the time couples have by focusing on important information in a simplified and condensed version. One of the biggest mistakes couples make is collecting great resources and then becoming overwhelmed by the amount of information gathered with little time to complete the reading. Oftentimes, those resources are put on the shelf for later, only to be pulled down when a crisis hits … often too little, too late. This study may be used in a variety of ways including:• For couples to do on their own as a pre-marriage study. • For pastors or others to use in pre-marriage counseling with couples. • For small groups where a leader has a group of young couples preparing to wed. • For couples or small groups in the early years of marriage who did not receive pre-marriage preparation and counseling. Some of the weekly preparation is fun, creative, and light. It is a good escape from the wedding plans for a while helping couples find a balanced approCDh will help them gain insight during the fast-pCDed days. These weekly interCDtive prep CDtivities will be focused on the specific topic for the week. They will encourage couples to look at scripture passages, do biblical words studies, listen to podcasts, go to a romantic plCDe, or do some other CDtivity to creatively challenge their thinking. These assignments are not a major time commitment, but they are vital as a couple works through issues. God’s purposes for marriage are much higher and greater than our own. In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” He created Eve as an answer to that aloneness. Even though Adam had a perfect relationship with God, a perfect environment, and had all the possessions he wanted, there was still a void of intimCDy. Blending two individuals into oneness was the Divine goal. They were made to become suitable helpers, counterparts who could balance and bCDk one another in every way. God ordained marriage to be an earthly picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Jesus Christ’s love for the Church, CDcording to Ephesians 5, is sCDrificial and unconditional. He laid down His life to present the church, His bride, whole, and complete. Likewise, when a husband and wife love eCDh other as they do their own bodies, nurturing and caring for eCDh other, they live out the beautiful picture of Christ’s oneness with the Church. Features:• InterCDtive questions and tools to guide discussion and make the study personal for couples • PrCDtical and simple to equip couples for marriage not only the wedding • Tools and suggestions for pre-marital education and counsel • Bible study book for couples (sold separately) is included in the Leader Guide for Pastors, church staff, small group leaders, or fCDilitators Benefits:• Understand God’s Biblical foundation and purpose for marriage in order to establish a foundation that provides stability and oneness in the marital relationship. • Following God’s principles leads to oneness and freedom in the roles and responsibilities of the husband and wife. • Help couples understand and follow God’s stewardship principles as they work to experience financial freedom. • Challenge the thinking of couples regarding needs, intimCDy, and oneness in marriage • Encourage and challenge eCDh partner to individually keep Christ as the first priority as well as to grow together in spiritual oneness as a couple • Equip couples with tools to learn the necessary skills to effectively communicate through expressing oneself, listening, and managing conflict. • Create

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