AVENEW Workbook (preview w/ session 1)

AV E N E W WORKBOOK

© 2018 Christ Chapel Bible Church Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible.

ESV – English Standard Version ©by Crossway, Good News Publishers NIV – New International Version © 1984 International Bible Society NIV – New International Version © 2001 by Biblica, Inc.® NASB – New American Standard Bible © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation HCSB – Holman Christian Standard Bible © 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers NLT – New Living Translation © 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation

Published by Christ Chapel Bible Church 3701 Birchman Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107 www.ccbcfamily.org | 817-731-4329

AV E N E W WORKBO OK

WHY IT ’ S C ALLED AVENEW

The original spelling, avenue (ˈavəˌn(y)o͞ o), yields a couple of definitions: 1. A road or path, especially one that leads to a house 2. A way of approaching a problem or making progress toward something We say “get on the same path” because we want you to walk together, at the same pace, in the same direction. Otherwise, you’ll find yourselves in different places years down the road. We also want to give you tools for approaching situations together and working on your home, biblically. That’s a different avenue of thinking than you’ll get from anywhere else! Plus, you’re on a new path in life. So we tweaked the spelling a bit to reflect the time of your life where you’re joining two paths together into one NEW path. Welcome to AVENEW!

WHAT TO EXPEC T When you arrive at AVENEW, there are a few things you can expect: a welcoming community, genuine stories, great teaching by different couples every week, plenty of interaction and a purposeful challenge that you can take home and apply each week. Here’s what that looks like:

Gather (about 10 minutes) Listen to a video lesson from a teaching couple (25 to 30 minutes) P Talk about the lesson (about 25 minutes) P Wrap-up with your hosts (about 10 minutes) P Take-Home Challenge (something to talk about or do before the next meeting) P P

COACHE S Your AVENEW gathering should be equipped with an older couple we fondly refer to as “Coaches.” These are the awesome individuals we’ve selected to encourage and facilitate group discussion. Our hope is that you reach out to them as needed during — or even after — this series. They’d love to talk with you one-on-one or two-on-two during the week! They have big hearts so expect to hear from them each week as they remind you to come or touch base with you about how they can pray for and encourage you in your walk.

WHERE WE’RE GOING 01 // INTRO DU C TI O N

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02 // PU RP O S E

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Welcome to AVENEW

A lesson on God’s purpose for creating marriage

03 // COV E N A NT V. CO NTR AC T A study on covenant marriage

04 // COMPATIB ILIT Y

A study on how to thrive no matter how alike or dissimilar you are

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07 // E MOTI O N A L INTIM AC Y

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08 // RE CO N CILI ATI O N

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A study on biblical restoration through repentance, confession and forgiveness

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11 // S E X

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12 // FRIE NDS HIP S & FA MILIE S

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IND E X

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A study on the new dynamic between you, your family and your friend groups

06 // IN V I S IB LE BAT TLE S

A study on trust, communication and vulnerability

10 // MO NE Y

A study on physical intimacy in marriage

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A study on the impacts of the unseen spiritual world on our relationship

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A study on what to do with power, control and biblical roles within the home

A study on honoring the Lord and your spouse with choices related to finances

05 // CO NFLI C T

A study on how to have healthy conflict

09 // P OWE R

SESSION 1

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W E LC O M E TO AV E N E W

TE ACHERS: BEN & DANIELLE FUQUA M A I N G OA L F OR T ODAY: To get acquainted with your group, learn about biblical community, begin to explore your mission in marriage and hear stories from your leaders

This ministry exists to equip seriously dating, engaged and married couples for life together and for God’s mission in marriage. Get some “tools” in your “toolbelt!”

We are not designed to do life alone. Step into community the way God designed it. You are going to get out of this what you put into it. So go all in!

BI BL IC A L COM M U N I T Y DE F I N E D :

A gathering of people who are in need; vulnerable and honest about their imperfections. … God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

– 1 John 1:5b-8

AVENE W | SESSION 1

INTRODUCTION

SESSION 1 | AVENE W

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Marriage is really about my ________________________ , or my _____________________ . It’s about making me look more and more like _________________ .

Marriage is also about being on ___________________ together.

P It unites us.

P It helps us remember that our lives are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

P It underscores the purpose of marriage (see Session 2).

GET TING PRACTICAL IN BIBLICAL COMMUNIT Y

In order to set this group up for success over the next 11 sessions together, we want you to get to know the Coach Couple that you will be walking with. They’re going to share their story as well as begin a discussion based on the video content you just heard.

S T O R Y T I M E : Take about 15 minutes to listen to your Coach Couple’s story.

G R O U P D I S C U S S I O N : Take about 25 minutes to discuss what you just heard with your group. Your Coaches will have some questions to get things started.

QUESTIONS?

Jot down questions you have about today’s topic or discussion that you want to bring up with your Coach or Host.

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to think or talk about before the next session. We hope this exercise is productive and draws you closer together!

Remember that marriage is about being on mission together. A mission helps unite us, reminds us that our lives are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and underscores the purpose of marriage. Your challenge this week is to develop a mission statement for your relationship! Take some time together and write that statement below.

Based on your mission statement, take some time separately to think about where you see yourself and your relationship in the next few years. Then come together and talk about it.

GOAL(S): THIS YE AR

NEX T 3 YE ARS

NEX T 7 YE ARS

TA L K A B O U T I T : Where are your goals aligned and where are they different?

What did you learn about each other? How will you adapt?

AVENE W | SESSION 1

C H A L L E N G E : Below are some things we want you and your significant other

GE T ON THE SA ME PATH! Whether you’re married, engaged, or almost there — we believe when you each turn toward God, the ride together only gets sweeter! Spend twelve weeks in community where genuine stories are met with great teaching, plenty of interaction and a purposeful challenge that you can take home and apply each week. AVENEW is a great place to discover God’s mission for your relationship and learn practical ways to love and honor your significant other.

This program is designed to get you and your significant other on the same path in your relationship. We’ve identified twelve major areas of life that collide when two imperfect people become one, and we believe that when you identify and discuss these in the context of biblical community, you’ll be ready to face the highs and lows together!

Find an AVENEW that’s right for you at www.avenewcouples.com.