Pray and plan with the end in mind:
Marriage intimacy is a process of becoming the person God made me to be, so I can love and be loved as He designed.

  • Relational Discipleship – make disciples for Jesus Christ through loving relationships using relevant resources. (I Thessalonians 2:7-8)
  • Equipped Church – train and resource a growing army of leaders to mentor others… starting at home.   (Ephesians 4:11-13, 2 Timothy 2:2)
  • Sustained Support – provide intentional and continuous support for both participants and leaders.  (Matthew 28:20)
  • Applied Truth – help people understand and embrace their identity, freedom, and value in Christ.  (Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:1)
  • Shared Experience – leverage our past for the future of others. (Titus 2:1-7)
  • Faith-filled Freedom – trust God to supply all personal and ministry needs in ways He chooses and wisely invest our time, labor, and resources. (Philippians 4:19, Acts 17:25)
  • Balanced Strength – advocate and activate “Believe, Behave, Belong” as essential ingredients for true spiritual formation. (John 13: 34, 35; 14:15-25)

Small Group Leader Training –
“While Leading a Group, Try to Keep in Mind”

  • Think Life Change
  • Care for Individuals
  • Promote Participation

1.  Think Life Change

  • God’s work
  • Prayer  – individuals, couples
  • Fruit that remains
  • Glory to God through much fruit, new legacy

2.  Care for Individuals

  • Love them – your care matters
  • Speak truth in love to them
  • Listen well with eyes, ears, and heart

3.  Promote Participation

  • Share some of your story early
  • Ask ?’s and wait – allow process time
  • Facilitate but do not teach
  • Draw out the quiet with right questions
  • Rein in the talkative – watch for breathing patterns
  • Group couples together who know each other least

What we are here to do?

  • Facilitate discussion so people can process principles
  • Create a safe environment so people feel free to talk or not
  • Include as many as possible in the discussion without forcing the issue

What we are not here to do?

  • Re-teach
  • Settle disputes – marital, church, doctrine
  • “Fix” people

 

Encourage Next Steps

As a Church – BE KNOWN FOR HELPING FAMILIES

  • Classes, small groups, retreats
  • TBI Ministries can help
  • Media/web/books/dvd series
  • Intentional support for couples (52-week plan)

As individuals – YOU ARE BUILT TO LOVE & BE LOVED

  • Make it your life goal to love others as He does
  • Don’t isolate if you feel down or feel you are failing, more miracles are available from God
  • Don’t quit – sometimes crisis is the dark before the dawn

As a Couple  – PRACTICE:  “ACTIVE” and 4 INGREDIENTS

  • Dates
  • Couple retreat
  • MTM continue
  • Read; research
  • Counseling
  • Don’t settle

With other Couples – BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

  • Encouragement
  • Accountability
  • Friendships
  • Small Groups
  • Lead Marriages by example; by design

 

Pray Each Day:

“Abba, I belong to you
Make me the man/woman you made me to be
Help me to see the events and people in my life today as you see them.”

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