BG.T03-LTP — Learning and Transformation Plan: Spiritual Guidelines for Choosing and Becoming Marriage Material

Preparing for the Journey Ahead

Spiritual Guidelines for Choosing and Becoming Marriage Material explores five important areas that influence both the ability to become marriage material and the ability to recognise marriage material in another person:

• Spiritual Alignment
• Purpose, Direction and Vision
• Commitment
• Purity and Self-Control
• Boundaries

As you begin this Guide, take time to reflect on your current position, identify the areas that require attention and establish clear goals for growth and transformation.

Part A: Why Am I Reading Spiritual Guidelines for Choosing and Becoming Marriage Material?

1. What prompted you to begin reading this Guide?

☐ Preparing for marriage

☐ Strengthening my current marriage

☐ Recovering from a difficult relationship experience

☐ Seeking personal spiritual growth

☐ Ministry, mentoring or counselling responsibilities

☐ Helping another person

☐ Other:

2. What questions would you like this Guide to help you answer regarding how to choose a marriage partner?

3. What questions would you like this Guide to help you answer regarding how to become marriage material?

4. Which of the following areas deserves the greatest attention in your life at present?

☒ Spiritual Alignment

☒ Purpose, Direction and Vision

☒ Commitment

☒ Purity and Self-Control

☒ Boundaries

5. Why did you choose that area?

Part B: My Starting Point

6. Which of the following areas is currently your strongest?

☒ Spiritual Alignment

☒ Purpose, Direction and Vision

☒ Commitment

☒ Purity and Self-Control

☒ Boundaries

7. What makes you regard that area as your strongest?

8. Which of the following areas requires the greatest improvement in your life at present?

☒ Spiritual Alignment

☒ Purpose, Direction and Vision

☒ Commitment

☒ Purity and Self-Control

☒ Boundaries

9. What makes you regard that area as requiring the greatest improvement?

10. Which past relationship experience has shaped your views about marriage most strongly?

11. What lessons from that experience continue to influence the way you think about marriage today?

Part C: My Learning Priorities

Rank the following topics in order of priority.

12. Why is that topic your highest priority at present?

13. Which topic do you think will require the greatest adjustment in your attitudes, beliefs or behaviour?

14. Why did you choose that topic?

Part D: My Spiritual Alignment Goals

15. Which aspect of your relationship with God requires the greatest attention at present?

16. Which spiritual discipline do you need to practise more consistently?

☐ Prayer

☐ Bible Reading

☐ Meditation on God's Word

☐ Worship

☐ Fasting

☐ Fellowship with Other Believers

☐ Other:

17. How would strengthening your spiritual alignment strengthen your current or future marriage relationship?

Part E: My Purpose, Direction and Vision Goals

18. Which aspect of your purpose, direction or vision requires greater clarity?

19. What currently hinders you from pursuing your purpose, direction and vision more fully?

20. How would greater clarity regarding your purpose, direction and vision strengthen your current or future marriage relationship?

Part F: My Commitment Goals

21. Which aspect of commitment requires the greatest attention in your life?

22. In what situations do you find it most difficult to remain faithful to a commitment?

23. How would strengthening your commitment improve your current or future marriage relationship?

Part G: My Purity and Self-Control Goals

24. Which aspect of purity and self-control requires the greatest attention in your life?

25. What situations, influences or habits place the greatest pressure on your purity and self-control?

26. How would strengthening your purity and self-control improve your current or future marriage relationship?

Part H: My Boundaries Goals

27. Which aspect of boundaries requires the greatest attention in your life?

28. In which situations do you find it most difficult to maintain healthy boundaries?

29. How would strengthening your boundaries improve your current or future marriage relationship?

Part I: Putting Learning into Practice

30. What will you do to ensure that you apply what you learn rather than simply reading it?

☐ Complete all Reflection Scorecards

☐ Complete all Evaluation Scorecards

☐ Complete all Self-Assessments

☐ Complete all Action Plans

☐ Keep a learning journal

☐ Discuss lessons with someone

☐ Review lessons regularly

☐ Other:

31. What has prevented you from consistently applying lessons learned from previous books, sermons, courses or training programmes?

32. What will you do differently during your study of this Guide?

Part J: Accountability and Support

33. Who can encourage and support you as you work on Spiritual Alignment, Purpose, Direction and Vision, Commitment, Purity and Self-Control, and Boundaries?

34. How do you intend to monitor your progress throughout this Guide?

☐ Reflection tools

☐ Self-Assessments

☐ Action Plans

☐ Personal journal

☐ Accountability partner

☐ Regular self-review

☐ Other:

35. How often do you intend to review your progress?

☐ Weekly

☐ Monthly

☐ After each chapter

☐ Midway through the Guide

☐ At the end of the Guide

My Transformation Commitments

Commitment 1

I commit to:

Commitment 2

I commit to:

Commitment 3

I commit to:

My Vision for the Future

36. Which of the following topics requires the greatest improvement in your life at present?

☒ Spiritual Alignment

☒ Purpose, Direction and Vision

☒ Commitment

☒ Purity and Self-Control

☒ Boundaries

37. If you faithfully apply the lessons from this Guide, what would you like your spouse, family members or close friends to notice about you three years from now?

38. Complete the statement below.

By the end of my study of Spiritual Guidelines for Choosing and Becoming Marriage Material, I hope to become a person who:

My Personal Declaration

39. Complete the declaration below.

I recognise that strong marriages are built on strong spiritual qualities. As I study Spiritual Guidelines for Choosing and Becoming Marriage Material, I commit myself to strengthening my spiritual alignment with God, clarifying my purpose, direction and vision, deepening my commitment, exercising purity and self-control, and establishing healthy boundaries. By God's grace, I will apply what I learn and continue growing as marriage material.