The Session: How to Keep Dating Your Spouse-Even After Kids

Genesis 2:24 - Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Proverbs 18:22 - He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

· Be proactive and intentional in your marriage. Ask Jesus for help to be a successful marriage partner

· Rev up the five cylinder intimacy engine.

· Speak your spouse’s love language

Prioritize revving up your bedroom Olympics

· Change your pattern of initiating sex (Opening Ceremonies)

Hold hands more often

· Author Dr. Kory Floyd, wrote holding hands, hugging, and touching can release oxytocin causing a calming sensation. Studies show it’s also released during sexual orgasm. Additionally, physical affection reduces stress hormones – lowering daily levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Allow tension to build

· Our brains experience more pleasure when the anticipation of the reward goes on for some time before we receive it. So take your time during foreplay, share fantasies, change locations, and make sex more romantic.

Separate sexual intimacy from routine

· Plan intimacy time and avoid talking about relationship problems and household chores in the bedroom. Sexual arousal plummets when we’re distracted and stressed.

Focus on affectionate touch

· This could be foot rubs, and back, rubs their express love

Maintain a sense of curiosity about sexual intimacy

· This can happen by breaking up the routine and try new things as sexual needs change

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: Fundamentals of Christian Marriage

Matthew 19:4-6

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

A Biblical Definition of Marriage

The Bible defines marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman, established by God (Matthew 19:4-6). This relationship is a lifelong commitment, rooted in faithfulness and mutual love. Christian marriage is more than a legal agreement; it’s a covenant.

Love and Sacrifice: The Example of Christ

At the heart of a Christian marriage is love, modeled after the sacrificial love of Christ. Ephesians 5:25 calls on husbands to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This kind of love goes beyond emotions—it’s a daily choice to put the needs of your spouse above your own. Love in marriage is rooted in sacrifice, service, and grace, reflecting Christ’s selflessness. Both partners are called to give of themselves and serve one another in humility, displaying a marriage that thrives on mutual care and devotion.

Communication and Unity in Marriage

Effective communication is vital in building unity and understanding in marriage. Ephesians 4:29 encourages us to speak in ways that build each other up. Open and honest communication, rooted in kindness and respect, fosters deeper intimacy and trust between spouses. Unity is displayed when couples count the needs of one another as more significant than their own. Praying together, studying God’s Word, and building one another up in word and deed, allows couples to grow spiritually as one, strengthening their bond.

Faithfulness and Trust: Building a Secure Relationship

Faithfulness in marriage mirrors God’s unwavering faithfulness to His people. Trust is essential for creating a secure relationship where both partners feel safe and valued. Proverbs 3:3 says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you."

Faithfulness and Trust: Building a Secure Relationship

Faithfulness in marriage mirrors God’s unwavering faithfulness to His people. Trust is essential for creating a secure relationship where both partners feel safe and valued.Proverbs 3:3 says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you."

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: 5 Marks of a Biblical Marriage

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” ~ Genesis 2:24

1) Selflessness

A mark of a Godly Christian is their willingness to humble themselves and be selfless towards other. This is true especially in marriage, where we are called to be selfless to each other and put our spouses needs first. This is an effective way towards a happier marriage.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” ~ Philippians 2:3-8

The practice of selflessness, putting each other’s needs before your own, is very difficult, because by nature we are selfish beings. However, practically speaking, many benefits arise from both husband and wife mutually prioritizing the other’s needs. When both parties make an effort to please one another by putting their needs/wants/desires first, a magical thing happens: both husband and wife are getting there needs met.

2) Good Communication

Communication within marriage can be very difficult! Wires get crossed and simple words and sentences are taken far out of context, and strife (anger intense fellowship) starts to build. We say things rashly and without thinking to our spouses, and we leave them feeling hurt and we act selfishly towards them. But God calls us to a higher standard. We are to guard our mouths (Psalm 141:3), speak wisdom (Matthew 12:36-37), be slow to speak( Ecclesiastes 5:2) {especially angry words (James 1:19)}, and learn to communicate well with our spouse.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1

Communication is critical to any relationship, and doubly so in a marriage. Having good communication with friends and family is beneficial, sure, but how much more imperative is it that you have quality communication with the person that you are one with?

3) Spiritual Emphasis (together and separately)

Our highest calling as Christians is to know God and to glorify Him.We cannot do this effectively if we are not seeking the Lord individually and as a couple. It is so vital for the life of the believer to come before God alone and study His word and worship Him (2 Timothy 3:14-17). And it is also important to come before the Lord as a couple.

If our biggest priority in life should be Christ, and our second should be our husband and family, then how can we effectively worship the Lord if we don’t worship with our family? God designed the Christian life to be lived out in community and not in solitude. God’s community is the church and this first begins at home! Strong families can make up a strong church of believers. Likewise, weak and inconsistent families will make up a weak and inconsistent congregation.

• Pray together every night before bed
• Listen to sermons together
• Discuss sermons you listen together and Sunday morning sermons
• Read books together to grow in your knowledge and worship of God
• Continually ask how you can p

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.