Ideas that Work
July 1, 1995
BEFORE YOU SAY "I MIGHT"
Most churches hold classes or counseling for pre-marital couples. At Church of the Open Door in Crystal, Minnesota, young-adult pastor Todd Bullock decided to hold a six-week course for couples before they got engaged. Â The class, "Before You Say 'I Might,'" helps couples sort fantasies from facts about marriage. Couples come with questions like: How do I select a mate? How do I know if this is the right person? Â The weekly sessions begin with a get-acquainted game and move into an hour of teaching on expectations, communication, conflict, sex, or spirituality. Â The teaching time is followed by an hour of small-group discussion. Each class is limited to twelve couples, who then form groups of three to four couples with a married couple as facilitator. Â Assignments are to read Neil Warren's "Finding the Love of Your Life" (Focus on the Family) and complete Jerry D. Harden and Dianne C. Sloan's workbook, "Getting Ready for Marriage" (Thomas Nelson). Â About 30 percent of the couples taking "Before You Say 'I Might'" break up. Other couples feel affirmed by what they learn and become engaged. They then take the "Before You Say 'I Do'" class, which is required for marriage at Open Door. Â One couple who recently married wrote of what they learned in the pre-engagement class. Bob wrote, "Commitment to Christ enables us to love and accept each other the way we are. It is not looking to the other person to fulfill all our needs or controlling them to get them to be more like we want them to be." ... --JANE McClain Crystal, Minnesota FIFTY WAYS TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Trinity Baptist Church of Adrian, Michigan, holds small-group Bible studies every Wednesday night. One recent study was on Jesus' command in the Gospel ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
