This document discusses pursuing one's spouse through keeping vows and commitments. It emphasizes putting God first and one's spouse second. It explores the biblical story of creation to show how God created Eve to be a companion and helper for Adam. Practical ways to pursue a spouse are presented, such as speaking words of affection and affirmation daily, doing thoughtful acts of service, and keeping the relationship fresh. The roles of husband as leader, lover and provider, and wife as honoring, submitting and supporting, are discussed based on passages from Ephesians. The importance of believing one's spouse completes them and continuing to pursue the relationship is emphasized.

1. OF
PURSUIT

2. VOW-a solemn promise.
synonyms: oath, pledge, promise, bond,
covenant, commitment, profession,
affirmation, attestation, assurance,
guarantee;

4. GOD FIRST
AND FOREMOST
SPOUSE SECOND

5. Last Sunday our
VOW#1,
I promise that God
is my number ONE

6. VOW#2
I promise to always
pursue my number
TWO.

8. I MUST
BELIEVE MY
SPOUSE
COMPLETES
ME.

9. Gen 2:18-23
18 The
Lord God said, "It is
not good for the man to be
alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him."

10. Gen 2:18-23
19 Now the Lord God had formed
out of the ground all the beasts of
the field and all the birds of the air.
He brought them to the man to see
what he would name them; and
whatever the man called each living
creature, that was its name
NIV

11. Gen 2:18-23
20 So the man gave names to
all the livestock, the birds of
the air and all the beasts of
the field.
NIV

12. Gen 2:18-23
But for Adam no suitable helper
was found. 21 So the Lord God
caused the man to fall into a deep
sleep; and while he was sleeping,
he took one of the man's ribs and
closed up the place with flesh.
NIV

13. Gen 2:18-23
22 Then the Lord God made a woman
from the rib he had taken out of the
man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."
NIV

15. Gen 2:24
24 For this reason a
man will leave his
father and mother
and be united to his
wife, and they will
become one flesh.
NIV

16. Gen 2:24
24 For this reason a
man will leave his
father and mother
and be united to his
wife, and they will
become one flesh.
NIV

17. dabaq (daw-bak)
cling or adhere;
figuratively, to catch by pursuit:
pursue hard with affection and devotion
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)

18. PRACTICAL WAYS
TO PURSUE YOUR
SPOUSE

19. 1. When you think
something good, say it!
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one
another daily, as long as
it is called today, so that
none of you may be
hardened by sins
deceitfulness.

20. Men: We must Pursue
her with Words
of Affection.
Ladies: You must Pursue
him with Words
of Affirmation.

22. 1. Thank your husband once a day for
something (try to make it something
different each time)
2. Compliment your husband to your
mother, your children, your friends,
whatever, within earshot of your
husband, every chance you get.
3. Do not nag.
4. Do not give the silent treatment.
5. Make love with relative frequency (say at
least 2-3 times a week).

23. 2. If you think something
special, DO IT!
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who
knows the good he
ought to do and doesn’t
do it, sins.

24. A. Men:
Serve Her, Treat her.
B. Ladies:
Do the same!!!

26. 3. If you want something
different, BE IT!
Revelation 2:4,5 (NLT)
You don’t love me or each
other as you did at first!
Look how far you have
fallen! Turn back to me and
do the works you did at first.

27. TIPS
1. Make a list of what you
would want in a best-friend.

28. SAMPLE
 Make me feel good about being me.
 Affirm my best qualities (especially when I am
feeling insecure)
 Call out the best in me, and hold me
accountable to the best version of myself.
 Listen without judging or trying to fix me.
 Give me the benefit of the doubt.
 Extend grace to me when I am grumpy or
having a bad day.
 Remember my birthday, favorite foods, music,
and art.

29. SAMPLE
 Know my story and love me regardless.
 Spend time with me, just because they enjoy
my company.
 Speak well of me when I am not present.
 Serve me with a joyful spirit and without
complaining.
 Speak the truth to me when no one else will.
 Never shame me, diminish me, or make me
feel small.
 Become excited about what I am excited
about.
 Celebrate my wins!

30. TIPS
1. Make a list of what you
would want in a best-friend.
2. Now become that person
for your spouse.
3. Keep sowing the seeds,
until the relationship
blossoms.

31. I MUST
UNDERSTAND
AND ACCEPT
MY ROLE TO MY
SPOUSE.

32. Ephesians 5:21-24 (The Message)
Out of respect for Christ, be
courteously reverent to one
another. Wives, understand and
support your husbands in ways
that show your support for
Christ.

33. Ephesians 5:21-24 (The Message)
The husband provides leadership to
his wife the way Christ does to his
church, not by domineering but by
cherishing. So just as the church
submits to Christ as he exercises
such leadership, wives should
likewise submit to their husbands.

34. Ephesians 5:25-28 (The Message)
Husbands, go all out in your love
for your wives, exactly as Christ
did for the church a love marked
by giving, not getting. Christ's love
makes the church whole. His
words evoke her beauty.

35. Ephesians 5:25-28 (The Message)
Everything he does and says is
designed to bring the best out of her,
dressing her in dazzling white silk,
radiant with holiness. And that is how
husbands ought to love their wives.
They're really doing themselves a
favorsince they're already "one" in
marriage.

36. Ephesians 5:29-33 (The Message)
No one abuses his own body, does
he? No, he feeds and pampers it.
That's how Christ treats us, the
church, since we are part of his body.
And this is why a man leaves father
and mother and cherishes his wife.
No longer two, they become "one
flesh."

37. Ephesians 5:29-33 (The Message)
This is a huge mystery, and I don't
pretend to understand it all. What is
clearest to me is the way Christ treats
the church. And this provides a good
picture of how each husband is to
treat his wife, loving himself in loving
her, and how each wife is to honor
her husband.

38. MY ROLE AS SPOUSE
HUSBAND
WIFE
• LEADER
• LOVER
• PROVIDER
• HONOR
• SUBMIT
• SUPPORT

39. VOW#2
I promise to always
pursue my number
TWO.

40. BELIEVING MY SPOUSE COMPLETES ME.
CONTINUE PURSUING MY SPOUSE.
UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTING MY
ROLE TO MY SPOUSE.