Discipling Time For Couples

MANAGE YOUR FAMILY WELL

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)  (1 Tim 3:1-6)
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

1. ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMPLIMENTS
   1. What have you appreciated about each other?
2. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN STUDYING AND LEARNING IN YOUR QUIET TIMES?
   1. Do you have a plan to grow in a certain area?
   2. How is this progressing?
   3. What is the practical application to your life?
3. AREAS OF NEEDS AND /OR PROBLEMS?
   1. Share 1 or 2 (max) things that have bothered or concerned you about your spouse over the last week.
   2. This is a D-Time, to grow closer to God and each other, NOT a gripe session.
4. PLAN YOUR CALENDAR AND SCHEDULES
   1. (Determine who is the keeper of the calendar, i.e. keeps it updated, makes a copy for the other and displays it for the family)
   2. Create a 12-month calendar and then check this each D-Time for adjustments
      1. Kingdom Events (e.g. Conferences, Marriage Retreat, etc)
      2. Vacations
      3. School Milestones, Events
      4. Holidays
      5.  Work
   3. 3-6 month calendar
      1. See above
      2. BT Calendar of Events
   4. 1 month schedule
      1. See above
      2. Planned Dates w/your spouse, including babysitting plan
      3. People to get with
      4. Work: Travel/Meetings/Conferences/Dinners
   5. 1 week
      1. Day to Day – What do you, your spouse and kids have planned for the week?
      2. Kingdom Events
      3. Couple D-Time
      4. Day and Time for your Date, babysitting plan
      5. Ministry
         1. BT
         2. D times

5. TALK ABOUT FEELINGS
   1. Dreams
   2. Goals
   3. Desires
   4. Frustrations
   5. Fears
   6. Etc
   7. Exercise 1: Memories – Go back year by year and describe something you “felt” – maybe 1 or 2 things, both positive and negative – about earlier years of your life
   8. Exercise 2: Share with your spouse something they do not know about you

6. HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT
   1. What needs to get done
   2. Chores
7. CHILDREN
   1. Recap of last week about each child
   2. Needs
   3. Scriptures that will apply to their lives at this moment in time
8. PLAN FOR FAMILY DEVOTIONALS
   1. What do we need to work on as a family?
   2. Plan the theme of the devotionals out for the month, if possible
   3. Memory Scripture for the week
9. SPECIAL TIMES WITH KIDS
   1. When and what each will do with the kids this week
10. D-TIMES W/BT / MINISTRY
    1. Who do need to meet with and when
    2. What are the needs and consider a plan for each
11. FINANCES
    1. Are we living within our means and saving?
12. PRAYER
    1. Each other
    2. Kids
    3. Ministry
    4. Others