10 Common Marriage Ministry Mistakes #d62012

John McGee, Director of Marriage Ministry at Watermark Community Church, was the presenter.  Visit their website here

Mistake #1-Separating Marriage and Discipleship

  • In Church, we treat marriage as a topic instead of connected to discipleship or gospel
  • Be a hospital and university at their church

Mistake #2-Start by Writing Your Own Content

  • It is either terrible or takes forever to write
  • Find materials and tweak them
Mistake #3-No Buy-in From Senior Leadership
  • Do not demean those above you in leadership
  • Senior pastors are not against marriage or marriage ministry
  • Most often they don't understand the vision or how it competes for resources
  • Discover your pastor's language and what motivates them
Mistake #4-Lack of Authenticity in Leaders
  • A heart that is well is a heart that tells.
  • We want couples to be honest, but we are not honest ourselves.
Mistake #5-Careless Design Choices
  • Over-reliance on quick fixes (one-time events)
  • Train leaders well-give enough info and then get started
Mistake #6-Not Believing in the Power of the Local Church
  • Separation between professional counselors and the local church. There is a place for counseling, but we as church should try first.
Mistake #7-Haven't Decided on the Tough Issues
  • Divorce, Remarriage, Cohabitation, Premarital sex, Homosexuality, Birth Control
Mistake #8-Forgetting What Year It is
  • Communication
  • Not based on me
Mistake #9-Don't Normalize Pain or Struggle
  • 1 Corinthians 7:28
  • It's OK who you but we won't let you stay there
Mistake #10-Not Leveraging Stories

4 Things That Help Couples Get Well
  • Choose to commit to their marriage (no options, not looking for alternatives)
  • See themselves as the biggest problem
  • Spiritual Vitality
  • People are connected to others
Next Steps





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