In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott share five priorities that shape a faithful life and marriage, drawing insight from Dr. Gary Chapman’s long obedience in the same direction. They walk through what it looks like to keep Jesus first, prioritize your spouse and kids, live on mission together, and aim to finish faithful to the very end.

Questions to Discuss:

1. Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up? Share with your spouse.

2. What does look like to be faithful for you right now in your current season of life?

3. When you look at your current rhythms, what (honestly) seems like your true first priority—Jesus, marriage, kids, work, comfort, or something else?

4. Which of the five priorities (Jesus, spouse, kids, mission, finishing faithful) do you sense the Lord highlighting most strongly for this season?

Scriptures:

MT 6:33

MT 22:37-40

PR 4:23

PS 127:3

2 Corinthians 5:18

Hebrews 12:1-2

2 Cor 4:2

Resources

Book - The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Scott, Derek, and Gabrielle talk about what it looks like for couples to pursue generosity together—especially when fear, comparison, or family history make giving hard. They unpack biblical principles, personal stories, and practical ideas to help you build a thoughtful, cheerful, and faith-filled approach to money in your marriage.

Scriptures:

Luke 21:1-4

Acts 20:35

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

1 Tim 5:8

Questions to Discuss:

1. What keeps you from being generous with your finances as a couple?

2. When you think about being generous, what emotion rises up first—excitement or anxiety? Why do you think that is?

3. What will you and your spouse do if you differ in your views on generosity?

4. Where do you see a lack of faith showing up in how you handle money? Are you tempted to find security in a savings account more than in God’s provision?

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Scott and Derek interview authors of the book Away Game and longtime sport-ministry leaders Ed Uszynski and Brian Smith to help couples reframe youth sports as a discipleship opportunity instead of an all-consuming lifestyle. They unpack how to make thoughtful choices about Sundays, money, travel, and expectations—all for the sake of your marriage and your kids’ formation.

Scriptures:

Romans 12:1-2

Hebrews 10:24-25

PR 22:6

Questions to Discuss:

1. When we leave a game, what do we celebrate first—performance or character (effort, joy, self-control, love)? What does that reveal about our priorities?

2. Which fruit of the Spirit do we want to cultivate most in our family through sports this month? What’s one habit to reinforce it (before, during, and after games)?

3. Money & time check: Are our sports expenses and calendar aligned with our values for marriage, family, generosity, and rest? What needs adjusting?

4. Expectations audit: Are we subtly tying our child’s performance to our identity? How can we speak freedom and grace over them—and each other—this week?

Resources:

Book - Away Game, by Brian Smith & Ed Uszynski

Website - TheChristianAthlete.com

Follow Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski on Instagram

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Gabrielle, Derek, and Scott discuss non-negotiables, preferences, wise process, and why commitment to a local body is essential for your spiritual growth and your marriage. They discuss what to do when you and your spouse don’t see eye-to-eye.

Scriptures:

Hebrews 10:23-25

Acts 2:42-47

1 Corinthians 12

Romans 12

PS 19:14

Questions to Discuss:

1. What are our top five non-negotiables for a church? Where are we currently aligned—and where are we not?

2. How are we currently using our gifts to build up the body (1 Cor 12; Rom 12)? What’s one next step we can take to use our gifts?

3. If we’re considering a change, have we fasted, prayed, and invited community/leadership into the decision?

4. What past church experiences (good or painful) might be shaping our expectations today?

Resources:

Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss some conversations couples that strengthen oneness every day. Couples won’t find the satisfaction, joy, and happiness they desire apart from intentional conversations with one another. 

Scriptures:

Genesis 2:25

Galatians 6:2

1 Peter 5:7

Psalm 55:22

Psalm 139:14

Deut 31:6

Phil 4:8

Questions to Discuss:

1. Which one of you is more of the talker in your relationship/marriage?

2. On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate our marriage this week—and why?

3. What are you currently into (Scripture insight, song, show, book, podcast) and why does it resonate?

4. Share one future hope or dream—how might God use us there?

5. What one small daily or weekly rhythm would help us keep these five conversations going?

Resources:

Article - People in the Happiest Relationships Talk about 5 Things Every Day

One of Scott’s favorite Instagram followers - Everydaywithhk

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott unpack four marriage trends—crisis of resilience, digital disconnect, financial anxiety, and blurred lines between work and home—and offer practical ways to push back with biblical wisdom. We hope this episode helps you move from “roommates” to a joy-filled, God-honoring marriage.

Scriptures:

1 Cor 7:28

John 16:33

MT 7:24-27

Col 3:23

1 Cor 10:31

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Questions to Discuss:

1. Where have we expected marriage to be “easy,” and how can we build grit (perseverance + hope) together this month?

2. What are our top two phone/tech boundaries for date nights, evenings, and weekends? (Be specific: chargers, baskets, Focus modes, no-phone zones.)

3. What’s driving our financial anxiety—math, lifestyle, or comparison? What’s one action we’ll take this week (budget meeting, cut a subscription, set a savings/giving goal)?

4. How are our work/home lines blurred right now? Name one habit to protect family time (e.g., no email after 6pm, a daily shutdown ritual, office hours).

Resources:

Financial Peace university

FamilyLife Today hosts Dave & Ann Wilson join Scott & Gabrielle to talk about Ann’s new book, How to Speak Life to Your Husband When All You Want to Do Is Yell at Him—and why a wife’s voice carries unique power. We cover practical ways to shift from critique to encouragement, how prayer re-wires our minds, and how both spouses can speak truth in love without tearing each other down.

Scriptures:

Genesis 3

Proverbs 18:21

James 3:1-12

Romans 12:2

Resources:

Book – Ann Wilson, with Davd Wilson - How to Speak Life to Your Husband: When All You Want to Do Is Yell at Him

Dave & Ann’s podcast – FamilyLife Today

Follow Dave & Anne on Instagram

Questions to Discuss:

1. When you think about the tone of your home lately, do your words feel more like “life” or more like “boo”? Give specific examples—gently.

2. What is one concrete way you can speak life to your spouse this week (phrase, text, public praise in front of the kids, written note, etc.)?

3. How can you start (or restart) praying together in a way that’s realistic—time of day, length, and format (out loud, texted prayer, voicemail)?

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott have a candid, biblical conversation about the “sexless marriage”—why it happens, how pornography, busyness, medical issues, and poor communication play a role, and what couples can do to rebuild connection. They offer practical steps so you can move from roommates back to one-flesh intimacy.

Questions to Discuss:

 1. In our season right now, does sex feel more like a thermometer (just reporting our temperature) or a thermostat (able to change it)? Why?

2. When was the last time we each felt truly pursued and enjoyed by the other? What specific actions helped?

3. What would make it safer for us to share desires, preferences, and fears about sex?

4. How can we renew the covenant this week in a way that is tender, unhurried, and mutually honoring?

Scriptures:

Ephesians 4:27

1 Corinthians 7:3-5

Resources:

Book - Secrets of Sex and Marriage: 8 Surprises That Make All the Difference by Shaunti Feldhahn & Michael Sytsma

Article – The Sex Recession

Book – Reconnected – Greg & Erin Smalley

More Than Roommates Interviews with Juli Slattery – Surrendered Sexuality & Sexual Abuse

Many couples treat money like “yours” and “mine,” but Scripture calls us to live as “one flesh”—and that includes our finances. In this episode Derek, Garielle, and Scott talk about joint accounts, transparency, and simple rhythms that move you from roommates to true financial intimacy.

Scriptures:

Genesis 2:24

Psalm 24:1

Psalm 50:10

Questions to Discuss:

1. Do you and your spouse share food?

2. Why does it matter whether you merge your bank accounts or not?

3. When you hear “one flesh financially,” what excites you and what scares you? Why?

4. If you keep (or want) separate accounts, what heart-level reasons are driving that (control, fear, secrecy, past hurt, convenience)?

5. What weekly or bi-weekly money rhythm would help us communicate (budget review, giving/prayer, upcoming expenses, savings goals)?

Resources:

Watermark - Moneywise Ministry Resources

Ramsey - Financial Peace University

Marriage is often described as hard—but it’s also one of God’s greatest gifts of joy. In this episode, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott share biblical wisdom, stories, and practical ways to cultivate gladness, gratitude, and fun in your marriage.

Scriptures:

1 Cor 7:28

John 16:33

MT 7:24-27

John 10:10

Discussion Questions:

1. What small things bring joy and laughter into your marriage right now?

2. Are there habits you’ve let go of (like creative dates or playful traditions) that you want to bring back?

3. How can you speak more positively about your marriage to others—without ignoring the hard parts?

4. What’s one practical step you can take this week to pursue gladness together?

Resources:

Book - Anatomy of an Affair: How Affairs, Attractions, and Addictions Develop, and How to Guard Your Marriage Against Them, by Dave Carder

Book – The Ready or Knot Prayer Guide, by Scott Kedersha