This Bible study explores the concept that understanding and practicing biblical stewardship as a way of life gives joy and longevity to a marriage. It will lead couples to discover how to be good managers of the time, talents, finances, possessions and people that God has uniquely provided for them. This the eighth study in the marriage series.

God's Blueprint Offers Joy and Longevity--To All Marriages Countless surveys cite financial discord as a main reason for divorce, but this does not have to be! In The Abundant Marriage, you will discover God's design for marriage as laid out in Genesis, learn to communicate with your spouse about the need for more time and money, find out how to be a better steward of your relationship with your spouse and others, and uncover your gifts and how to better serve your marriage with them. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit Learn to live the abundant married life . . . as God intended. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That's what Focus on the Family's Marriage Series is all about. Whether you're in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family's Marriage Series examines God's gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

How do we find contentment in God when we feel so hidden? Sara Hagerty unfolds the truths found in the biblical story of Mary of Bethany to discover the scandalous love of God and explore the spiritual richness of being hidden in him. Every heart longs to be seen and understood. Yet most of our lives is unwitnessed. We spend our days working, driving, parenting. We sometimes spend whole seasons feeling unnoticed and unappreciated. In Unseen, Sara Hagerty suggests that this is exactly what God intended. He is the only One who truly knows us. He is the only One who understands the value of the unseen in our lives. When this truth seeps into our souls, we realize that only when we hide ourselves in God can we give ourselves to others in true freedom--and know the joy of a deeper relationship with the God who sees us. Our culture applauds what we can produce, what we can show, what we can upload to social media. Only when we give all of ourselves to God--unedited, abandoned, apparently wasteful in its lack of productivity--can we live out who God created us to be. As Hagerty writes, "Maybe my seemingly unproductive, looking-up-at-Him life produces awe among the angels." Through an eloquent exploration of both personal and biblical story, Hagerty calls us to offer every unseen minute of our lives to God. God is in the secret places of our lives that no one else witnesses. But we've not been relegated to these places. We've been invited. We may be "wasting" ourselves in a hidden corner today: The cubicle on the fourth floor. The hospital bedside of an elderly parent. The laundry room. But these are the places God uses to meet us with a radical love. These are the places that produce the kind of unhinged love in us that gives everything at His feet, whether or not anyone else ever proclaims our name, whether or not anyone else ever sees. God's invitation is not just for a season or a day. It is the question of our lives: "When no one else applauds you, when it makes no sense, when you see no results--will you waste your love on Me?"

Is Your Marriage as Dynamic and Exciting as it Could Be? Remember how you felt on your wedding day? As newlyweds? God wants your life together to become more exciting as time goes on. In The Surprising Marriage, discover the joys of a faith journey together, learn how to pass on to your children the legacy of a Christ-centered marriage, find ways to celebrate your differences--rather than fighting against each other, and realize how a marriage filled with life and love reflects God's glory. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit Your marriage was designed to flourish as it ages. As you seek God's will together, you will find that you can have a relationship . . . filled with life! "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That's what Focus on the Family's Marriage Series is all about. Whether you're in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family's Marriage Series examines God's gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Even When the Fairytale Takes an Unexpected Turn, There Is Hope Marriage isn't always what we expect, but the beautiful thing is--it can be what God intended. In The Giving Marriage, learn how to discuss the deep ramifications of adultery and how to deal with them, find ways to demonstrate the love of Christ to an unbelieving or spiritually rebellious spouse, discover the joy in serving a suffering spouse, and delve into the lives of scriptural heroes who obeyed God when it wasn't comfortable or easy. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit As you study the cornerstones of a godly marriage--caring, sharing, and forgiving--you will learn that you can find hope again. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That's what Focus on the Family's Marriage Series is all about. Whether you're in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family's Marriage Series examines God's gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

In a Christ-Centered Marriage, True Passion Can Thrive Sparks of passion can lead to marriage, but what happens when life throws sand on the embers? Is there a secret to maintaining passion through the decades? In The Passionate Marriage, understand what biblical married love should be, learn why total intimacy was especially designed for marriage, find out how infidelity can begin in seemingly harmless ways, and discover why God's deep love for His people is often referred to as the divine romance. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit With Christ at the center of your union, you can have a thriving, passionate relationship long into the future. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That's what Focus on the Family's Marriage Series is all about. Whether you're in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family's Marriage Series examines God's gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

“After years of debate and inquiry, the key to a great marriage remained shrouded in mystery. Until now...”—Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Eli J. Finkel's insightful and ground-breaking investigation of marriage clearly shows that the best marriages today are better than the best marriages of earlier eras. Indeed, they are the best marriages the world has ever known. He presents his findings here for the first time in this lucid, inspiring guide to modern marital bliss. The All-or-Nothing Marriage reverse engineers fulfilling marriages—from the “traditional” to the utterly nontraditional—and shows how any marriage can be better. The primary function of marriage from 1620 to 1850 was food, shelter, and protection from violence; from 1850 to 1965, the purpose revolved around love and companionship. But today, a new kind of marriage has emerged, one oriented toward self-discover, self-esteem, and personal growth. Finkel combines cutting-edge scientific research with practical advice; he considers paths to better communication and responsiveness; he offers guidance on when to recalibrate our expectations; and he even introduces a set of must-try “lovehacks.” This is a book for the newlywed to the empty nester, for those thinking about getting married or remarried, and for anyone looking for illuminating advice that will make a real difference to getting the most out of marriage today.