Welcome to Season 5 of the Forever Marriage Podcast!

If you're new with us, welcome to the show! My name is Emily Lavender and I'm joined by Scott & Dawn Smith. We are on staff at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA, and we are excited that you have tuned in! This is a marriage podcast where we hope you'll be encouraged to grow deeper in your understanding of God's design for marriage. You'll be equipped with practical action steps for your marriage, but you're also bound to have some good laughs along with us as we share from our own experiences.

If you've been tracking with us in our previous seasons, we are so glad you're still with us! Of course, you know Scott loves to teach through an acrostic... SO, in this episode, we introduce the one we'll be working through this season - how to Rekindle R.O.M.A.N.C.E. in marriage.

We'll consider questions like - What is romance? How do we "rekindle" the romance in our marriage if it's gone away? What does the Bible say about romance? 

In this episode you’ll hear…

1. A quick summer recap
2. Scott’s snacking experiences
3. Gainesville fit club promo 
4. Rekindle romance blog
5. What romance is
6. And a sneak peak into where we are headed this season

Stay tuned for Episode 2, where we talk about the first way to rekindle romance, which is to remember what's good about your mate.

In Season 4 Episode 17 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we conclude this series with the final One Another of Scripture - Forgive One Another.  In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." The measuring stick for how we are to forgive is how God forgave us.  SO in this episode we talk about what forgiveness IS NOT and what forgiveness IS.

Consider as you listen to today's episode: Is there are particular person in your life that your heart is calloused or hard hearted toward?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:11, James 5:16, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 103:11-12, 1 John 1:9  
• Anger Train: Hurt > Anger > Bitterness > Resentment > Wrath > Revenge > Psychosomatic Disorders
• Ruth Bell Graham quote: "A good marriage consists of two good forgivers." 

In Season 4 Episode 16 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we continue to talk about Scripture's imperative to love one another, and specifically about love's empowerment and love's teacher.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 says, "and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you." 

Can you recall a time when you knew with certainty that God was empowering your ability to love someone that was unlovely? Love is based on His love for us and not the other person's loveliness. Our ability or inability to love others as God loves them is a testament to our growth and maturity in Christ. It is also a testimony to an unbelieving world of the reality and power of the gospel.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: Luke 6:32, 1 Thess. 3:12, 1 Thess. 4:9, 1 John 3:1, Romans 13:8, 1 John 4:12, Ephesians 4:32 

In Season 4 Episode 15 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we continue our talk about Scripture's imperative to love one another. We started this conversation in the previous episode, but we pick back up with it in today's episode. 

As we can see in Scripture, love is a command and not a suggestion. Why would Jesus command us to love one another? What does this mean for marriage? We talk about how it can be a challenge to love sometimes. But love is based on Christ's example, and not whether the person has earned it or not, or upon whether we feel like giving it. And finally, our love for one another is a demonstration of the reality and power of the Gospel. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: John 13:34-35, John 15:12, John 15:17, 2 John 5, Luke 6:32, 1 Peter 4:8, Psalm 103:11-12, Proverbs 11:27
• Register today for the 6 week study Rekindle R.O.M.A.N.C.E. beginning April 10. 
• Blue Letter Bible

In Season 4 Episode 14 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about Scripture's imperative to love one another.

But first, by way of teaser for tomorrow night's event, Forever Marriage LIVE, we talk about what romance is and what it is not. We will gather tomorrow night at 6PM at Lakewood Baptist Church to hear Scott & Dawn talk about how to Rekindle R.O.M.A.N.C.E. It's not too late to register! We hope you will join us for this fun filled date night experience, where you will be equipped with tools to help you and spouse keep the love light burning!

Back to our episode. Very simply, what is love? How do we measure love? What does God's word say about love? Jesus, in John 13:34 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, also love one another." So what does this look like for us in marriage? Tune in to this week's episode to hear a discussion on this one another of Scripture.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice reference in our discussion about romance 
• Scripture: John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17, 1 John 4:11, 1 John 5:2, 1 John 3:1, John 13:35
• Complete list of the One Another's of Scripture

In Season 4 Episode 13 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we cover the last 3 ways of the 10  ways to outdo one another in showing honor.

First, we talk about seeking the good for one another. Out of honor for God and honor for your spouse, can you seek their good? 

Next, we talk about stimulating one another to love and good deeds. Familiarity in marriage can breed complacency and indifference, so we must give some forethought for how we can stimulate, or spur on, one another.

Finally, we talk about submitting to one another. Submission is given because we love and revere Christ. Our culture views submission negatively. It's seen as "lording over someone to press them down." Biblical submission says, "I come under you to lift you up. I want to help you experience God's fullness in your life. I want for you what God wants for you."

Consider: Of the 10 ways to outdo one another in showing honor, which one struck you most? What do you believe God now wants you to do in obedience? If you need to go back and listen again, we covered the 10 ways in episodes 8-13. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 5:11, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:3-4, Proverbs 3:27, Romans 12:17, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 5:21-23, Luke 2:51

In Season 4 Episode 12 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, we talk about not judging one another. In Romans 14:13, Paul says, "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this - not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way." We tend to judge those who don't think, believe, feel, act or behave the way we do. Why is that? Oftentimes, we are uncomfortable with differences.

We also talk about praying for one another. James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." Why would James tie together the concepts of confession of sin and prayer for one another as a means of healing? 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: Romans 2:1-3, Matthew 7:1-5, James 5:16, Psalm 32:3, Psalm 51:4, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 5:13
• The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

In Season 4 Episode 11 we talk about being hospitable to one another and how hospitality is a way of honoring one another. 1 Peter 4:9 says, "Be hospitable to one another without complaint." So, why would hospitality evoke complaints from us? The nature of hospitality is driven by a spirit of generosity - of heart, home, friendship, etc. Oftentimes, it takes effort, time, and energy to welcome someone with open arms into your space. We have to fight against our natural sin tendencies of "I don't want to do that right now."

Questions to consider:
So, as a couple, how are you doing with regard to hospitality?
What is the benefit to your marriage when you practice hospitality?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Register for Forever Marriage LIVE - Friday, March 22 at 6 PM at Lakewood Baptist Church
• Rekindle ROMANCE 6 week study on Wednesday nights led by Scott & Dawn (Registration coming soon!)
• The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
• Scripture: Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 4:9, Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 11:33, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Romans 15:7

In Season 4 Episode 10 we pick up with comfort one another. Our comfort of others will often come from God's grace, mercy and healing of our own personal pain. The gift of having a spouse is the comfort they can bring to us in marriage like no one else can. 

Questions to consider as you listen to today's episode:
1. Are you more concerned about your own pain? Or are you looking to your spouse's needs as more important than your own?
2. How are you doing in comforting your partner? Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10.
3. What practical steps can you take to grow in this area of comforting your spouse?
4. Consider asking your spouse these questions: How can I help you? What do you need from me?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: Romans 12:10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-6, 1 Peter 3:7, Psalm 34:19
• Mark your calendars! On March 22, 2024 we will host our first ever Forever Marriage LIVE. We hope you'll make plans to join us for this fun, one night event!

In Season 4 Episode 9 we are continuing the conversation of what it means to be devoted to one another and we are unpacking 10 ways to outdo one another in showing honor. We began this conversation in S4E8 where we covered the first way, and we continue on with the second and third ways in this episode:

1. Bearing One Another's Burdens (S4E8)
2. Building One Another Up
3. Caring for One Another

Questions to consider as you listen to today's episode:
1. How are you and your spouse building one another up?
2. What has my attitude been toward my spouse lately?
3. How have I most recently used my words? To build up or tear down?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: Romans 12:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Proverbs 18:21, Psalm 19:14, 1 Corinthians 12:24-25, Proverbs 21:21
• Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages