From a Calling to a Culture: Marriage Discipleship at New Zion

What do you do when your spouse makes a foolish decision?In 1 Samuel 25, Abigail finds herself married to Nabal, a harsh and difficult man whose actions put their entire household in danger. Rather than reacting in anger or simply standing by, Abigail responds with remarkable wisdom, courage, and discernment.In this episode, we look at how Abigail navigated a difficult marriage, honored the marriage relationship, and took wise action when her husband would not. Her story reminds us that biblical submission does not mean abandoning wisdom or discernment—it means learning how to honor God even when marriage gets complicated.Join us as we unpack practical lessons from Abigail and Nabal for marriages today.

Every marriage will face difficult seasons. Job and his wife experienced unimaginable loss and suffering, yet their story reminds us that trials are a reality of life in a broken world.In this episode, we look at their story and what Scripture teaches us about walking through our own trials—turning toward God, turning toward each other, and carrying the burden together.Don’t just go through the trial together—grow through it together.

What does it actually look like to live on mission as a married couple? It may be simpler than you think.In this episode, we talk about practical ways you and your spouse can live out God’s purpose for your marriage—from praying together and opening your home through hospitality to intentionally walking alongside another couple.But being on mission doesn’t start outside your home. Your first audience is your family. Before we focus on impacting others, we want to make sure the faith, love, and grace we share publicly are being lived out privately.You don’t need a platform to have a marriage on mission. Start at home. Start together. Start where you are.

In this episode, we sit down with the Washingtons from New Zion Church to hear how their passion for marriage ministry became a growing marriage discipleship culture in their church.Through their partnership with Christian Family Life, they were trained, equipped, and resourced to launch marriage discipleship at New Zion. With the support of church leadership, they are now investing in couples and helping marriages grow stronger in Christ.It’s a great example of what can happen when calling, equipping, and church leadership come together.

One of the most memorable moments of a wedding is when the officiant finally says, “You may kiss your bride!” The kiss happens, the couple is introduced as husband and wife, the music starts, and they walk down the aisle together.But what if that walk down the aisle isn’t just the end of the ceremony—but the beginning of the mission?In this episode, we talk about what it means to have a marriage on mission. God didn’t simply bring you together to build a comfortable life, raise a family, and grow old together. From the very beginning, God designed marriage with purpose—to reflect Him, impact others, and accomplish His Kingdom purposes together.Your wedding day may have started your marriage, but it also launched your mission.You weren’t just called to do life together. You were called to make your life together count.

Americans haven’t stopped longing for lifelong love—but many have lost the pathway to building it. In this episode, the CFL team examines the latest marriage research and explain why the answer isn’t simply better relationships—it’s biblical discipleship. Discover how churches, mentors, and everyday couples can help restore hope for the next generation.

Why do husbands and wives often leave the same conversation with completely different interpretations? The answer may not be in the facts, but in the meaning we assign to them. In this episode, we unpack how our backgrounds, experiences, expectations, and assumptions influence the way we see reality. Discover practical and biblical insights that can help you listen more carefully, assume less, and better understand your spouse’s heart. Marriage thrives when we stop trying to prove our perspective and start pursuing understanding together.

If you’ve been hurt by someone you loved, you’ve probably replayed the “if onlys” and “what ifs” a thousand times. Maybe you’re in a marriage without the love you long for. Maybe your marriage has already failed. Whatever your story, God is not through with you.In Scripture, we follow Leah’s journey from heartbreak and unmet expectations to surrender and worship. Through her pain, God relentlessly pursued her, drawing her to lay down her dreams, hopes, and deepest desires at His feet.Sometimes God allows great pain to bring us to the place where we finally discover that He alone is enough. The key that unlocked Leah’s heart was surrender to the Hound of Heaven. The result was praise—not just on her lips, but in her life.Tune in as we discover how God can transform broken dreams into unshakable praise.

At seventeen, Joseph thought he knew what God was doing in his life. Then came betrayal, rejection, false accusations, prison, and years of waiting. For twenty-two years, nothing seemed to make sense.Many marriages face similar seasons. We experience hurt, disappointment, broken trust, unmet expectations, and unanswered prayers. We ask God, “Why is this happening?” and “Where are You?”When Joseph’s first son was born, he named him Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship.” Joseph didn’t lose his memory. He chose to surrender his pain to God instead of allowing bitterness to control his life.Join Tammy and Suzy, with special guest Sally Meredith, as they explore how God meets us in our deepest hurts, how forgiveness frees us from the prison of resentment, and how healing begins when we trust God with the questions we cannot answer. Whether your marriage is struggling, healing, or thriving, Joseph’s story offers hope that God is still at work—even in the painful seasons.

A ministry vision can be good, but how we pursue it matters. In this episode, we discuss how believers can honor church leadership, protect unity, and faithfully pursue God’s calling as a marriage discipler without creating division. We’ll explore practical questions to ask, attitudes to avoid, and ways to continue serving even when formal opportunities aren’t available. Discover how God can use closed doors, redirection, and waiting seasons to accomplish His greater purposes.