3. Read aloud again the Philippians passage, but this time vv5-9 . Christians recognize in John 13:1- 5,12 Jesus’s metaphorical enactment of what Paul describes—read this passage aloud. Do you ever wash your loved one’s feet, not literally but by humbling yourself in service or deference to them? Do you lay aside your priorities to support and enable them to succeed in their desires and priorities? What are some specific, practical ways in which you can serve your spouse physically, financially and logistically, by denying your own physical, financial and logistical pursuits? (And by the way, while a literal foot-washing might be strange, I will bet that a foot massage will be wonderfully appreciated!) 4. All these questions point to the fact that, as Tripp said in the previous session, “ You are your biggest marriage problem.” Discuss, then, what he means by “Jesus came to rescue you from you .” Sadly, as we are all Adam’s progeny, when confronted with our sin we tend to respond as Adam responded—read aloud Genesis 3:11-12 . And Eve’s response was also a dodge—read aloud v13 . Now read aloud 1 John 1:8 . Do you deny your sin when the Holy Spirit convicts you? Do you deny your selfishness when your spouse confronts you? Or worse, do you turn it around and blame them for your selfish behavior? When you refuse to accept correction, whom—and whom only —are you deceiving? Can your marriage ever improve if you refuse to be corrected? 5. Now read aloud the next verse, v9 . When we acknowledge our guilt and confess our sin before the Lord, whether it is he or our spouse that has brought it up, what is the blessed two-fold result? Regarding the second result, discuss why Tripp says “there’s not a hopeless marriage in the room.” What practical steps can you take to begin accepting correction from your spouse? 6. Change will take time and effort, and it will be painful. But in the Spirit’s work of sanctification, the time, effort and pain are his tools for achieving his ends. Sanctification will surely achieve its goal in glory, but this present life is more about the journey than the destination . Discuss what that means.
Session 4
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?
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