Marriage

Go to resources

Browse Free Resources

CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Marriage is a stage designed to show forth the realities of the gospel. This seminar will set forth the biblical vision of marriage and give practical counsel of how we can reorient our hearts and actions so our marriages better reflect the profound realities they illustrate.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Rebuilding a Marriage After an Affair part 2

In this two-part audio series, Wayne Mack discusses principles for recovering from an affair. He begins by discussing the nature of marriage and its relationship to Christianity as ‘heart’ religion. Wayne Mack also articulates how to properly confess an adulterous sin to a spouse. He then finishes by discussing 12 steps for rebuilding the marriage.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Rebuilding a Marriage After an Affair part 1

In this two-part audio series, Wayne Mack discusses principles for recovering from an affair. He begins by discussing the nature of marriage and its relationship to Christianity as ‘heart’ religion. Wayne Mack also articulates how to properly confess an adulterous sin to a spouse. He then finishes by discussing 12 steps for rebuilding the marriage.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

The Impact of Abuse on Children

The church and church leaders have a biblical responsibility toward the vulnerable and children. In this session author Chris Moles will discuss both social and theological considerations of the impact of domestic violence on children.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

020 Counseling Cases of Domestic Abuse

To close out season 2 of the Care & Discipleship Podcast, Craig Marshall sat down with Jim Newheiser (Director of Biblical Counseling at RTS Charlotte) and Tom Maxham (pastor of Grace Bible Church, Escondido and staff counselor at IBCD) to discuss the tenuous situation of dealing with domestic abuse when counseling a couple. This episode is a response to a listener question and addresses a very relevant issue in the church today. The counselors discuss how to respond not only to physical abuse but also how to think through verbal and emotional abuse. They detail the various ways in which churches tend to make mistakes regarding verbal and emotional abuse and articulate a proper response.  They also engage with the book The Heart of Domestic Abuse written by Chris Moles who will be speaking on the issue at the 2017 Summer Institute and Pre-Conference. 

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Longing for Relationships

We have all been created within the context of relationship: relationships with one another and relationship with God. But sin entered our world, damaging and even breaking relationships. The goal of this workshop is putting our relationships back into proper perspective.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Friendship on Fire: The Song of Songs on Marriage

What is love and what does love have to do with marriage? Just as no one has the power to bless and encourage you like your spouse, no one else can provoke and hurt you deeply like they can. This session explores the concepts of love and marriage as described in Song of Songs.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Male Leadership in a Genderless World

A real Adam, a real Eve and a real garden give the paradigm for godly male leadership. This workshop goes back to the beginning to point you to a Christ-like manhood, teach leadership without oppression and discuss implications for counseling.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Language That Transforms

Are you or your counselee stuck in frustrating and sinful communication patterns? How can you honor God in your communication? This workshop teaches the Communication Skills Wheel as a method for accurate and purposeful communication that builds up both individuals. 

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Lifting The Veil

Discovering and dealing with a spouse’s same-sex attraction can bring much grief and emotional devastation. But there is grace for the journey. This session discusses typical relational indicators when a spouse is hiding same-sex attraction and what to do when it comes to light.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Peacemaking For Families

The family is a hotbed for conflict. It is also the primary arena in which we can learn and practice peacemaking. This session focuses on making your marriage one of the safest places in the world and making peace with children.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Helping People through Romantic Breakups

The intense emotions following a romantic breakup can bring temptation to sin. This workshop discusses many of the common emotions provoked by the ending of a relationship and seeks to identify the heart issues and sinful patterns associated with them.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Singleness, Dating, and Courtship

What is the best approach to finding a marriage partner? What is the nature and purpose of courtship? What if I am single and lonely? This session answers many questions for those who are considering marriage or want to know how to prepare for marriage in the future.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

When Sinners Say ‘I Do’: Sin

Sometime after saying I do, most people begin to realize they have married a sinner. This session will discuss how an honest examination of our own sin will help us to come alongside our spouse as a fellow sinner rather than stand over them as judge.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Parenting in Weakness

Few things in life display our own shortcomings and weaknesses as much as the endeavor of parenting. This session will discuss how these weaknesses point up our own need for the gospel and drive us to dependence on God as we parent our children.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

The Quest for Contentment

How do you respond when you face incomplete goals or unfulfilled dreams in your life? How can you say with Paul that you have “learned in whatever situation … to be content?” This session will teach us to pursue contentment through Christ who strengthens us. 

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

When Sinners Say ‘I Do’: Mercy

Sometime after saying I do, most people begin to realize they have married a sinner. This session will discuss how meditation on God’s rich mercy towards us when we were dead in our transgressions and sins will empower us to extend mercy to a sinful spouse.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Self-Sacrificing Love

A handout detailing 20 aspects of the self-sacrificing love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The negative, positive and extra aspects of such love are detailed in rich description.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Respecting Your Husband…

A 12-question quiz for wives to examine whether their actions communicate respect or disrespect to their husbands. Each question includes the biblical basis for self-reflection.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

50 Questions to Ask Your Wife

A list of 50 questions for husbands to ask their wives. These questions will help them grow in understanding of the woman God has given them and how they can love and serve her better.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Is Your Repentance Genuine?

This worksheet highlights the characteristics of worldly sorrow in contrast to godly sorrow. Help the counselee examine his life and seek by God’s help to move from being characterized by the top part of the list (worldly sorrow) to the bottom part of the list (godly sorrow).

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Unfaithfulness Assignment

A handout of reading and reflection assignments for anyone seeking to rebuild their marriage after an affair. This includes specific exercises for both the offending and the offended parties.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Submission… What is it?

A handout describing the characteristics of biblical submission: what it is not and what it is. This is adapted from The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Marry Wisely, Marry Well part 2

How can biblical principles guide you in preparing your heart for marriage and making a wise choice in who to marry? This two-part session is perfect both for those considering a relationship and those who disciple others in relationship choices (parents, pastors, counselors).

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Marry Wisely, Marry Well part 1

How can biblical principles guide you in preparing your heart for marriage and making a wise choice in who to marry? This two-part session is perfect both for those considering a relationship and those who disciple others in relationship choices (parents, pastors, counselors).

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Helping Women Who Are Married But Lonely

Many married women feel alone and isolated from their spouse. How can we help women who find themselves in this situation? What does the Bible have to say about the intimacy we should have in marriage, and what should we do when we find our expectations are not being met?

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Caring in Cases of Adultery

Adultery is something that many of us will have to deal with in one way or another in the church. The gospel gives great hope in these difficult situations. The goal of this workshop is to help equip you to bring that hope to those who have felt the pain of a broken covenant.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

The God-centeredness of Affirmation

If I praise others won’t it just make them prideful? Is there a way that praising others can actually build them up to become more Christlike? This session gives biblical warrant for God-centered praise of those who are not God.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

The Divine Design for Marriage

Marriage is a stage designed to show forth the realities of the gospel. This seminar will set forth the biblical vision of marriage and give practical counsel of how we can reorient our hearts and actions so our marriages better reflect the profound realities they illustrate.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

From Idol to Blessing 1

What does the Bible have to say about sex? Through this two-part message you will learn how the grace of God in the gospel powerfully changes how we view our own sexuality and gives us the power to once again put this blessing in its proper place.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Helping People Get Good at Affirmation

It is so much easier to be critical of others than to affirm them. Even when we want to build others up we often find ourselves tearing them down instead.  This session will discuss how to help people grow in their ability to affirm others well.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Practical Applications of Affirmation

What are some practical ways that you can begin to apply the principles of God-centered affirmation to your relationships? This session will help you to move beyond good intentions to actually cultivating joyful, healthy relational patterns.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

From Idol to Blessing Q&A

What does the Bible have to say about sex? Many people have unanswered questions about this aspect of life. In this Question and Answer session you will hear a panel of counselors discussing biblical answers to common questions Christians have about sex.

read more
CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

From Idol to Blessing 2

What does the Bible have to say about sex? Through this 2-part message you will learn how the grace of God in the gospel powerfully changes how we view our own sexuality and gives us the power to once again put this blessing in its proper place.

read more