Online Sermons
Lesson #7 - Communication Goals For Husbands & Wives
Series: Home-BuildersLESSON #7 – COMMUNICATION GOALS FOR HUSBANDS & WIVES
INTRODUCTION
Marriage is a lifelong endeavor. What begins so often with pomp and circumstance has to be constantly maintained.
The maintenance of every marriage requires hard work, self-sacrifice, and lots of fine tuning throughout the years.
As Dr. John W. Drakeford has written in Marriage: How To Keep A Good Thing Growing: “No matter how fine the silver,
it can always be polished. No marriage is so bad that it cannot be helped and none so good that it cannot be improved."
While saying I do on your wedding day is a beautiful expression of commitment, affirming I do day after day is even more so.
(1) KEEP HONING YOUR LISTENING SKILLS
Strive to be swift to hear (Js.1:19), offering your undivided attention.
Listen with the third ear (your heart).
Practice “drive-thru” communication - - “To make sure I have heard you correctly, let me repeat this back to you."
(2) DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH
Eph.4:26 (NCV) / When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day.
Don't stew for long hours much less days. Don't harbor ill will or hold grudges. Always seek to resolve your differences.
Mt.5:25 / Make friends quickly
If your spats tend to grow volatile and harsh, count down before you blast off.
When things get overly heated, allow for a cooling down period and then renew the conversation.
(3) RESOLVE TO NEVER LAY HANDS ON YOUR MATE EXCEPT IN A GOOD WAY
Physical abuse is always off limits. Similarly, verbal abuse is not to be tolerated.
Verbal abuse frequently morphs into physical abuse, but even it doesn't it can be severely damaging to both heart and psyche.
(4) AVOID VERBAL PUT DOWNS
Marriage is no place for mean-spirited jousting. Acidic remarks often spiral out of control.
Sarcasm, which may at first seem cute or funny, can easily become poisonous.
Eph.4:29 / Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth...
Put-downs are especially odious and hurtful when done in public or in the presence of your children.
(5) HONOR YOUR MATE BY SHOWING HER OR HIM RESPECT
1Pet.3:7b / grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Respect is defined as, “to feel or show esteem for...to show consideration for; avoid violation of; treat with deference.”
Whereas fidelty is so vital to a marriage, perfidy (a breach of faith or violation of trust) can be deadly.
(6) COMPLIMENT YOUR SPOUSE
Men - - when was the last time you told your wife how beautiful she was?
Women - - when was the last time you told you husband he was a handsome dude (not dud)?
Eph.4:29 / Let no unwholesome word proceed from you mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification…
Prov.3:27 / Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
(7) CONTINUE TO DATE YOUR MATE
It is sweet to see couples who have been married for a while still holding hands.
When was the last time you dated your mate?
Young couples with little ones often become so wrapped up in child-rearing that they neglect to nurture their marriage.
Old-married couples sometimes fall into a rut and fail to fan the flames of passion and love, in the simplest ways.
