Series: Truly, Madly, Deeply
Title: Mad but Staying
Text: Song 5:2-6:3

It is normal for a relationship to experience conflicts and difficulties. How then can we navigate through these conflicts and stay in the relationship biblically despite conflicts and difficulties?

General Questions:

1. Conflicts are bound to arise in any relationship, and especially so in a marriage, where two people come together and share their lives closely and intimately with one another. For married and courting couples, what are some things or issues that trigger conflict in your relationship? How do you usually deal with these conflicts? What can you learn from the practical ways to handle conflict from the sermon?
2. For singles, we will encounter conflict in other relationships with our family and friends. How do you usually respond when you encounter conflict in these relationships? What can you learn from the practical ways to handle conflict from the sermon?

Perspective Questions:

1. Do you agree that community is important to support us in our relationship? Do you have such a support system? If not, what are ways that you can build the support system? Conversely, how do you think you can be open and guided by the Holy Spirit to speak into the lives of others, as part of God’s community?
2. Divorce rates are on the rise, and irreconcilable differences arising from inability to resolve conflicts and differences are often cited as reasons for divorce. What do you think are some reasons that couples find it hard to stay in a marriage? How do you think we can practically apply biblical values such as love, forgiveness, and thankfulness and in our relationship? What are the values that you hold on to that help you tide through challenging times in your marriage?

Application Questions:

1. For married couples, how is the level of intimacy (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) in your relationship? Have past unresolved conflicts driven a wedge in your marriage? From this teaching, what do you think you can do to restore the intimacy in your marriage?
2. For courting couples and singles, what are the practical tips and values from this teaching that you can apply in your relationships and consider if you are ready for the commitment of marriage?