Forever Marriage Podcast

In S6E4 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, the Smiths talk about how, in order to THRIVE in marriage, we must "Invest Intentionally." They talk about why it's important for a couples to look beyond themselves and invest intentionally in others. They also give several ways to practically do this. 

In Season 6 of the Forever Marriage Podcast we are publishing the content from our most recent Forever Marriage Conference where Scott & Dawn talked about what it looks like to THRIVE in marriage. In these episodes we are breaking down their teaching  acrostic THRIVE. So far, we've covered: T - Trust in the Lord (S6E1) H - Honor Humbly (S6E2) And today in S6E3 we are going to hear them ta...

In Season 6 of the Forever Marriage Podcast we are going to publish the content from our most recent Forever Marriage Conference that Lakewood hosted at the end of March. Scott and Dawn Smith were our keynote speakers and they talked about what it looks like to THRIVE in marriage, and not just survive. So they broke down the word THRIVE into an acrostic for their teaching points and we are going t...

In Season 6 of the Forever Marriage Podcast we are going publish the content from our most recent Forever Marriage Conference that Lakewood hosted at the end of March. Scott and Dawn Smith were our keynote speakers and they talked about what it looks like to THRIVE in marriage, and not just survive. So they broke down the word THRIVE into an acrostic for their teaching points and we are going to u...

In Season 5 Episode 13 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we finish our discussion of the seasons of marriage, and specifically talk about summer and autumn. Summer is the season of sunshine, and it brings with it warmth and happiness. As a result, a couple becomes more comfortable and relaxed and enjoys their life together. Autumn is the season of change. As a result, we may become unsettled as we...

In Season 5 Episode 12 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we finish out our acrostic, Rekindle R.O.M.A.N.C.E., with the E - Embrace the Seasons of Marriage. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven." Just like the seasons of nature, marriages also experience seasons. Gary Chapman says it this way, "Marriages ar...

In Season 5 Episode 11 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about certain responsibilities that we pick up in the context of covenant marriage. Here's what they are:  Love unconditionally . Covenant, unconditional love says, "I choose to love you, regardless of what I get in return from you." Honor respectfully . Covenant marriage is literally a descent into greatness. It's...

In Season 5 Episode 10 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about how one of the ways to Rekindle ROMANCE in marriage is to "Commit to a Covenant Relationship." In this episode we discuss the rights that you give up in a covenant relationship - the right to priority, the right to ownership, and the right to privacy.  Mentioned in this episode: Shout out to the Smith's honeymoon...

In Season 5 Episode 9 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about how one of the ways to Rekindle ROMANCE in marriage is to "Commit to a Covenant Relationship." In life we have three types of relationships - convenient, contractual or covenant. Marriage, by God's design, is neither a relationship of convenience or a contractual agreement, it is a covenant. Fun mentions in this ep...

In Season 5 Episode 8 of the Forever Marriage Podcast , we move on to the 'N' in our acrostic - Rekindle R.O.M.A.N.C.E.   By way of recap, here's what we've covered so far: R - Remember What's Good About Your Mate O - Observe Your Partner M - Mind the Little Things A - Advocate for a Healthy Marital Sexuality N - Notice Your Interactions C - Commit to a Covenant Relationsh...

In Season 5 Episode 7 of the FM Podcast, we continue the conversation of how to advocate for healthy marital sexuality. Last episode we addressed the first two biblical purposes of marital sex: Procreation and Partnership . In this episode we touch on the biblical purposes of: Pleasure - God purposely created sex for pleasure and not just progeny through procreation. Praise - Sexual intimacy in ma...

One of the ways to rekindle romance in marriage is to advocate for healthy marital sexuality. What is your present view of sex in your marriage? As a result of the way our culture and society portrays sex, we may bring into marriage a lot of false and distorted views of sexuality. In this episode we will lay down a rudimentary biblical purpose for sexuality and how it ties into the romantic side o...

In Season 5 Episode 5 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about how, if you want to rekindle romance, you must mind the little things . Proverbs 3:3 says, "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Before we know it, kindness and truth get replaced with complacency and exaggeration. So, what simple daily or weekly a...

In Season 5 Episode 4 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about how, if you want to rekindle romance, you must observe your   parter . 1 Peter 3:7, Peter says, “You husbands , likewise , live with your wives in an understanding way . ” To understand someone you have to know them.  To know them, you must spend time with them. Would your spouse say the two of you spend adequate time together? W...

In Season 5 Episode 3 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we continue our talk about how, if we want to rekindle romance, the first thing we have to do is to "remember what’s good about our mate." After the newness of marriage has worn off, it's easy to let our differences become barriers to our intimacy in marriage. These differences can be frustrating sources of contention and bitter...

In Season 5 Episode 2 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about how if we want to rekindle romance, the first thing we have to do is to "remember what’s good about our mate." We can’t experience romance with a hard heart and so we must consider how to have a soft heart toward one another. We must work on how we see each other, how we think about each other, and how we speak to each...

Welcome to Season 5 of the Forever Marriage Podcast! If you're new with us, welcome to the show! My name is Emily Lavender and I'm joined by Scott & Dawn Smith. We are on staff at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA, and we are excited that you have tuned in! This is a marriage podcast where we hope you'll be encouraged to grow deeper in your understanding of God's d...

In Season 4 Episode 17 of the Forever Marriage Podcast , we conclude this series with the final One Another of Scripture - Forgive One Another.  In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." The measuring stick for how we are to forgive is how God forgave us.  SO in this episode we talk about what forgiven...

In Season 4 Episode 16 of the Forever Marriage Podcast , we continue to talk about Scripture's imperative to love one another, and specifically about love's empowerment and love's teacher. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 says, "and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you."  Can you recall a time when you knew...

In Season 4 Episode 15 of the Forever Marriage Podcast , we continue our talk about Scripture's imperative to love one another. We started this conversation in the previous episode, but we pick back up with it in today's episode.  As we can see in Scripture, love is a command and not a suggestion. Why would Jesus command us to love one another? What does this mean for marriage? We talk a...

In Season 4 Episode 14 of the Forever Marriage Podcast , we talk about Scripture's imperative to love one another. But first, by way of teaser for tomorrow night's event, Forever Marriage LIVE , we talk about what romance is and what it is not. We will gather tomorrow night at 6PM at Lakewood Baptist Church to hear Scott & Dawn talk about how to Rekindle R.O.M.A.N.C.E. It's not...

In Season 4 Episode 13 of the Forever Marriage Podcast , we cover the last 3 ways of the 10  ways to outdo one another in showing honor. First, we talk about seeking the good for one another. Out of honor for God and honor for your spouse, can you seek their good?  Next, we talk about stimulating one another to love and good deeds. Familiarity in marriage can breed complacency and indifference, so...

In Season 4 Episode 12 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about not judging one another.  In Romans 14:13, Paul says, "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this - not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way." We tend to judge those who don't think, believe, feel, act or behave the way we do. Why is that? Oftentimes, we ar...

In Season 4 Episode 11 we talk about being hospitable to one another and how hospitality is a way of honoring one another. 1 Peter 4:9 says, "Be hospitable to one another without complaint." So, why would hospitality evoke complaints from us? The nature of hospitality is driven by a spirit of generosity - of heart, home, friendship, etc. Oftentimes, it takes effort, time, and energy to w...

In Season 4 Episode 10 we pick up with comfort one another . Our comfort of others will often come from God's grace, mercy and healing of our own personal pain. The gift of having a spouse is the comfort they can bring to us in marriage like no one else can.  Questions to consider as you listen to today's episode: 1. Are you more concerned about your own pain? Or are you looking to your...