Conference Session Summaries
A wide range of topics are included in the 13 sessions of the Marriage Matters Conference. Session overviews are provided below.
The Servant Heart — Jerry
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The model for all Christians is Jesus who came to the world
in the form of a servant. Many problems which plague the
home and relationships can be traced back to the absence of
a servant heart. Any time individuals are in a marriage for
what they can get instead of what they can give, the
marriage is headed for trouble.
Men of God — Men with Jerry
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Without the leadership of Godly men, the family, the church,
the community, and the nation are at risk . This powerful
presentation moves theory into practice in calling all men,
regardless of their stations in life, to be Men of God.
Women of God — Women with Lynn
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All women, regardless of their life situations, have the
challenge to be women of God. What defines this woman, and
how does she, in a very practical way, stay true to this
calling as she faces the daily challenges that come her way?
This poignant presentation addresses both issues.
Recovery from Death and Divorce
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The common denominator of both death and divorce is loss. The two major issues that often prevent
recovery are failure to forgive and inability or
unwillingness to establish a new dream for one’s life.
Designed for those who have endured loss and for those who
desire to better understand the grieving and rebuilding
process, this very powerful and authentic presentation draws
not only from Jerry and Lynn’s professional expertise but
from their personal experiences.
Parenting 101 |
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How often have parents looked at each other and said, “All
we wanted was a baby to hold.”? Parenting adds a whole new
dimension to individual lives as well as to a marriage, and
while the blessings are many, so are the responsibilities
and potential heartaches. The question in child rearing is
not “How can we rear a good child?” but rather “How can we
be godly parents?” This down-to-earth yet often humorous
presentation provides insight for parents of all ages.
God’s Ideal Marriage |
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God is the “author” of marriage. While there are no perfect
marriages, lasting marriages are unified, God-centered, and
emotionally intimate. This realistic and entertaining
presentation underscores the necessity of common goals and
values if a marriage is to thrive.
Affair-Proofing Your Marriage
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No marriage is immune to an affair. “It can’t happen to me”
is Satan’s lie. Anyone can be emotionally or physically
unfaithful if the foundation for fidelity is not firm and
God-centered. Inherent in this forthright and informative
presentation is a six-step model describing how good people
become entrapped in webs of lies and deceitfulness. While
controlling the choices of a spouse is impossible, one can
determine the moral direction of their own life by
establishing and maintaining firm boundaries.
Please Listen To Me (Part 1)
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Surely “clean house” means “clean house.” Perhaps — perhaps
not! No one sees the world exactly like another, and often
the same words have different meanings. Central to healthy
communication is an acknowledgement of each individual’s
distinct perceptions and ego defenses. This dynamic and
humorous session explains that "different" does not have to
mean “wrong”— it usually just means different!
Please Listen To Me (Part 2)
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The inability to deal constructively with anger is a major
barrier in communication. Determining the source of anger is
essential in learning to process it. Learning to “listen” to
what lies beneath the words is also crucial if good conflict
resolution is to be developed. Full of energy and common
sense, this presentation is guaranteed to help you see
yourself and those around you more realistically.
Unrealistic Expectations
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(“This Is Not Quite What I Expected”)
Young people usually enter into marriage with very distinct
ideas about what the marriage will be and what roles the
spouses will play in the marriage. Soon after the honeymoon
this youthful idealism begins to give way to the realities
of married life. Self-esteem, perfectionism, criticism and
depression often become issues at this time. Working with
the origins of these issues and seeking realistic
resolutions to them are fundamental as the individuals seek
to modify their expectations in themselves and the marriage.
Trouble In Paradise: Pornography
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This thought provoking and professionally presented session
defines and addresses the origins of all addictive behavior
and provides the scientific data explaining sexual
addictions, including the addiction to pornography. Having
grown to epidemic proportions via the internet, pornography
is often considered the “secret sin”. Unless addressed, its addictive powers have a devastating impact on
the individual and on relationships. The session concludes
with the practical information necessary to break out of its
bondage.
Loving Your Mate Through The Seasons
Of Life (Part 1) |
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People change throughout their life-span, so to assume that
a marriage will remain the same is erroneous. It, too, will
go through different transformations and each season of a
marriage presents special challenges. To maintain a healthy
relationship, the couple needs to be aware of the emotional
pulse of each other and of the marriage throughout the
years.
Loving Your Mate Through The Seasons
Of Life (Part 2) |
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Indicative of the servant heart that permeates a Christian
marriage is the desire to know the needs of the spouse and
the willingness to adjust to try and meet those needs. What
are the needs of husbands and wives and how practically can
they be met? Guaranteed to make you laugh while you learn,
this energetic session provides the answers!
