Scottsdale Bible’s Marriage Ministry exists to encourage and equip couples to pursue a loving, vital and Christ-centered marriage. We believe that great marriages never happen by accident, but through a vision of Christ at the center, intentional effort and the right tools. We offer many opportunities to grow and strengthen your relationship, such as marriage preparation classes, Bible studies and care/counseling.
Information about our current marriage resources are listed below. To learn more about any of them or to schedule an appointment with our Marriage Pastor, email marriage@scottsdalebible.com or call 480.824.7271. For information about weddings or pre-marital counseling, please contact our Weddings Coordinator at 480.824.7238.
Spring 2019 class begins Saturday, February 23 (includes both Saturday and Sunday sessions)
Saturday, February 23 and April 6, 9am–12:30pm, Shea A8
Sunday, February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and April 7, 9–10:30am, Shea A8
If you are thinking of marriage, are engaged, or have been married less than two years, this class is for you. Preparing for Marriage is an 11-session (over the course of nine class dates) experience for couples that will equip you to live together in dynamic connection for life. The sessions include thought-stimulating teaching by marriage professionals, in-class mentoring, and materials to foster spiritual and emotional growth in the early years of marriage. Topics include spiritual and sexual intimacy, his needs and her needs, how to talk to each other, finances, roles and expectations, and more.
Our vision is that couples will turn to Christ and the church to learn how to build a godly marriage—one that becomes a model for their peers.
Important Registration Information
To register for Preparing for Marriage, please complete these two steps:
1. Fill out the Preparing for Marriage Application.
2. Fill out the online class registration form below and pay for the class. You will be directed to a payment page to complete your registration after filling out the form. You may also drop off or mail a check to Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 85260. The registration fee is $175 per couple. If your wedding will be at Scottsdale Bible, the Preparing for Marriage class fee is included in the wedding package.
Included in the registration fee is an online relational assessment, which helps you understand the strengths and growth areas in your relationship. After your registration is complete and your payment has been received, you will be set up to take this online inventory. It will then be reviewed with you as a couple by one of our Life Innovations certified individuals or couples.
To read testimonies of couples who have attended Preparing for Marriage, click here.
Marriage Is More Than a Wedding
Your wedding is more than just a ceremony! Marriage is a covenant intended by God to be a lifelong relationship between a man and a woman, and it’s sacred because He ordained it. Throughout God’s Word, we see the importance and valuable benefits of the husband-wife relationship.
We want your wedding day to be all you desire it to be as you celebrate your covenants and vows together with friends and family. We also want to help you begin this new journey on the right foot, by helping equip you with biblical principles to strengthen your relationship.
Weddings at Scottsdale Bible Church
We believe in the sacredness of marriage as described throughout the Bible, and are committed to providing a biblical foundation for each marriage. Couples who plan to marry at Scottsdale Bible are asked to participate in our Preparing for Marriage classes.
Our church facilities are offered year-round, subject to availability. If the bride, groom or a member of either immediate family (father, mother, brother or sister) is an active member or regular attendee of Scottsdale Bible, the couple can qualify for member fees. You can view our different wedding venues and get more information about them in our Wedding Book.
Steps for Scheduling Your Wedding
We look forward to helping you plan a beautiful wedding day celebration!
We offer many opportunities to help you and your spouse grow and strengthen your marriage – community groups, discipleship, and small group studies.
Sundays | 9am | Shea A8
Leaders: David & Julie Dickerson, 602.757.3998
First5 is the place for young (20s and 30s) engaged and newly married couples (in their first 5 years) at Scottsdale Bible. Through our weekly gatherings, regular home group meetings, monthly social activities, and special events (retreats, conferences), couples are encouraged in their marriages and build lasting friendships.
Sundays | 11am | Shea A4
Leader: Bill Cavness
Contact: Sonia Cleverly, 480.824.7271
Family Connections is a place for couples to be encouraged, equipped, and strengthened in their marriage and parenting through weekly teaching of biblical principles and authentic community with others in the same season of life. Our Discovery Kids and Youth Ministry offers programming for your children at this time. Join us!
We are kicking off the new year with a 4-week series called “Modern Family” – how faith-based families can flourish in a culture that works against them. We would love for you to be a part of our community!
Wednesdays, January 9–April 24 | 6:30-8pm | Shea A4
Couples Connections will not meet on the following nights: March 13 and 20
For the Spring 2019 semester, the teaching will be focused on the principles of Grace-Based Parenting– we hope you will join this community of couples to build friendships and encourage each other in whatever season of parenting you are in! Children age 4 through 4th grade are encouraged to register for AWANA. Students in grades 5th through 12th grade are welcome in our YTH programming. Childcare for children age 3 and under whose parents are attending an on-campus Wednesday night class is available for a fee of $25 per family for the spring 2019 semester.
Register for the whole semester or for the session series here.
Family Ministry at Scottsdale Bible Church has partnered with Family Matters in providing a grace-based relationship approach to our parent education and support program. It is the goal of our ministry to effectively respond to every felt need of our families, offering a grace-based solution for every age and stage. Learn more about Family Matters resources and view their current conference schedule here.
Couples are encouraged to explore the principles of Grace-Based Parenting through Dr. Tim Kimmel’s books, Grace-Based Parenting, Raising Kids Who Turn Out Right, and Raising Kids for True Greatness, and to participate in the Right Now Media (online streaming) studies that accompany each book. These studies are a great opportunity to join with friends to learn and grow together as you support each other in your parenting journey! Please contact Sonia Cleverly at scleverly@scottsdalebible.com or 480.824.7271 for access to the SBC Right Now Media subscription.
For Spring 2019, we invite parents to participate in Couples Connections where the teaching will be focused on the principles of Grace-Based Parenting. Learn more and register here.
Below is a collection of videos and podcasts designed to be a resource for couples who want to invest in their relationship. Each study can be completed at your own pace, in the comfort of your home. We believe couples who are intentional about learning together will reap the benefits of a healthier, stronger marriage.
Scottsdale Bible Church has partnered with Right Now Media (RNM) to offer you more than 10,000 incredible video resources free of charge. If you have a RNM account, click on any of the links below to be directed to their website. If you would like to purchase books to accompany these studies or have questions, call the Marriage Ministry at 480.824.7271.
If you don’t have a RNM account, click here to set up your free account. RNM is available on your computer as well as many phone apps.
Fill out the form below to receive our monthly email designed to encourage you and your spouse grow closer to God and to each other. This letter will give you biblical and practical ideas to ponder and will help you draw closer to God and your spouse. Each letter will also list upcoming marriage-related events and opportunities from the Marriage Fitness Center.
Write your prayer request below. If you would like someone from the Marriage Ministry to call you, please include your phone number. This form is submitted to the Marriage Pastor and Marriage Ministry Coordinator, and confidentially shared with the Marriage prayer team (no names or personal details are shared).
All relationships take vision, intentional effort and the right tools to stay healthy and grow. These can be fostered through intentional quality time together in prayer and focused effort on specific areas of the relationship that a couple agrees upon. With literally thousands of books available on the topic of relationships, we’ve tried to narrow the field to some that the leaders in the Marriage Ministry have found helpful over the years. The listings below are those that we believe address each subject best.
General
Devotionals for Couples
Before You Marry
Before You Remarry
The First Years of Marriage
Sexual Intimacy
Stewardship and Finances
Addictions – Abuse – Infidelity
Parenting
