"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

And what communion has light with darkness?"   2 Cor 6:14  NKJV

 

List of Christian Brethren Marriage Celebrants coming soon.

PLAY SONGS of MARRIAGE... "Even When It Don't Feel Like It, It's Still Love" - Paul Overstreet -  MP3 version  OR  RealPlayer version "Not For Me (He Doesn't Know My Saviour)" - Kim Boyce -  MP3 version  OR  RealPlayer version Refresh page here after starting song if page not fully loaded

Why is premarital counselling so important?

Premarital counselling is very important. Imagine this: It's six months after your wedding. Little things that you used to think were "cute" are starting to really bug you. Your spouse isn't quite as attentive as when you were first married. Your husband says that money is "tight" and is starting to be a bit overbearing about how much you are spending on fixing up the house. Or your wife is already talking about wanting to start a family and you are just not ready to think about being a father. You're Catholic and your spouse is a Baptist. Neither of you realized how hard it would be to try to find a church home that you could attend together. Your fairytale image of marriage is crumbling in the face of the many problems that your relationship is facing. Maybe you made a big mistake getting married. After all, you were really young; you didn't realize what you were getting into. You feel trapped. What now?

Marriage, with or without Christian premarital counselling, is a challenging adventure that can be both rewarding and fulfilling if it is characterized by unconditional commitment and sacrificial love. But marriage is also a union of two individuals who have come together from different families, each with a different set of expectations concerning marriage. Both spouses have been shaped by positive and negative experiences within their own childhood homes. Because of this, each has a predetermined idea about how conflict should be handled, the value of money management, religion, having children, and what it means to love someone. Currently, a little over half of all first marriages end in divorce. Sadly, couples that marry without having premarital counselling are at much higher risk of divorce. Those who have prepared for marriage by getting some secular (non-Christian) premarital counselling are better off than those who have had no preparation for marriage at all. So why is Christian premarital counselling so important?

Christian premarital counselling has glue!

 

Many forms of premarital counselling will give instruction in dealing with basics, such as finances, child rearing, and even basic communication skills. However, secular premarital counselling will not provide the "glue" that will help couples deal with conflict or the damaged emotions that may follow chronic disappointment in each other, and in the marriage relationship. Christian premarital counselling has foundation - Christian premarital counselling is often offered through the local church, or may be obtained through para-church organizations that offer Christian counselling. It is designed to teach couples about the truth about marriage, according to God's Word, the Bible. Christian premarital counselling has Godly intent - Christian premarital counselling prepares a couple seeking marriage to enter into a relationship based upon sacrificial love for one another, and to place the needs of others before the needs of self. The Christian couple is encouraged to invite Jesus Christ to be not only a personal Saviour, but also the third cord spoken of in Ecclesiastes 4:12. Jesus becomes an integral partner in the marriage. In times of marital difficulty due to conflict, hurt feelings, financial struggles, or even more serious problems such as infidelity, God calls each spouse within a Christian marriage to repentance and a renewed commitment to the marriage.

So why is so important to seek Christian premarital counselling? God's Word teaches that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman that is intended to last for life. Christian marriage is based upon an unconditional commitment that takes the classic marriage vow "till death do us part" very seriously.

 

(Above article used with thanks from All About Life Challenges - explore more on their website)

 

Contact one of the Elders of your local church, or the Pastor or Minister - they will be able to steer

you in the right direction if unable to counsel you themselves.  Also see the resource list below.

Post-Marriage Counselling - The Purposes

Post-marriage counselling is a tool to help people in troubled relationships learn to understand one another and God better. We might think, "I don't need counselling. I can solve my own problems just fine." But if you are here, visiting this site (All About Life Challenges), it's likely you are in a situation that would benefit from an outsider's perspective. Christian marriage counselling can help you see what God wants from your marriage. Christian marriage counselling generally involves three main areas: 1) problems or issues in general, such as difficulty communicating, a loss of closeness, etc. 2) personal problems that develop or occur within marriage. 3) loss of a sense of God's principles for marriage. The need for marital counselling cannot be emphasized enough, even for Christians, because we live in a world that often encourages the destruction of marriage. As Christians, we additionally recognize the presence of an enemy, on the prowl to devour (1 Peter 5:8) marriages. From the beginning, marriage has been part of God's plan for His creation, and Satan is vehemently against this precious tradition. If we need evidence that we are in trouble, just take a look at the divorce rate both in Christian and non-christian environments.

Christian Marriage Counselling - Problems or Issues

Christian marriage counselling seeks to address problems and issues. If problems are not dealt with in a timely manner, they can fester and bring further devastation to a marriage. While problems are common to every marriage, Christians have the means to solve them. Think of it as deflecting a virus before it takes hold of our bodies. An appropriate response may not prevent the virus, but it can help us weather the storm and rebound stronger as a result. So in marriage, it is important to recognize and acknowledge problems early. Marriage counselling brings attention to these problems and helps resolve them. Prevalent problems include poor communication, a lack of closeness or intimacy, nagging, or anger. At the root of many of these problems is pride. We often believe we can solve our own problems. This can be aggravating in a marriage, especially when one spouse recognizes a need for help and the other refuses. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). This principle would also include marriages, so if there are issues that need resolution, counselling is a godly choice. When spouses seek the Lord and are open to counsel and wisdom, they bring hope to their situation and show others that God can help them, too. Problems may also be relational, a result of not knowing how to interact, whether emotionally, intellectually, or physically. Other serious problems that could develop might be lying, adultery, pornography, emotional wounds, mental conditions, etc. When these problems are not dealt with, they represent a potentially crushing threat to the marriage.

God's Principles of Marriage

Christian marriage counselling helps us refocus on our priorities. It's easy for us to get distracted and lose sight of what and who is important. In addition to helping us find solutions to problems and issues, Christian counselling can provide marital and relationship-building techniques. By offering precepts from God's Word, good Christian marriage counselling can help quench the "viruses" that affect and harm our relationships. Christian marriage counselling can help us deal with the problems that threaten to tear apart our lives. Effective counselling reassures us that God cares and that He desires to be a central part in our marriage. We can learn principles from God's Word that will remind us in days to come of God's ideals for husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Peter 3:1-11). Christian marriage counsellors share and encourage these precepts. How is your marriage? Is there a virus threatening to take hold? Does your relationship need realignment? Are you and your spouse following a biblical precedent?  If so, you need to attend to the issues NOW!

 

(Above article used with thanks from All About Life Challenges - explore more on their website)

 

Contact one of the Elders of your local church, or the Pastor or Minister - they will be able to steer

you in the right direction if unable to counsel you themselves.  Also see the resource list below.

Christian marriage counselling books - Do they help?

Christian marriage counselling and personal relationship books can be very helpful when trying to enrich your own marriage or help a friend with his or her marriage. Nothing runs properly without good maintenance, including relationships. Reading a book on the subject would be a good first step. Consider the following resources to help in your life journey:

Fit to Be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime by Bill and Lynne Hybels.

A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.

The Act of Marriage by Tim and Beverly LaHaye.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

The Power of a Praying Wife/Husband Pack by Stormie Omartian.

If Only He Knew by Gary Smalley.

Becoming Soul Mates by Les and Leslie Parrott.

Communication: Key to Your Marriage by H. Norman Wright.

 

Books can be purchased at the stores below...