Fierce Marriage

You may have heard the biblical idea that "two became one flesh" when they get married. But what does that mean functionally? In this episode we talked through the implications of that statement when it comes to aspects of our individual identities as they are retained (or discarded) in a one-flesh marriage. Thanks for listening, we trust you'll learn something and we pray it blesses you! ALSO: Ou...

Identity is everything these days. Ideas, politics, gender expressions, race, and sexual orientation, and countless other variables all have one thing in common in today's culture: they can be your identity if you want... and no one can tell you otherwise. The holy grail of our culture is being able to actualize your most ideal self at any cost and through whatever means necessary. But this abilit...

In past episodes we've looked at why joy is rightfully attached to our emotions. But, we don't have to wait until we feel joy to stir it up in ourselves! In this week's episode we talked about 5 very tangible things couples can do to have consistent joy together. We hope it blesses you! ALSO: Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage~~ is open for enrollment! It's a great way to...

Every couple experiences seasons where things feel joyless. The question is, What do you do to rekindle the joy in your marriage when those times come? In this episode we looked at ways the Bible instructs us to stir our affections for God and why we can expect to experience joy when we do so within the context of marriage. ALSO: Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage~~ is op...

You love your spouse, but do you *like* them? It was affection that brought you together, but what should you do when affection fades and marriage begins to lack joy? In today's episode we talked about truly enjoying each other by looking at three ingredients necessary for a joy-filled relationship. ALSO: Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage~~ is open for enrollment! It's a...

Everyone wants a joy-filled marriage—one that's happy and where you feel love for your spouse and you feel their love reciprocated. Life happens, joy fades, and where does that leave us? As Christians, we have the promise of joy as we walk in step with the Spirit. So, what should do in times when joy feels foreign and impossible to find? In this episode we'll look at the biblical roots of joy in t...

In April 2004, Army Ranger Steven Elliott was deployed with the 2nd Ranger Battalion to Afghanistan. The objective of operation “Mountain Storm” was to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden. On April 22, Steven’s squad was attacked by enemy combatants which resulted in 4 casualties, one of whom was former NFL safety, Pat Tillman. This is part two of our interview with our good friends Steven and Brooke...

In April 2004, Army Ranger Steven Elliott was deployed with the 2nd Ranger Battalion to Afghanistan. The objective of operation “Mountain Storm” was to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden. On April 22, Steven’s squad was attacked by enemy combatants which resulted in 4 casualties, one of whom was former NFL safety, Pat Tillman. This is part one of our interview with our good friends Steven and Brooke...

Today is all about your questions! Listen in as we seek to address your questions about priorities and unity from a biblical perspective. We hope it blesses and helps you. Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage~~ is open for enrollment! It's a great way to build a solid marriage foundation and/or finally get on the same page. It's built for all couples—newlyweds, nearly weds,...

In this episode, things get practical. How do we step down the path of reorienting our priorities? How do we overcome the challenges and obstacles that stand between us and the priorities God is convicting us to live by? We'll walk you through our story of writing our first Family Vision statement, and at the end, we'll give you a link to get a free copy of our ebook, "Crafting Your Family Vision...

Finding unity is the first step in functionally living out your priorities. Every couple wants unity, but few manage to get there. Why is that? We'd say it's because they've never taken the time (or had the opportunity) to discuss and seek deep agreement on their priorities. In this episode, we'll discuss the benefits of unity and some of the challenges necessary to get there. We hope it helps you...

What if we lived in full light of God's eternal promises in Christ? What if we read the book of Revelation as the hope-filled source of joy that it is? And what if we understood the full past, present, and future richness to be lived out as a result of Christ's resurrection? Everything would change. Everything. In this episode we'll explore all of that and more. join us and be encouraged: this lif...

"If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will." As Christians, we have the clearest and most compelling reason to live life differently by design. Except, so many of us live just like everyone else: prioritizing this life and the things of this world over eternity and the things above. In this episode we'll kick off our series on priorities by looking at what the Bible says about "First Th...

Today is all about your questions! Listen in as we seek to address your questions on trust/betrayal biblically. We hope it blesses and helps you. Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage~~ is open for enrollment! It's a great way to build a solid marriage foundation and/or finally get on the same page. It's built for all couples—newlyweds, nearly weds, and those who have been m...

Over the past few weeks we've discussed what biblical trust looks like, what to do in the wake of broken trust, and how to get started on the path toward healing. Today we covered how to maintain trust in your marriage through four tangible steps: observe, inspect, assess, and maintain/repair. You'll have to listen for the details, since those words may not mean what you first think! We hope it bl...

The path toward repairing and rebuilding trust is neither easy to find nor quick to travel. Your heart hurts and your relationship seems like it will never be the same again. Could it be that God wants to use this difficult time to show you more of his mercy, goodness, and grace? Could it be, that this could make your marriage better than ever before? In this week's' episode we discuss ways to tru...

Experiencing broken trust can leave you disoriented, in denial, or in a panic. The first key to stepping down the path toward healing is to get your bearings, look at God's Word, and take tangible steps of faith toward rebuke (not easy), repentance (must have), and reconciliation (worth it). In this week's episode we looked closely at God's model for reconciliation and shared candidly about some t...

Trust and betrayal are among the most important topics couples will face. Can you trust one another to... listen well, be supportive, handle your heart and vulnerability with care, remain faithful, love your children well, and help around the house (to name a few)? In this episode we start our series on trust, exploring what "Cruciform trust" looks like and why some versions of trust in marriage a...

We asked our listeners to submit questions about boundaries and the response was overwhelming. In this special release episode, we addressed many of those questions which centered around a few common themes: in-laws, opposite sex friendships, phones, and life as a married couple. We hope you find it helpful! Announcement! Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage~~ is open for e...

This is a struggle every couple understands. How do we maintain healthy boundaries with relatives, especially when those relatives (though well-meaning oftentimes) are difficult to be around? How do we graciously communicate when boundaries have been breached? And what do we do to "hold the line" when they refuse to respect healthy boundaries? In this episode we dove deep into what the Bible has t...

Boundaries are an inherent part of every married couple's sex life. The question is, are your sexual boundaries clear? Are they communicated? And are they actively enforced? In today's episode we'll walk through two critical passages of Scripture that teach us about boundaries and discuss examples of how they can be applied in marital life. Enjoy! Announcement! Our new marriage learning project ~~...

Children are awesome, but having kids at home (particularly young ones) can have some not-so-awesome effects on a marriage. Today is the second in our series on Boundaries, and we discuss how and what boundaries are necessary between you and your kids for the good of your union. It was a lively discussion and we hope it blesses you! HEY! Our new marriage learning project ~~Gospel Centered Marriage...

Boundaries are biblical. Boundaries are also intuitive: we all know we need them. Still, why do we feel that our boundaries in and around our marriage are constantly in flux or non-existent? In this episode we looked at three main reasons why we lack clear boundaries in marriage, and talked through some of the underlying principles that help us live with stronger boundaries in marriage. We hope it...

Talking is a skill, and not everyone has it. In fact, most don't! This is usually a result of being obscured—or unseeable—to ourselves. A skilled communicator knows how to identify and explain how they feel, and that usually starts with knowing how to examine your own heart and mind. In this episode we talked through the biblical foundation for knowing yourself for the purpose of glorifying God an...

Most people rarely experience being *deeply* listened to; you can give your spouse that gift! Last week we talked about Selective Hearing, which is all about catching every drop of what your spouse communicates. This episode puts that conversation on steroids: learning how to seek out and gain insight into each other and internalize it in healthier ways. If you ACTIVELY listen to this episode, you...