Marriage Counseling Guide

Causes for Divorce

Lack of commitment (73%)

Argue too much (56%)

Infidelity (55%)

Married too young (46%)

Unrealistic expectations (45%)

Lack of equality in the relationship (44%)

Lack of preparation for marriage (41%)

Domestic Violence or Abuse (25%)

Defining Marriage

What does marriage look like to you?

Lack of commitment

Taking the D-Word Off the Table

Convenient vs. Covenantal

Learning Committed Contentment

In Sickness and in Health

For Rich or for Poor

Christlike Submission

Argue too much

Finances

What is your plan to provide for the family?

What is your plan to save?

What does your budget look like?

Religion

What church will you go to?

What service?

What does living out your faith look like to you as individuals and as a family?

What do see as essential beliefs?

Politics

What do you agree/disagree on politically?

How important is politics in your marriage?

Boundaries

Parents and In-Laws

How time is spent

Marital discretion

Keeping the marriage bed holy

maintaining confidentiality

creating a safe space

Giving your spouse primary say

One team, one goal

Seek wise counsel together

Beware outside dissension

Kids

How many do you want/ do you want them at all?

How would you parent/ discipline a kid?

What values would you want to teach your kid?

Infidelity

Pornography Use

Perversion of healthy sexual expectations

Communicating Sexual Boundaries and Expectations

Emotional Affairs

Discontentment and Miscommunication

Wedding as Baptism Sex as Communion

A sacred bond between a husband and wife

A self examination

A reminder of Covenantal faithfulness

A spiritual exercise to be done regularly

Married too young

Leaving Room for Growth

A Lifestyle of Falling in Love

Unrealistic expectations

Cutting Through the Wanting Weeds

Meeting Genuine Needs

Communicating effectively and efficiently

Lack of equality in the relationship

Gender Roles/Expectations

Who Pulls the Weight?

Teamwork makes the dream work

Shared everything

Lack of preparation for marriage

Wedding Planning/ Honeymoon

The First Year

Birth Control

Financial Savings

Domestic Violence or Abuse

Don’t just prevent the bad. Promote the good!

Speaking life

Learn to speak love languages

Quality time

Words of affirmation

Physical touch

Receiving gifts

Acts of Service

Keep romance alive