I have been spending time reading about what makes a great marriage lately. Not only am I doing “pre-marriage mentoring” for 4 couples at the moment, but it seems I am running into more and more people who share with me challenges they are facing in their marriages. Kristin and I continue to have to be diligent about prioritizing our own marriage amidst seeking to raise 4 kids, lead a growing church, teach honors physics, and manage all the other areas of our lives. As I constantly have been taught and continue to learn, great marriages take WORK. But as David Wilcox says, “It’s good work if you can get it.”

Here are some great resources I would recommend to any couple seeking to invest in their marriage, perhaps get out of a marriage rut, learn to communicate better, or ignite romance and joy. I would also recommend daily prayer (alone and together) and perhaps a good marriage counselor to help understand how to navigate specific marriage challenges. I also learned from John and Susan Yates the value of attending a Family Life Weekend every couple of years. Conference information can be found at  www.familylife.com .

         Great Marriage Resources:

                  The Meaning of Marriage  Tim and Kathy Keller

                  Real Marriage   Mark and Grace Driscoll

                  Love and Respect   Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

       Books on Intimacy, Sex, and Romance

                  Sheet Music  Dr. Kevin Leman

                  Under the Sheets Dr. Kevin Leman

                  Sex and the Soul of a Woman – Paula Rhinehart  

Epiphany is the season we celebrate the good news that God’s invitation into His family is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. Just as Israel was called by God to Be His people because of His grace (Ezekiel 16) and to share that grace with the world (Isaiah 60), so Gentiles have now been invited to become sons and daughters of God by grace through faith and to share His grace with the world.

The faith of God’s people in the Old Testament culminates in God’s gracious provision of His Son Jesus Christ as the perfect Passover lamb sacrificed for the sins of the world. By faith in his life, death and Resurrection, Jesus offers to anyone reconciliation with God and a place at God’s family table as an unconditionally loved son or daughter.

This is amazing news! Grace – for everyone – available now – free of charge with daily and eternal benefits!

Can you see why Epiphany is actually quite a controversial season for a pluralistic society such as ours? What do you mean God offers everyone regardless of moral record or ethnic background the same opportunity to receive grace and enter His family (Acts 2: 39)? What do you mean receiving grace by faith is the only way to stand before a holy God “without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22)?

I want to invite you to church over the next 7 weeks as we explore the power of the gospel for the whole world. During the sermon we will be looking at the book of Acts and Paul’s remarkable church planting run in religiously diverse city after city. I am praying it will be an exciting Epiphany series as we look afresh at the power of the gospel to change the whole world one individual at a time.