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Dear readers, Faith Night In is so excited to deliver this date to you, aiming to give you the tools you need to deepen your relationship with God and with each other. God’s word offers a road map for your relationship and we want to share this with you in an engaging and unique way! Head over to FaithNightIn.com if you want to learn more about us and what we believe. We are so happy to have you as a part of the FNI Family!
This month we are trying something new! You should have rec eived an email from us in regards to your suggested dinner menu! If you missed our email, head over to nightinboxes.com/recipes to view a complete dinner and drink menu brought to you by MarinaMakes! Tune in to faithnightin.com/music for a great date night soundtrack. Take pictures of your date night and share them using #FaithNightInBox. One lucky couple will win their next date FREE! Be sure to have your bible handy. If you don’t have access to one, check out the Bible Gateway app available on your Apple or Android device.
Complet e dinner an d d r i n k m e n u b r o u g h t to you by Ma r i na Ma ke s. http s: //ma rina mak e s b l o g . c o m / FB p a g e: ht t ps: //w w w . f ac e b o o k . c o m / m ar i n ama ke sbl og / In sta g ra m ha ndle : @ m ar i n am ak e s b l o g Ta g y o ur foo d ph o to s w i th # m ar i n am ak e s e at s !
building blocks
“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. T h e r e fo r e w h a t God has joined t o g e t h e r, l e t n o o n e s e p a r a t e .�
matthew 19:6
Our theme for tonight’s date is Building Blocks . It’s game night with a twist! Be ready for a fun challenge as you make your way through tonight’s activities. Matthew 19:6 says “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Like anything worth fighting for, a strong relationship takes time, energy, and most of all commitment. Commitment to what God has to say about marriage, commitment to your spouse, and commitment to obedience in prayer. In a Godly relationship, we are called to persevere beyond the natural stresses of life. Good marriages don’t just happen - they are made! So, whether you are looking ahead toward marriage, are a newly-wed couple, or have been married for years; for you, tonight is about putting in play the building blocks of a solid foundation. Find a comfortable spot at the coffee table, kitchen table or living room floor. Turn on your playlist. Have your camera ready to capture the moment and let’s have some fun! Faith Night in is pleased to make a donation on your behalf this month to The Bottomless Toy Chest. This wonderful organization will deliver 30,000 toys to children in hospitals around the US this year. Please take a look at their website www.bottomlesstoychest. org and consider continuing your donation.
foundation challenge #1 t u m bl i ng t ower Item needed: tumbling tower set
A healthy relationship practices active communication. Every opportunity for communication should be valued. This comes more naturally for some than others. It is critical to build each other up and listen intently to what the other has to say. Share with each other some of the main reasons that you may choose to stay silent about something that is on your mind? (ex: to avoid confrontation, too busy, feels unnecessary, feels unwanted ) Do you ever feel at peace about your choice to keep silent or share relationship struggles with someone other than your spouse?
Le t s Play Place one single block down on the table. Continue to build upon it 3x3 until all the pieces are gone. Not too stable, right? But, still doable. Let’s see what life looks like when unexpected stresses come our way and our foundation is weak. Taking turns, remove one block at a time from within the tower. How many turns did it take before your tower fell?
foundation challenge #2 q ue s t ion s Item needed: question cards
When you know each other’s hearts and can actively put the others’ needs before your own, you are likely to be standing on a solid foundation. In James Chapter 1 vs. 19 we read “ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” This is a wonderful verse to keep in mind when we are in communication with our partner. Let’s put our communication skills into action with some fun questions provided to us by our friends at The Everleigh Company.
Le t s Play Take turns drawing a card from the deck. Ask your partner the question and listen to their answer. Build your tower on a solid foundation by placing down one block per question. Now, take turns removing one block at a time from within the tower. (You may choose to play 2 or 3 rounds until you both have a chance to answer each question in the deck.)With a solid foundation, when life throws us curve balls, we are much more capable of staying grounded. How many turns did it take for your tower to fall this time?
foundation challenge #3 wor d s c r amble Items needed: Word Scramble & board. Mutual
respect
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building block for a solid foundation. One of the greatest testimonies that faithful couples can give the world is a marriage that reflects the glory of God. Showing respect to your partner, regardless of emotion is one way to model to your family and to others His Glory. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1Thessalonians 5:11) Ask each other for some simple ways that you can show the other respect in your day to day life. (you may have uncovered some great examples during your last challenge) You may already be doing these things! Take some time to acknowledge them with gratitude. Are there areas that you’ve been feeling a lack of respect? Share these things with each other lovingly and tenderly.
Le t s Play 1: SET UP - Place all tiles face down on a flat surface. Each person draws 1 tile. The person to draw a tile closest to their first initial will take the first turn. Each person draws 6 more face down tiles to have a total of 7, placing them away from your partner’s sight. Place your word scramble board in front of you taking note of your BONUS words. Each BONUS word is worth 30 points. 2: TAKING TURNS - Spell out a word, placing it on the board (first turn intersecting with the center star). Words may be horizontal or vertical but not diagonal. Your aim is to tally up the most points per word according to the numbers on each tile. Draw face down tiles, keeping your total at 7 tiles at the conclusion of each turn. Each new word added must intersect with an existing word. All existing words must stay valid throughout the game. Take turns until all tiles are used. If you wish to exchange tiles for new ones at any point during the game, you may use a turn to exchange as may tiles as you’d like rather than creating a new word on the board. 3: TALLY POINTS - Add up all points gained from words created, BONUS words and bonus tiles on your board. Name your winner!! Play as many timed as you’d like!
foundation challenge #4 scr a mble fr ame Items needed: Word Scramble letter tiles, chalk board, glue Spiritual companionship is a critical building block for faithful couples. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church,…Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5: 20-25) As believers we know no greater love than that of Christ for the church.
Just as
Christ was a servant-leader to the church, husbands are called to lead their wives. Wives are called to be led by their husband’s spiritual leadership. Would you say that this is a reflection of your faith relationship? Everyone is at a different place in their walk with the Lord. This is a wonderful time to discuss some ways that you can come together in your pursuit of Christ.
Take a look at the list below. What can you implement? Can you think of anything to add to this list? - Worship together. - Seek God’s will together. - Serve Christ together. - Raise children together. - Pray together. - Strengthen one another’s faith. - Accept the authority of God’s Word together.
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Le t s Play What are a few unwavering aspects of your faith as a couple? You may choose to take a selection from your word scramble challenge or create your own word intersection to frame as a fun reminder of what you discussed tonight as the foundation of your faith. 1. Placing a small dab of glue on the back of each tile, arrange each letter on your flat laying chalk board. 2. Let the glue dry for a few minutes before finding it the perfect place in your home.
foundation challenge #5 i s py Items needed: Your box
night in BOXE S
Le t s Play While you are waiting for your glue to dry, grab your box and open the top pulling up the side flaps containing the list of items to find. Place the box in between you and lay down the top with the side flaps sticking out. See how quickly you can work together to find each object on your box!
prayer & reflection
What did God reveal to you tonight as you had an encounter with Him through each of these activities? Checking in on the building blocks of your foundation is something that your relationship will always benefit from. Take a look back through your discussion guide and highlight some areas that stood out for you. Where were you encouraged by what God has been doing in your relationship? What areas could use some reinforcement? Take a minute to pray together; silently or aloud. If you are unsure where to start, pray these words: Lord, we acknowledge that our relationship is a blessing from you. We pray that you would continue to bless it and strengthen it as we strive to bring you glory in all that we do. We thank you for your promise to guide us and strengthen us through every obstacle that life may put before us. Bring us together emotionally and spiritually for the good of those whose lives we touch. Thank you for your kindness toward us and for the peace of Your Loving Spirit manifesting in our hearts‌ Take a minute to go back through your bold discussion points. Are you ready to set a few things into action this month? God is ready to encourage and strengthen you in this endeavor! We want to thank you for welcoming FNI into your home this evening. We are praying for you and we would love to hear from you! Reach out to us at facebook.com/ faithnightinbox.
e nj oy you r n ig ht!
We really hope you enjoyed your GAME Night In. Dont forget to snap a picture of your date night and share using #FaithNightInBox. One lucky couple will win their next date FREE!
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