Few who marry expect their marriage to produce anything less than marital bliss. But that bliss isn’t automatic—in fact, it begins in an unexpected place: personal discipleship. Since June is one of the most popular months to say “I do,” in this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson invite BJ Thompson to discuss the building blocks for strong marriages and how marriage itself is the backdrop for discipleship. Thompson shares from his experience leading Build a Better Us, a marriage discipleship organization that helps couples grow individually for the benefit of marriages and communities. Discussion in this episode is packed, touching on how strong marriages stabilize communities and why marriages are only as healthy as each spouse’s own relationship with God. Pre-marital counseling rarely prepares a couple for the refining they will face as honeymoon joy fades into the challenges of day-to-day life. That’s when the work begins, and perhaps that is the message couples need to hear: Saying “I do” is your commitment to lifelong refining and discipleship.
Listen to Persuasion 101:
Links from the show:
Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person, New York Times
BJ Thompson –
Twitter @bj116
buildabetterus.com
Theme music by Maiden Name.