Friends, Partners, and Lovers: What It Takes to Make Your Marriage Work

by Kevin A. Thompson

Overview

Great marriages don't just happen—they're made, intentionally, day by day. Yet most of us enter the covenant of marriage thinking that the role of spouse will be easy, natural, effortless. Rarely is this true. In fact, the number one cause of divorce isn't adultery or finances or disagreements. It's apathy—a lack of intentional emotional, physical, and mental investment in the relationship.

With engaging stories and clear, simple language, pastor Kevin A. Thompson explains the three critical roles of a spouse—friend, partner, and lover—and shows how to nurture those roles in order to keep a marriage healthy and strong. Using solid biblical principles, he helps couples understand how to grow their friendship, be a supportive partner through the good times and the bad, and develop a healthy and satisfying sex life.

Friends, Partners, and Lovers offers essential insight for couples at any stage of marriage but will be especially helpful to those who are struggling and those who are engaged or newly married and looking to start their marriage on strong footing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800728113
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/02/2017
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,204,995
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Kevin A. Thompson (MDiv, Beeson Divinity School) is lead pastor at Community Bible Church, a growing multi-site church with four locations in western Arkansas. Every year he meets with nearly one hundred couples with a range of needs, from pre-marital counseling to navigating the most serious betrayals. A marriage and parenting conference speaker, he and his wife, Jenny, have two children and live in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He blogs at www.kevinathompson.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 9

1 The Number One Cause of Divorce 11

2 People Stay in Love in Predictable Ways 27

Part 1 Friend

3 No Wonder You Don't Love Each Other 41

4 The Most Overlooked Characteristic of Marriage 53

5 Give Thanks and Play 65

6 My Best Friend, Not My Only Friend 79

Part 2 Partner

7 Marry a Partner, Not a Child 95

8 How I Predict Divorce Based on the Wedding Cake 109

9 Why Nobel Peace Prize Winners Get Divorced 123

10 How to Make Her Dreams Come True 137

Part 3 Lover

11 The Appeal of Easy Sex 153

12 Three Types of Married Sex 165

13 How to Have Great Sex 177

14 The Twenty-Four-Hour Rule (and Other Solutions to Common Sex Problems) 189

Conclusion: How to Save Your Marriage 201

Afterword 213