Premarital Counseling
What I would suggest in premarital counseling is to work through this resource in the same way you would walk through it with anyone in counseling. Marriage is the act of two sinners getting married who need to be in love with the Lord and have an understanding of and passion for the Word of God. They will have sin they need to repent of and forgiveness they need to extend. They will have issues they need to put off and put on in their place. The more they each grow in sanctification, the healthier their marriage will be.
Like any counseling case, the content should be adapted to fit the needs of the couple.
Here are some topics to explore to bolster what is already provided in this resource:
Ask them what they hope to get from your time together over the next several weeks
FORDS: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams, Salvation
Introduce them to and have them work through the “Bible Walkthrough Redemption Story” individually over the course of your time together
The grass is never greener; divorce can never enter the vocabulary; you are making a vow to God in committing your lives to one another.
Effective communication and how to fight fair; don’t go to bed angry
Roles in marriage; love and respect (Ephesians 5:21-33)
Humbly serving one another (Philippians 2:1-11)
Abiding in Christ (John 15)
Serve the Lord; make his Kingdom known
Find community/fellowship
Stay friends; have fun together
Pray and read the Word together
Continue to meet with them monthly after they are married
Resources:
See resources under the section on marriage
“Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs” by Emerson Eggerichs
“The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God” by Timothy Keller
“Preparing for Marriage God’s Way” by Wayne Mack
“Tying the Knot” by Rob Green
