1. 1

2. Marriage! The Journey 2

3. 3 Session 1 The Journey begins!

4. Can anyone relate to the thinking expressed by the husband or wives in the examples on pgs. 15-16? If so, can you share from your own experience? 4

5. 5 Can someone tell us – what does the word T.I.R.E.D. mean?

6. 6 When we struggle to be filled by our old Strategies in marriage, we wind up T.I.R.E.D. An acronym by Jeff VanVonderan.

7. 7 T. Trapped I. Indicted R. Responsible Often we begin to ruminate over slights, irritations, unfairness, etc. We feel under the circumstances - as if we can’t get out. Feeling accused, and furthermore, sentenced. Or, over-responsible, which leads to resentment Or, over-responsible, which leads to resentment.

8. 8 E. Exposed D. Defensive Feeling vulnerable to be devastatingly hurt, unprotected, all weaknesses and fears known. Being defensive can range from withdrawing, being silent, and hiding to arguing and demanding.

9. 9 Can anyone describe a time when you felt T.I.R.E.D. ?

10. Who can relate to the following song? 10

11. 11 A Few Years Ago A Few Years Ago: “Will you fill my emptiness and drive away my loneliness? Will you promise you will be true to me And always treat me tenderly? Will you sigh with me when I am sad, & Will you smile with me when I am glad?

12. 12 Think it over and be sure, and please don’t answer until you do. And when you promise all these things to me, I’ll give my heart to you.”

13. What is the song trying to say? 13

14. What are some common views around the purpose of marriage or the ideal marriage partner? 14

15. 15 Let’s discuss THE MAP  Turn to page 30 in your book.  There’s a map in scripture that is symbolic of the Christian’s passage through life and can also be applied to the marriage journey. What is this map? It’s the Biblical account of the Israelites coming out of Egypt and eventually to the promised land.

16. 16 Egypt Egypt Wilderness Wilderness Canaan Canaan Red Sea The Journey: The Map Jordan Law Bondage, Captivity Promised Land Inheritance

17. 17 Egypt Egypt Wilderness. Wilderness. Canaan Canaan Red Sea The Journey: The Map Jordan Surrender New Birth Power Struggles, hurts in marriage Fulfillment Needs met Humility, dying to fleshly Strategies Walk after the flesh. “Myths” and Laws Walk after the Spirit Bondage Sin nature “Survival Strategies” “Survival Strategies”

18. 18 What does each of us bring into the marriage relationship? Are all of these ideas “the beginning” of our problems, or does it go back further? If so, when?