[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this class were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Love unconditionally. It’s a decision, not a reaction.

  • Matthew 22:39 – “as yourself”
  • Matthew 5:43-48 – “love your enemies”
    • We should treat our spouse at least as good as an enemy!
  • Matthew 7:12 – “the same way you want them to treat you”
  • Ephesians 5:28-30, 33 – “as their own bodies … himself … his own flesh … himself”
  • Ephesians 5:22 – “as to the Lord”
  • Ephesians 5:25-27 – “just as Christ also loved the church”
    • Don’t keep score.
      • “If you find yourself keeping score about some issue with your spouse, that suggests it’s an area of tension in your marriage.” (Gottman and Silver 2015, p. 33)
  • Genesis 1:27 – “in the image of God”
  • I Peter 3:7 – “fellow heir of the grace of life”
  • Titus 2:3-4 – “encourage the young women to love their husbands”

Build up the balance in your “Love Bank.”

  • Luke 6:27-28 – “love … do good … bless … pray for”
  • Romans 13:8-10 – “Love does no wrong”
  • Proverbs 31:10-12 – “She does him good and not evil”
  • Romans 12:10 – “Outdo one another in showing honor”
  • Ephesians 4:31-32 – “bitterness …” vs. “Be kind …”
    • The magic ratio is 5:1 positive to negative interactions. Successful couples manage this even in conflict. When not in conflict, successful couples have a ratio closer to 20:1.
  • Proverbs 31:28-31 – “Her husband … praises her”
  • David and Michal’s marriage deteriorates
    • I Samuel 18:20 – She loved him.
    • I Samuel 18:27-28 – They get married. She still loves him.
    • I Samuel 19:11-12 – She even helps David escape her father’s wrath.
    • She’s later given to another man, then David reclaims her.
    • II Samuel 6:15-16, 20-23 – She views David with contempt.