What does it look like to celebrate your spouse well? Instead of competing with each other, what would it look like for you to consistently celebrate them. In this episode of More Than Roommates, Gabrielle, Derek, and Scott discuss practical ways to rejoice with and celebrate your spouse.

Five Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman

Five Love Languages Quiz

Questions to Discuss:

1. How do you do at celebrating each other?

2. What’s one way you can celebrate your spouse today? Now go do it!

3. Do you focus more on your spouse’s flaws or do you focus on ways you can celebrate and encourage them?

In this bonus episode of More Than Roommates, we share a talk Alison Treadaway gave at Harris Creek’s marriage conference in January 2023. In this talk, Alison talks about the pitfalls and benefits of comparison in marriage. It's what we do with comparison that matters!

Questions to Discuss:

1. How is comparison in marriage holding you back and potentially even building resentment?

2. What leads you to compare yourself, your spouse, or your marriage to others?

3. What's one thing your spouse does so well? Encourage them in one way they are beyond comparison!

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss how and why to have hard conversations with your spouse. Most couples struggle with hard conversations because of things like pride and defensiveness. But, when we do this well, it can strengthen our marriage in every way!

Shownotes:

One Conversation with My Son that Left Me Speechless.

Questions to Discuss:

1. Why is it difficult to have hard conversations in our marriage?

2. What’s the best time for us to have hard conversations?

3. How can we make our marriage a safer place for hard conversations?

Part 2 on expectations: In this bonus episode of More Than Roommates, we share a talk Jonathan “JP” Pokluda, lead pastor of Harris Creek and host of the Becoming Something Podcast, gave at Harris Creek’s marriage conference in January 2023. In this talk, JP talks about how we combat unmet expectations and marital entitlements with gratitude towards our spouse.

Questions to Discuss:

How have you allowed your expectations turn into entitlements in marriage?

What do you think your spouse owes you?

What’s one way you can show gratitude to your spouse today? Now go do it or say it!

In this episode, we bring Jonathan “JP” Pokluda, lead pastor of Harris Creek and host of the Becoming Something Podcast, into the studio as we discuss expectations in marriage: where do they come from and how you and your significant other can walk through your unmet expectations in a way that can strengthen your marriage.

Questions to Discuss:

What are the sources of your expectations?

What are some examples of your biggest disappointments that come from your missed expectations?

Who are you learning from?

Coming this summer on More Than Roommates - bonus episodes dropping in addition to our weekly episodes on Tuesday mornings.

Life and marriage seem to be filled with one decision after another. In this episode of More Than Roommates, Gabrielle, Derek, and Scott discuss helpful six questions to ask when making decisions.

Shownotes:

Sermon from Jonathan “JP” Pokluda - Questions to Ask When Making Decisions

Blog Post - One Way to Help You Avoid Life's Biggest Regrets and Mistakes

Questions to Discuss With Your Spouse:

1. How can you and your spouse improve you make decisions?

2. Do you tend to process decisions with others or just report decisions you already made? Why?

3. Think of a medium-size decision you and your spouse need to make, and discuss how these six questions can help you make a better decision.

In-Laws often get an unfair reputation. In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss several ways to grow a healthy relationship with each of your parents and families. We discuss practical ways to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with our families.

Questions to discuss with your spouse:

1. What is your vision or hopes for what your family and in-law relationships can look like?

2. What's one intentional step you can take to strengthen your relationship with each of your families?

3. Take a few minutes to specifically pray for each of your families.

How can I love my spouse well every day? Our marriages reflect the amount of work and effort we put into them. In this episode, Scott, Derek, and Gabrielle interview John McGee, the Senior Director of Resources at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX. John has an abundance of wisdom we can learn from as he shares how he and his wife intentionally pursue each other.

Shownotes:

Watermark Resources

Tiny Habit Challenge

John & Pam McGee’s talk from the Uncommon Marriage Conference

Questions to Discuss with your spouse:

1. Discuss with your spouse how you’re doing in intentionally pursuing each other in the day-to-day moments.

2. Pick 1 habit from the Tiny Habit Challenge to add to your marriage this week!

3. Encourage your spouse with one small thing you’ve seen them do well in the last week. Tell them how they’re pursuing you well.

Healthy marriages are filled with small challenges and sin struggles couples must attend to every single day; things such as busyness, selfishness, and pride. In this episode, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott address some challenges we must focus on every single day to grow a healthier, more intentional marriage.

Shownotes – Marriage, by Paul David Tripp, Adam Grant Tweet