Your Marriage Can Thrive Series, Part 1: Acceptance
June 8, 2025

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Message Review

Every marriage can thrive, BUT not by accident.  An essential cause of every thriving marriage is acceptance.  Acceptance doesn’t mean agreement. It means welcoming, receiving, and embracing someone into relationship even when they disagree with you, fall short of your expectations, or frustrate you. The opposite of acceptance is rejection.  Rejection breeds resentment, judgment, and division.  When we accept our spouse just as Jesus accepted us, we create a relational culture where a marriage can thrive.

Main Point: A thriving marriage can only exist within a culture of acceptance.

Scripture References: Romans 14:1-4, 10-13, 19-20, 15:1-7

Bible Study      

The focus Bible passage from the sermon was Romans 14:1-15:7. Before going to the Sermon Discussion Questions, study the passage by reading through it together, then talk through it using the following Inductive Bible Study Method questions that follow:

  • Context: Discuss the context of this passage (Use the Bible Overview to learn the context)

  • Observation: What do you notice in this passage? What words or phrases stick out to you? And why?

  • Interpretation: What was Jesus’ original intent in this passage? What main point(s) was he trying to communicate, and why is that important?

  • Application: What is one key takeaway or insight you had from this passage? How can or should you apply it to your life?

  • Questions: What questions/tensions do you have from this passage that you want to discuss?

Discussion Questions

  • What were your initial thoughts or takeaways from the sermon?

  • Ronnie said, “Acceptance is not agreement.  It’s welcoming, receiving, and embracing someone into a relationship even when they disagree with you or let you down.” How is that different from how many people think about acceptance?

  • Why do you think acceptance is something we all desire deeply, but often struggle to extend, especially in close relationships like marriage?

  • Have you ever felt pressure to meet someone’s expectations before they accepted you? How did that affect you or the relationship?

  • Read Romans 15:1-7. 

    • What does it mean to bear with the failings of the weak and not please ourselves?

    • In verse 2, Paul said we should "build one another up." What does that look like practically when we disagree with someone, or they fail to meet our expectations?

    • What’s Paul’s main point in verses 5-6?

    • In verse 7, Paul said we’re to “accept one another just as Christ accepted us.” How did Jesus first accept us?  What does that standard of acceptance require from you?  Why do you think it glorifies God when we live it out?

  • Ronnie said, “Your spouse will feel rejected or accepted by you.”  What does that tension stir up in you?

  • Think about your marriage (or your closest relationship). How might they feel rejected instead of accepted by you?

  • What is one next step you can take to accept them—to welcome, receive, and embrace them into a relationship, just as Christ first accepted you?

To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.