More than Roommates

Latest Episodes:

Episode 62 - Your Marriage and the Unhurried Life (feat. Chris Schultz) Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of More Than Roommates, we talk with marriage pastor Chris Schultz about the unhurried life. Chris shares his marriage testimony (which includes $100,000 debt, infidelity, porn, and much more), and we discuss how you and your spouse can make decisions to live the unhurried life.

Questions to Discuss:

1. How’s our pace of life and the pace of our marriage?

2. Do we have the courage to say “no” to the wrong things so that we can say “yes” to the right ones?

3. What’s one step you can take to eliminate hurry?

Resources:

Follow Chris Schultz on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pastorcoachschultz/

Book – An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest, by Alan Fadling

Episode 61 - Trust: How to Build It and Restore It Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Building trust is hard work that takes a lot of time and hard work. It’s often been said trust is built in drops and lost in buckets. Yet trust is so crucial in every relationship, especially in marriage. In this episode of More Than Roommates, we discuss how to build and restore trust in your marriage.

Scriptures:

Matthew 5:37

Proverbs 28:13

Romans 8:1

1 Corinthians 13:6

Questions to Discuss:

Are you quick or slow to confess when you sin or mess up in marriage?

What are a few ways you can quickly build trust in your marriage?

How can you do a better job of looking for ways where your spouse is trustworthy?

Resources:

Book - Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken, by Dr. Henry Cloud

Book – Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make, by Paul David Tripp (2 great chapters on trust)

Episode 60 - What Does Healthy Commitment Look Like in Marriage? Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Many couples have a poor picture of the commitment required to thrive in marriage. In this episode of More Than Roommates, we discuss two types of commitment and why they’re both required to thrive in your marriage.

Scriptures:

Matthew 19:3-6

Matthew 5:37

Ephesians 5:22-33

Acts 20:24

Phil 3:14

John 15:13

Phil 1:6

Questions to discuss:

What does it mean that God is a Covenant keeping God and how does that affect the way you live out your marriage?

What’s the difference between constraint commitment and dedication commitment?

What does it mean to cast aside all other options and to be fully commited to your spouse?

Resources:

Book – A Lasting Promise: The Christian Guide to Fighting for Your Marriage, by Scott Stanley, et al

Episode 59 - Common Characteristics of Couples Who Do Well Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

While every marriage is different, there tend to be some common characteristics of couples who thrive. In this episode, we discuss four common characteristics of married couples who thrive in marriage.

Scripture:

John 15:5

James 4:1

1 Timothy 1:15

Proverbs 13:20

Hebrews 10:24-25

Matthew 7:3-5

Matthew 19:6

Matthew 5:37

Questions to Discuss:

1. Input - How have you fed your soul this week? What are you learning in the Word?

2. Output - How are you feeding others? Have you shared the gospel, served others, etc…?

3. Confession - How have you fed your flesh? What do you need to confess?

4. Of the four common characteristics shared, which one is a strength in your marriage? Which do you need to most improve in?

Episode 58 - How to Thrive as a Blended Family (feat. Ron Deal) Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

Approximately one-third of all weddings in America today form stepfamilies and many couples are either currently part of a stepfamily or grew up in a stepfamily. And even if you didn’t, chances are extremely high that you know some stepfamilies. In this episode, we interview Blended Family speaker, author, and podcaster, Ron Deal. We hope this episode helps your marriage and family and that you’ll share it with a friend!

Questions to Discuss:

Have you ever given any consideration to the unique challenges and opportunities of stepfamilies?

What did you learn that was new to you about blended/step families?

How does pride affect you and your marriage?

Take a few moments to pray for your family and for any stepfamilies you know.

Resources:

Book - The Smart Stepfamily, by Ron Deal

Website - Family Life Blended – Strengthening Stepfamilies

Website – SmartStepfamilies.com

Podcast – FamilyLife Blended

Episode 57 - What To Do When You’re Stuck Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Every couple knows what it’s like to be stuck in a decision. What do you and your spouse do when you’re stuck and can’t move forward? In this episode of More Than Roommates, we discuss some steps you can take to get unstuck in your marriage.

Scriptures:

Genesis 2:24

PR 18:1-2

James 1:19-20

PR 15:1

Colossians 4:6

2 Tim 3:16-17

1 Thess 5:16-18

James 1:5

PR 16:9

PR 13:20

Isa 26:3

Resources:

More Than Roommates, Episode 22 – What Questions Can Help You Make Decisions in Marriage?

Sermon from Harris Creek from Jonathan “JP” Pokluda – Questions to Ask When Making Decisions

Questions to Discuss:

1. What steps do you take when you and your spouse are stuck (in a decision, spiritually, in your marriage, etc…)?

2. When’s the last time you and your spouse prayed about a decision you needed to make?

3. What’s a decision you’re trying to make right now? How can you apply when you learned in this episode to the decision you’re trying to make?

Episode 56 - What to do When You're Spiritually Mismatched Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

What do you do when you and your spouse are in a spiritual mismatch, where one spouse is more spiritually mature than the other? In this episode we discuss what to do and how you can best grow your relationship and encourage your spouse. Share this one with a friend who needs some encouragement.

Questions to Discuss:

How can you specifically pray for your spouse if you’re more mature than they are?

Honestly ask yourself if you nag your spouse. How can you more gently encourage them or ask others to help?

Are you being patient with yourself? Your spouse?

Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 6:14

1 Peter 3:1-2

Romans 12:10

Colossians 3:12-14

Galatians 5:22-23

1 Corinthians 7:15

1 Thessalonians 5:14

Luke 18:1-8

Galatians 6:9

Shownotes:

Podcast - Questions Couples Ask Before Marriage (feat. Nate Hilgenkamp)

Blog Post - What If You Want to Pursue the Lord But Your Spouse Does Not?

Book – Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God, by Gary Thomas

Episode 55 - Is Technology Good or Bad For Your Marriage? (Part 2 in a 2-Part Series) Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of More Than Roommates, we discuss how technology can positively and negatively impact your marriage. There are plenty of dangers and benefits of technology, and we need to think through how technology can grow our marriage and not hurt them.

Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 6:12

1 Corinthians 10:13

Ephesians 5:15-16

Matthew 5:27-30

Philippians 2:3-4

Mark 1:35

Questions to Discuss:

How does technology impact your marriage in a positive way?

How does technology impact your marriage in a negative way?

What limits/rules/practices do you have around technology? Do you have screen-time limits? Are there any areas in your home that are device-free?

Resources:

The Tech-Wise Family, by Andy Crouch

Made For People, by Justin Whitmel Earley (Justin has a great chapter on technology in this book)

Technology and Your Marriage (Part 1 in a 2-Part Series)

Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness, by Gavin Ortlund

Episode 54 - Technology and Your Marriage (Part 1 in a 2-Part Series) Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Technology can be both a blessing and a curse. In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss ways to grow in oneness in your marriage when it comes to phones and technology.

Scriptures:

Genesis 2:24-25

PR 28:13

Romans 13:14

Psalm 139:23-24

Galatians 5:1

Questions to Discuss:

1. Is there anything technology-related that’s off-limits to your spouse? Are there any legitimate reasons why your spouse doesn’t have access to your phone/iPad, social media accounts, texts… ?

2. What’s one intentional step you can take to grow in oneness when it comes to technology?

3. Pray Psalm 139:23-24 together, asking God to reveal any offensive ways within you.

Resources:

The Tech-Wise Family, by Andy Crouch

Made For People, by Justin Whitmel Earley (Justin has a great chapter on technology in this book)

Episode 53 - Friends, Partners, and Lovers in Marriage (feat. Kevin Thompson) Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Scott interviews marriage pastor and author Kevin Thompson about three roles we are each created to play in marriage. We talk about what marriage was intended to look like before the fall and the three roles we get to play in marriage today (and what happens when we don't live as friends, partners, and lovers).

Scriptures:

Genesis 2:18-25

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Resources:

Book - Friends, Partners, and Lovers by Kevin Thompson

Book – Stay in Your Lane by Kevin Thompson

Kevin’s Website – Changetheodds.com

Find Kevin on Instagram

Questions to Discuss:

How are you doing in your friendship in marriage?

How are you doing in your partnership in marriage?

How are you doing in your role as lover in marriage?