Preparing for Partnership Course Content

Lesson One: Preliminary Considerations

Main Text: Genesis 24

Topics:

  1. Centering the Relationship on God
  2. Importance of Being Equally Yoked
  3. Salvation
  4. Maturity and Responsibilty (Use of time, Addictions, and Charatcer)
  5. Involvement of Parents
  6. Importance of Remaining Sexually Pure

Lesson Two – The Sacredness of Marriage

Main Text: Malachi 2:11-16, Hebrews 13:4

Topics:

  1. The Definition of Marriage: A covenant of companionship between a man and a woman
  2. The Purpose of Marriage: To be an earthly representation of the heavenly relationship of Christ and His bride
  3. The Sacredness of Marriage
  4. Distortions of the Marriage Relationship:
  • Abusive Behavior
  • Believers who Marry Unbelievers
  • Polygamy
  • Divorce

Lesson Three – Covenant

Main Text: Genesis 12,15,17,22; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Romans 8:35-38;1 Samuel 18:1-4; Ephesians 6:10-12

Topics:

  1. The History and Significance of Covenants
  2. The New Covenant Established through Jesus Christ
  3. Covenant Relationship versus Contractual Relationship
  4. Wedding Vows
  5. Exchanging Rings
  6. Sharing Possessions
  7. Premarital Sex
  8. Spiritual Warfare

Lesson Four – Spiritual Companionship

Main Text: Ephesians:5:22-33

Topics:

  1. Explanation of Companionship
  2. Man & woman created as image bearers equal in essence or value, but with different God ordained roles (Complementarianism).
  3. The wife’s role (Understanding Biblical submission).
  4. The husband’s role (Understanding Biblical headship).
  5. Spiritual companionship – Importance of reading the Word together.
  6. Spiritual companionship – Importance of praying together.
  7. Spiritual companionship - Importance of attending church together.  
  8. Maintaining marriage as the highest earthly priority.
  9. The Mystery of Marriage - An earthly manifestation of the heavenly relationship between Jesus and His bride

Lesson 5 Emotional Companionship

Main Texts: Genesis 2:25-3:13; Song 5-6

Topics:

1) Transparency: What it means to be “Naked and not Ashamed”
2) Biblical Principles of Communication

  • The Four Vital Parts of Effective communication
  • Roadblocks to Effective Communication
  • Understanding How Men and Women Communicate Differently.
  • Cursing and Blessing

3) Conflict Resolution

  • Unforgiveness
  • Biblical Steps

Lesson 6 Physical Companionship

Main Text: Song 2-4,7; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

Topics:

1) Importance of Displaying  

  • Affection
  • Attention
  • Appreciation
  • Affirmation

2) Physical Intimacy

The Sexual Intimacy Cycle

  • The Approach
    • Communication
    • Consideration
  • The Climax
  • The "Honeymoon" (The Afterglow of Intimacy)
  • Biblical Commands Concerning Sexual Intimacy
    • The Principle of Need
    • The Principle of Ownership
    • The Principle of Habit
  • Hindrances to Sexual Intimacy
  • Preparing for the Wedding Night

Lesson Seven (Parts A, B & C) – Finances

Main Texts: Matthew 6:19-21,24; Phil. 3:7-8,4:19; Luke 6:38, 14:28; Proverbs 22:7;2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Topics:

  1. Biblical Understanding of Money
  2. Biblical Receiving
  3. Biblical instruction on Borrowing
  4. Biblical instruction on Giving
  5. Personal Budget
  6. System for Paying Bills

Preparing for Partnership lays a solid foundation that addresses the major building blocks in marriage.  The time that it takes a couple to go through all seven lessons will vary, but normally will take eight to ten hours.

Suggested Resources:

What is Marriage by Sam & Debbie Wood?

What Did You Expect by Paul Tripp?

The Complete Husband by Lou Priolo

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace 

Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat

Time for Three Couples Devotional by Sam & Debbie Wood