Week 3 notes

Note: want to listen to the message again? Head to www.fayettebaptistchurch.org to hear it! Be sure to sign in or create an account at the bottom of the page, then click on the "sermons" link on the left under Resources.

Reawakening Your Marriage #3

Small Group Questions

1. Read 1 Peter 3:7 in 3 different translations out loud. What do you think Peter means when he exhorts husbands to live with their wives in an “understanding” way?

- How well do you think husbands understand their wives?

- In what areas do both men and women need to improve in order to accomplish this?

- Men, how can you put more effort into this? Give some practical examples.

2. Author Tim Elmore says that true spiritual leaders are initiators. They are hosts, not guests, in their relationships.

- Husbands, would you say that most of the time you are a host or a guest in your relationship with your wife?

- What would your wife say?

- What does being a “host” look like in practical terms?

- What are some scritpures that advocate husbands being “hosts” in the relationship?

3. If you were to summarize what you think a wife’s most fundamental needs are from their husbands, what 3 words would you use?

- Men

- Ladies

4. Men, when you hear the word “intimacy” what is your first thought? Ladies? One survey revealed that the average husband and wife had thirty-seven minutes a week together in actual communication!

- How much face to face and heart to heart time are you investing in your relationship?

- What can you do this week to improve that statistic?

5. Authors Dan Allender & Tremper Longman in their book Intimate Allies write: “Every marriage moves either toward enhancing one another’s glory or toward degrading each other ... The goal of marriage is twofold: to reveal the glory of God and to enhance the glory of one’s spouse.” Do you agree with this assessment?

- How can a husband draw out his wife’s individual uniqueness and to inspire her to live out God’s glory in ways that no one else can or should do?

- What can happen when a husband fails to do this?

6. Review 1 Peter 3:7 in different translations again. Note the terminology.

- What is your initial reaction to Peter’s description of a woman as a “weaker vessel?”

- Do you think that this statement is relevant to contemporary society?

- What kind of attitude and actions do you think Peter’s statement should evoke within a marriage relationship?

7. Gentlemen, your wife is priceless in God’s eyes. She is worth the life of His Son. She is a precious heir of the grace of God. What is she to you?

- Take a few moments right now and honor your wife by writing a simple note of sincere appreciation to her. Give it to her. If she is willing to let you read it aloud, take the opportunity to publicly declare your love to her.

8. Read Colossians 3:19 and 4:2 alongside of 1 Peter 3:7. How is the way you love and live with your wife affecting your prayer life? Do you have a prayer life? Make it a point to pray together with and for your spouse this week.