The Fierce Marriage Podcast

In this episode, Ryan and Selena discuss Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages. In their discussion they explore whether or not they are biblical, and how they can help/hinder your marriage in the different seasons you’re in (pre-kids, littles, etc.). After recently taking the quiz online (go to http://5LoveLanguages.com to take the quiz yourself), both were surprised by their results this time around versus when they were younger and without kids. Note: we weren't' paid in any way to talk about this book, it's just a great conversation piece that has helped us a ton. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome feedback... simply go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to leave a comment or to ask a question! Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage).

Sex is an incredible gift, but missed expectations can cause hurt and frustration. What if you could clearly know what to expect, when sex would happen, and why it's worth prioritizing, even when you're tired? In this week's episode, Ryan and Selena introduce the idea of establishing a "Spectrum of Sex" in your marriage, as a means of gaining unity around the 'rhythms' (pun kind of intended) of your sex life. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome feedback... simply go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to leave a comment or to ask a question! Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage).

In this episode, Ryan and Selena discuss how our earthly marriage is simply a shadow to our eternal marriage with Christ, and the implications of living too focused on the happiness level of our marriage rather than the One we were created for can have ... As marriage ministers, it’s important for us to continually point people to Christ and commission marriages for the gospel (the mission of FM)—part of this means asking and discussing the hard question of: Are we surrendering ourselves/our marriage to God’s Kingdom? Or have we reduced Christianity to a mere means to our end: a happy life, and therefore, a happy marriage? Secondly, are we serving God’s kingdom together and “Strengthening the brethren?” (Isaiah 12:4) In other words, are to proclaim to others God’s mighty works and his character. Listen along for more! Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome feedback... simply go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to leave a comment or to ask a question! Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage).

There is a lot of godly information and instruction around this area of friendship with the opposite sex and whether or not it is something that can happen or should happen. In this episode, Ryan and Selena will discuss this controversial topic while sharing their own experiences and biblical understanding of how we “can have the wisdom to know and enjoy the blessing of friendship in a way that honors both our marriage and our brothers and sisters in Christ—while ultimately bringing glory to him.” Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome feedback... simply go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to leave a comment or to ask a question! Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage).

Marriage is trending downward while cohabitation trends upward, but the facts say that's a bad thing. It's important to understand why cohabitation is bad from both a biblical perspective as well as a sociological perspective. In this episode, we'll dive deep into the reasons why couples cohabitate and practical ways to combat this harmful trend in culture. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome feedback... simply go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to leave a comment or to ask a question! Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage).

You're probably using your smartphone to listen to this. Your phone is a great tool! But it can also create problems in life and marriage. (Side note: This episode marks 1 FULL YEAR of the Fierce Marriage Podcast! Thanks for listening!) Anyways... A few diagnostic questions: Do you check your phone first thing in the morning? Do you spend many of your idle moments checking it compulsively? What is the longest stretch you've gone in the past year without checking your phone? In today's episode, we'll continue our conversation we started about 12 episodes ago (whoops!). Note, we weren't paid to do this, we're just VERY convicted about this subject and the below book is gospel-centered, relevant, and challenging. Resource: "12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You" by Tony Reinke Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome feedback... simply go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to leave a comment or to ask a question! Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage).

Peace is one of those things you don't realize is there until it's gone, then that's when you're most desperate to regain it. Jesus promised to give otherworldly peace to believers through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So, what should we do when we don't feel peace? In this episode, we'll discuss what true peace looks like and where it's found. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

Healthy boundaries will protect you from overextending yourself in life. They will also protect the health of your marriage when they're clearly defined. Every season of frustration in our own marriage ("season" = many months) can usually be traced back to some issue with boundaries. Usually, I'm overworking, or we're making poor decisions in areas where we haven't clearly defined our "walls". In this episode, we'll explore three specific ways you can create healthy boundaries in your marriage. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

You asked, we answered. This episode includes * What do you do when you no longer have feelings for or care about your spouse? * What is your stand on toys or items used while having sex or used to help pleasure before sex? * When did you guys know you were ready to have kids? * What’s something that may have annoyed you about the other that you now do? * How do you love a husband that is full of pride? * Ideas for spouses when one is a night owl and the other is an early bird? * How to be brave with intimacy when kids are asleep? * How do you deal with in-laws that are very close to you but don’t respect your lifestyle and/or space? * As a wife, how to respond to a husband who admits porn addiction? * What's the best resource specifically for affair recovery and reconciliation in marriage? Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

Appreciation is one of the most powerful ways to foster love and generosity in your marriage. In today's episode, Ryan and Selena explore ways to cultivate appreciation and grow closer in the process. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

As a follow up to what Selena shared last week, this episode explores Ryan's family of origin and its impact in their marriage. Your family of origin, generally speaking, refers to where you came from. Where you came from determines where you're going, especially when referring to your marriage. Focus on the Family article mentioned: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/what-is-a-family-of-origin Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

Your family of origin, generally speaking, refers to where you came from. Where you came from determines where you're going, especially when referring to your marriage. In today's episode, Selena shares her story after we briefly discuss what "Family of Origin" is and why it's important. Focus on the Family article mentioned: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/what-is-a-family-of-origin Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

Pride is the sense that we can get what we want, deserve, or need on our own. Pride is at the root of every sin, conflict, and deviation from God's Word. In contrast, humility means being Christ-centered more than being me-centered. In today's episode, we'll read God's Word and explore how to diagnose areas of pride in marriage. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

In this bonus episode, Ryan and Selena answer questions from readers around the world via Facebook and Instagram LIVE! It's uncut, unedited, and unfiltered... for better or worse (a little like marriage). We hope you enjoy it and find it helpful! Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.

Fighting is inevitable in marriage. The key is learning the arts of fighting well and recovering in healthy ways. In today's episode, we'll share a few of our worst fights and explore biblical ways forward that every couple can apply. Thanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. As always, we welcome questions and feedback! Go to FierceMarriage.com/Podcast (FierceMarriage.com/Podcast) to explore the options there. Support for the Fierce Marriage Podcast comes from partners like you via our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/fiercemarriage). If we've helped you, we'd be honored to have your partnership.