for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. —Galatians 3:26-28

Our scriptures say

makes us all equal and valued; no longer single, married, divorced, widowed, remarried.

Paul believes that the end of the world is fast approaching, so it is better for everyone to

as they are. (1 Cor 7:17)

Paul says that we are citizens of

; to live as belonging to the coming age, not this present world. (Romans 12:1-5)

Week 1: We are made for

.

Week 2: It takes

to live in relationship!

This Week: How Do We Do It?

How we don’t do it is

or 50/50. Relationship balance is a myth.

We all have

blind spots.

“Believing in destiny – the idea that two people are cosmically meant to be – can wreak havoc on relationship. It can set unrealistic expectations.” —Arthur Brooks, Happiness Researcher at the Harvard Business School

1. In the Beginning – Ask LOTS of questions and really listen

Everyone

with relationships, faces temptations, and has regrets.

We all need

in the center of our relationships.

Love is not a

. Love is a

Reveal Answer

.

Decide not to have hard discussions when you are angry, tired, or hungry.

“Challenges and low points are not evidence that partners are not meant to be together, rather, they are inevitable and opportunities for growth.” —Arthur Brooks

Arguments don’t

marriages. It’s the silence that follows when both partners stop believing change is possible.

You cannot change

people but you can change your perspective and your own health, actions, and boundaries.

When a man feels

, his typical response is to withdraw emotionally.

When a woman feels emotionally

, her typical response is to become critical or distant.

You don’t have to be

. You just have to be open, honest, and willing to

Reveal Answer

.

Never keep

. You are on the

Reveal Answer

team. Don’t expect your relationship to look like someone else’s. Marriages change.

2. In the Middle – Hang on! Invest wisely into your long-term relationships

“The power of Christ in you is greater than the troubles around you.” —Anonymous

Love that lasts doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by

.

Intentionally invest in spending time

together without children or working on logistics, chores, finances, etc.

3. In the End – Prepare for a New Beginning

“The secret to happiness isn’t falling in love; it’s staying in love.” —Arthur Brooks

Have a

ritual. “I love you. I respect you. Let’s figure this out together.”

Stay as

healthy as you can by exercising, eating reasonably, and surrounding yourself with good friends.

You either

or keep going. They both

Reveal Answer

. Choose

Reveal Answer

.

Even in the best relationships, you can’t do it

.

Action Steps:

Sunday: Ask your partner or close friend, “Right now, on a scale of 0-10, how

do you feel?”

Monday: Ask your partner or close friend, “When things get tough, do I connect and

for us?”

Tuesday: Say, “I love you” to someone who is important to you, especially if you

feel like saying it.

Wednesday: What does the way I spend my

say about the priority of my relationships?

Thursday: Ask yourself, “Have I been treating my partner like a

or the love of my life?”

Friday: Ask yourself, “Do I make it easy or difficult for those close to me to bring up their

and feelings?”

Saturday: Think about someone you love. Tell them something

you thought about them today.

“My additional notes:

”.