9 Ways to Teach Your Clubbers about Marriage

Some of your clubbers come from great homes with loving and caring parents. Others come from homes where parents seldom acknowledge each other. And sadly, some clubbers come from homes where their parents are consistently fighting (and may even involve spousal abuse).

As children’s/youth ministry leaders, we need to teach/show the kids whom we teach what a good marriage is all about.

For instance …

1. Never criticize your spouse in front of your ministry kids (or even when you aren’t around them). You know things like, “Sorry I’m late tonight kids, but my wife forgot to fill the car up with gas. I wish that lady would get a brain,” or “Today is the anniversary of when I entered prison, I mean when I got married. Ha! Ha!”

The never-criticize rule includes criticism (that’s said in jest) that a friend might understand, but kids would take seriously.

2. Use illustrations that present your family in a good light. “My husband always thinks up fun adventures for us, so last Saturday we hiked the Railroad Trail around the mountain.”

3. Be effusive in your thanks when your spouse helps you (picks up the pizza for Trek pizza night or bakes cookies for the T&T boys).  “Thanks, John, we all appreciate your good driving skills in getting this pizza safely to us.” Or, “My wife, Susie, baked the cookies tonight. That’s one of her many talents!”

4. Look for teachable moments. Even very young kids sometimes talk about getting married and having a family. Quietly add, “Remember to chose someone who loves the Lord and wants to live for Him.”

5. Pray that they’ll choose wisely. Every once in a while when praying for the group, mention the importance of choosing a good spouse. “Lord, I pray that these kids will make good choices in their futures, in choosing whether or not to attend college, in choosing a career, in choosing a spouse.”

6. Occasionally talk about the importance of making a good marriage choice when teaching a lesson. (For instance, David’s choice of Bathsheba and how he “got” her for his wife was sinful. On the other hand, Aquila and Priscilla worked together in ministry.)

7. Encourage kids to only date Christians (if they date or are planning on dating).

8. Interview that sweet, older couple in your church who has been married for 65 years. Ask what it was like to date back in the “old days?” Where did they go? What did they do? If you find people with a good sense of humor, an interview like this can be a lot of fun for kids.

9. Teach kids characteristics that are vital in all our relationships (including marriage). Patience, respect, gentleness, self-control … how about all the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22)

Maybe you’re thinking – why teach our kids about marriage?

The answer is simple – Titus 2. The Lord tells us we are supposed to do so.