Adults: Engagement, Marriage, Parenting

Most churches don’t teach about marriage from ‘the pulpit’; they leave it until people have found their marriage partner, and then some might offer engagement/marriage courses. Perhaps that’s leaving it a bit too late?

The biblical view of marriage is so different from society’s worldview, that all young people and adults would benefit from regular teaching about Christian marriage, so that whatever their past experience, they can build firm foundations for potential marriage in the future. At the same time, all engaged and married couples can strengthen their relationship further through using the many resources available to help them do so. The resources below can be helpful for those who are single, dating, engaged or married.

Engagement

Single Dating Engaged Married by Ben Stuart

Single Dating Engaged Married

Ben Stuart, 2017

Includes ‘How to know you know’.

Ready for Marriage by Nicky & Sila Lee

Ready for Marriage?

Nicky and Sila Lee, 2010

7 tests of love designed to reveal whether your relationship has the foundations upon which to build a strong marriage.

Available to download here (PDF 600kb)

101 Questions Before You Get Engaged by H Norman Wright

101 Questions to ask Before You Get Engaged

H. Norman Wright, 2004

“A series of soul-searching questions – even difficult ones that need to be addressed – to help you discern if you’ve met ‘the one’”.

Rules of Engagement by Katherine and Richard Hill

Rules of Engagement

Katharine and Richard Hill, 2009

How to How to Plan a Successful Wedding and How to Build a Marriage That Lasts

The Pre-Marriage Course (Alpha)

The Pre-Marriage Course is a series of five sessions, designed for couples considering marriage, whether engaged or not, and wishing to build a strong and lasting relationship.

More information on The Marriage Course site

Care for the Family

Care for the Family Pre-Marriage Sessions

A four-session marriage preparation course that equips couples with the tools they need to build a strong and healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime.

More information on Care for the Family site


Marriage

The book cover of 7 Reasons Your Church Needs More Men

7 Reasons Your Church Needs More Men: How to lead a gender balanced church supporting healthy singleness, dating, marriage and youth (The Engage Network, 2018)

See Chapter 9 ‘Marriage: what would it look like if things were working well in the church?’

With lots of practical tips for couples to flourish in their situation, and for local churches.

The Marriage Book by Nicky & Sila Lee

The Marriage Book

Nicky and Sila Lee, 2012

The Meaning of Marriage Book cover

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Tim Keller, 2011

Married for God by Christopher Ask

Married for God: Making your marriage the best it can be

Christopher Ash, 2007

Marriage by Christopher Ask

Marriage: Sex in the Service of God

Christopher Ash, 2003

The Sixty Minute Marriage by Rob Parsons

The 60 Minute Marriage

Rob Parsons, 2016

Just Sex by Guy Brandon

Just Sex: Is it ever just sex?

Guy Brandon, 2009


Parenting

  • “It is common for high levels of Christian commitment to flow down the generations…but…The biological replacement rate of committed Christians is only just over 50%” (Evangelical Alliance, 2012, How’s the Family?)
  • How is your church supporting ‘spiritually single’ parents, where one partner is a Christian and the other is not?
  • How is your church supporting young people who are ‘spiritually fatherless’ – how many older male Christian role models do they have in their lives?

Parenting can involve many joys and many challenges. Christian parents need to disciple their children to grow in all aspects of their lives, including how to do godly relationships well. Churches need to support parents to do this.

The book cover of 7 Reasons Your Church Needs More Men

7 Reasons Your Church Needs More Men: How to lead a gender balanced church supporting healthy singleness, dating, marriage and youth (The Engage Network, 2018)

See Chapter 10 ‘Parenting and discipleship around young people’s dating and relationships: what would it look like if things were working well in the church?’

And Chapter 11 ‘Youth work and discipleship around young people’s dating and relationships: what would it look like if things were working well in the church?’ …for lots of practical tips for parents, youthworkers and churches.

See our resources for young people.


Courses and Resources

The Marriage Courses

https://www.themarriagecourses.org

FamilyLife UK

Family Life UK

https://familylifeuk.org/

Toucan

Toucan Together 

https://toucantogether.com/

The Toucan app helps you make the most of those spare moments in your day to invest in your relationship. Use it to help build a happier, healthier life together today.

New Wine

New Wine 

A number of churches in the New Wine Network (and other networks) run a programme called Circle of Security Parenting®. To find out more about this approach and how it’s used in the UK please visit the Connected Lives website.

Prepare Enrich

Prepare-Enrich

https://www.prepare-enrich.com

The Prepare-Enrich programme helps couples prepare for marriage, enrich their relationship, or review and improve their co-parenting by taking stock of their strengths and growth areas. It uses the world’s leading research-based tool for improving couple relationships.

Marriage prep in a day

Marriage Prep in-a-day

https://www.marriageprep.co.uk

Evangelical Alliance

The Evangelical Alliance runs Time to Talk, a resource that promotes better conversations about Relationship and Sex Education

www.eauk.org/resources/what-we-offer/reports/time-to-talk

Cloud-Townsend Resources

Other Cloud-Townsend Resources

Free video advice from US Christian Psychologists Dr Henry Cloud and Dr John Townsend on issues relating to spiritual life, emotional struggles, singleness, dating, relationships, marriage, parenting, goals and successes, leadership.

https://www.cloudtownsend.com/video-advice