Forever Marriage Podcast

As we kick off Season 3 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn discuss what it means to FINISH WELL. How we start in life is important.  Athletic races are often won and lost at the starting blocks.  But, even more important than a good start is a great finish.  The older we get, the less impressed we are with the “shooting stars” of today who have a great start.  It’s common nowadays f...

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 16: Remove Any Barriers to Sexual Satisfaction In this final episode of Season 2, the Smiths encourage couples to be purposeful in removing any barriers to sexual satisfaction, which include: 1. Inability to discuss openly and honestly sexual desires and needs. 2. When one partner makes requests that makes another partner uncomfortable. 3. Decis...

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 15: 3 Ways to Fan the Flame of Longing for One Another In this episode the Smiths finish discussing Key 5 - Pray with and for One Another . In this key, the Smiths talk about these 3 ways to fan the flame of longing for one another: 1. Be loving to your spouse. 2. Treat your spouse as desirable. 3. Remember that sex in the head erodes sex in the...

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 14: Pray with and for One Another In this episode the Smiths kick off Key 5 - Pray with and for One Another . In this key, the Smiths talk about how they believe prayer is the master key that has the potential to unlock all the doors of biblical intimacy for you and your spouse. Paul says in Philippians 4:6, " Do not be anxious about anythi...

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 13: 8 "Hedges of Protection" to Place Around Your Marriage (Pt. 2) In this episode the Smiths discuss Key 4 - Fiercely Protect Emotional Intimacy with and for One Another . In this key, the Smiths continue to share the "hedges of protection" they have placed around themselves to protect the fidelity of their marriage. The fir...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 12: 8 "Hedges of Protection" to Place Around Your Marriage In this episode the Smiths kick off Key 4 - Fiercely Protect Emotional Intimacy with and for One Another . In this key, the Smiths share the "hedges of pr...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 11: 4 Experiences to Live with Your Spouse in an Understanding Way In this episode the Smiths conclude Key 3 - Regard Each Other's Needs as More Important than Your Own. They talk about how at various seasons of marriage an...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 10: Is She a Red Solo Cup or a Crystal Goblet? In this episode the Smiths continue discussing Key 3  - Regard Each Other's Needs as More Important than Your Own. We compare a red solo cup and a crystal goblet. We describe t...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 9: 3 Ways to Become a Student of Your Spouse In this episode the Smiths jump into Key 3  - Regard Each Other's Needs as More Important that Your Own. The idea explained in this key is that you and your spouse will experienc...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 8: 10 Necessary Practices for Restoration (continued) In this episode the Smiths continue to discuss the 10 necessary practices for restoration if there has been sexual sin in marriage. In episode 7, the Smiths covered the first...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 7: Adultery in Marriage & 10 Necessary Practices for Restoration In this episode the Smiths continue to discuss Key 2 and talk about what to do if there has been adultery in marriage. They then begin discussing the first 3 o...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 6: 3 Steps to Consider When Dealing with Sexual Sin In this episode the Smiths continue to discuss Key 2 and talk specifically about these 3 steps to consider when dealing with sexual sin: Agree on what is " need to know &q...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage Episode 5: Key 2 - Deal with Sexual Sin - Past or Present In this episode the Smiths discuss how sexual immorality of any sort is never to be tolerated - in or outside of marriage. A crucial aspect to experiencing a mutually fulfilling...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. In Episode 4 of Season 2 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn conclude discussing the first Key of Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage . Key 1: Align your thinking about sex with God’s truth. Within this key, Scott and Dawn explain these 3 ways to know if your sexual r...

In Episode 3 of Season 2 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn continue discussing the first Key of Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage, which is to align your thinking about sex with God's truth. On today's episode, Scott and Dawn explain 5 Keys to a Safe Relationship . Earlier this week, we published on the FM Blog an article explaining these 5 Keys . On the podcast today th...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. In Episode 2 of Season 2 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn continue discussing the first Key of Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage . Key 1: Align your thinking about sex with God’s truth. Within this key, Scott and Dawn explain the biblical purpose of sex   that we...

Forever Marriage at Lakewood exists to strengthen families by helping couples discover God's design for marriage. Season 2 - Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage " God designed sex.  In the first book of the Bible, in the first chapter, God blessed the first man and the first woman and encouraged them to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). As originally designed, sexual intimacy, in...

On Episode 27 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott and Dawn Smith have a conversation with Benji and Emily Lavender about what it looks like to have a "marriage on mission." At Lakewood, Benji serves as the Associate Missions Pastor and Emily serves as the Discipleship Ministry Assistant. On this episode, they share a bit of their story -  how they met and were married, how the Lord le...

In Episode 26 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott and Dawn Smith continue in their three part series on Covenant Marriage. In this episode, they talk about responsibilities that husbands and wives pick up in marriage - to love unconditionally, to honor respectfully, and submit mutually. Tune in to hear Scott and Dawn explain each of these responsibilities and what that practically looks like in...

In Episode 25 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott and Dawn Smith continue in their three part series on Covenant Marriage. In this episode, they talk about rights that husbands and wives give up in marriage - the right to priority, the right to ownership, and the right to privacy. Tune in to hear Scott and Dawn explain each of these rights and what that practically looks like in marriage. Check...

In Episode 24 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott and Dawn Smith begin a three part series on Covenant Marriage. In this episode, they talk about how in life there are  three types of relationships: convenient relationships, contractual relationships, and covenant relationships. They discuss the reality that marriage is a covenant relationship where the husband and wife promise to fulfill their...

In Episode 23 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn Smith continue the conversation on mutual submission in marriage. They get practical in this episode by providing our listeners with 9 realities about submission in marriage. 

In Episode 22 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn Smith take a look at Paul's instruction for marriage in Ephesians 5, specially this idea of mutual submission. Ephesians 5:21 says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." The Smiths explain what submission is and what it is not. They discuss some reasons why it is hard for us to submit to one another but a...

In Episode 21 of the FM Podcast, Scott & Dawn pick back up with their discussion on how to R.E.S.O.L.V.E. differences according to God's wisdom in Ephesians 4. In the last episode, we learned the first three letters of this helpful acrostic: R - Remove falsehoods (Ephesians 4:25) E - Express anger appropriately (Ephesians 4:26-27) S - Steal no more (Ephesians 4:28) O ... L ... V ... E ......

At Lakewood we are in the midst of our church wide study called "The Wisdom of Community" where we are reading through the book of Ephesians together as one body.  In Episode 20, Scott and Dawn Smith discuss Ephesians 4. In chapters 1-3 of Ephesians, Paul unpacks our identity in Christ and the church's union with Him. In chapter 4, Paul transitions to explain how we are to practical...