Improving Communication in Your Marriage (Homebuilders Couples Series)

Book Description
Group Publishing, in partnership with FamilyLife, is excited to announce the release of the newly revised HomeBuilders Couples Series(. Questions and activities have been updated and improved to help couples open up to each other even more, resulting in meaningful and life-changing experiences. Plus, the teacher and student books have been combined to make the series easy-to-lead and easy-to-use. These interactive 6- to 7-week studies are perfect for Sunday school or small groups, with each participant using his or her own book. The first 3 titles will be available in February 2000 with 6 more titles following in July. When complete, the series will feature 12 studies (3 new and 9 revised).


From the Back Cover
Discover the Keys to Great Communication in Your Marriage! Let's face it! We're not always the best at communicating our thoughts and feelings with our spouse. This 6-session small group study is designed to bring husbands and wives closer to each other and to God-and closer to other couples in the process. You will study God's Word, share in your challenges and successes, and build a marriage that will last. Together with other couples, you and your spouse will... *Recognize and understand the barriers to good communication *Learn ways to make your relationship a priority *Discover practical steps for resolving conflict *Increase spiritual intimacy as you seek God together The HomeBuilders Couples Series( is designed to strengthen marriages and develop supportive relationships with other couples. Whether you've been married for years, or newly married, this series will help you and your spouse discover timeless principles from God's Word that you can apply to your marriage. There's no better way to build your marriage than in the fun and friendly environment of a small group Bible study.


About the Author
Dr. Gary and Barbara Rosberg are America's Family Coaches. They speak at conferences including FamilyLife Marriage Conferences and "I Still Do" events. Gary is also a platform speaker for Promise Keepers and Focus on the Family's Life on the Edge Conferences for parents and adolescents. Gary is the founder of Cross Trainers, a group of five hundred men who meet weekly. Barbara coaches women in a series called A Woman's Legacy-reminding them of the incredible value of womanhood. The Rosbergs host "America's Family Coaches LIVE," a nationally syndicated daily radio program. They also host a Saturday radio program on the award winning WHO Radio. Gary has authored Dr. Rosberg's Do-It-Yourself Relationship Mender and co-authored Guard Your Heart and The Five Love Needs of Men and Women with Barbara. The Rosbergs are both graduates of Drake University. Gary earned master's and doctorate degrees in counseling, and Barbara holds a bachelors' degree in fine arts. Gary and Barbara have been married since 1975 and reside in West Des Moines, Iowa. They are the parents of two adult daughters. Missy is a college student studying communications, and Sarah lives in West Des Moines, Iowa with her husband, Scott.


Excerpted from Improving Communication in Your Marriage (Homebuilders Couples Series) by . Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
Foreword Polls and surveys consistently show that the number one issue that cripples a married couple's relationship is communication. And it does not take much time for this problem to begin to show itself. Once those feelings of hyper-romance from courtship and engagement begin to fade, married couples often wake up to some cold realizations: We aren't talking like we once did. We're having more disagreements than we ever thought we would. And we don't know how to handle it. In this study you will learn how to improve your communication-how to talk to each other, how to listen, how to "close the loop" in conflict, and much more. And you'll have fun learning, because you'll do it with other couples who face the same issues in their marriages. I can't think of any better guides in this process than Gary and Barbara Rosberg. They've been friends of mine for many years and have spoken at more than one hundred FamilyLife Marriage Conferences. Gary has counseled thousands of couples, and with Barbara heads up America's Family Coaches ministry in Des Moines. They know that the principles in this study work-they've seen them transform their marriage, and they've seen them influence thousands to have the kind of relationship God desires for a married couple. My prayer is that this study will begin a journey you will never end-a journey toward oneness in your marriage. Dennis Rainey, Executive Director, FamilyLife Introduction When a man and a woman are married, they stand before a room of witnesses and proclaim their commitment to a lifetime of love. They recite a sacred vow "to have and to hold...from this day forward...to love, honor, and cherish...for better, for worse...for richer, for poorer...in sickness and in health...as long as we both shall live." It's a happy day, perhaps the happiest in their lives. And yet, once the honeymoon ends, once the emotions of courtship and engagement subside, many couples realize that "falling in love" and building a good marriage are two different things. Keeping those vows is much more difficult than they thought it would be. Otherwise intelligent people who would not think of buying a car, investing money, or even going to the grocery store without some initial planning enter into marriage with no plan of how to make that relationship succeed. But God has already provided the plan, a set of blueprints for building a truly God-honoring marriage. His plan is designed to enable a man and woman to grow together in a mutually satisfying relationship and then to reach out to others with the love of Christ. Ignoring this plan leads only to isolation and separation between husband and wife. It's a pattern evident in so many homes today: Failure to follow God's blueprints results in wasted effort, bitter disappointment, and, in far too many cases, divorce. In response to this need in marriages today, FamilyLife has developed a series of small-group studies called the HomeBuilders Couples Series. You could complete this study alone with your spouse, but we strongly urge you to either form or join a group of couples studying this material. You will find that the questions in each session not only help you grow closer to your spouse, but they help create a special environment of warmth and fellowship as you study together how to build the type of marriage you desire. Participating in a HomeBuilders group could be one of the highlights of your married life. The Bible: Your Blueprints for a God-Honoring Marriage You will notice as you proceed through this study that the Bible is used frequently as the final authority on issues of life and marriage. Although written thousands of years ago, this Book still speaks clearly and powerfully about the conflicts and struggles faced by men and women. The Bible is God's Word-his blueprint for building a God-honoring home and for dealing with the practical issues of living. We encourage you to have a Bible with you for each session. For this series we use the New International Version as our primary reference. Another excellent translation is the New American Standard Bible. Ground Rules Each group session is designed to be enjoyable and informative-and nonthreatening. Three simple ground rules will help ensure that everyone feels comfortable and gets the most out of the experience. 1. Don't share anything that would embarrass your spouse. 2. You may pass on any question you don't want to answer. 3. If possible, plan to complete the HomeBuilders Project as a couple between group sessions. A Few Quick Notes About Leading a HomeBuilders Group. 1. Leading a group is much easier than you may think! A group leader in a HomeBuilders session is really a "facilitator." As a leader, your goal is simply to guide the group through the discussion questions. You don't need to teach the material-in fact, we don't want you to! The special dynamic of a HomeBuilders group is that couples teach themselves. 2. This material is designed to be used in a home small group, but it also can be adapted for use in a Sunday school environment. (See page 113 for more information about this option.) 3. We have included a section of Leader's Notes in the back of this book. Be sure to read through these notes before leading a session; they will help you prepare. 4. For more material on leading a HomeBuilders group, be sure to get a copy of the HomeBuilders Leaders Guide, by Drew and Kit Coons. This book is an excellent resource that provides helpful guidelines on how to start a study, how to keep discussion moving, and much more.


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Group Publishing, in partnership with FamilyLife, is excited to announce the release of the newly revised HomeBuilders Couples Series(. Questions and activities have been updated and improved to help couples open up to each other even more, resulting in meaningful and life-changing experiences. Plus, the teacher and student books have been combined to make the series easy-to-lead and easy-to-use.
These interactive 6- to 7-week studies are perfect for Sunday school or small groups, with each participant using his or her own book. The first 3 titles will be available in February 2000 with 6 more titles following in July. When complete, the series will feature 12 studies (3 new and 9 revised).




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