Marriage as Kingdom Partnership Pt 2 (Marriage as a Mission) - 321

Marriage unity gets talked about as if it’s mostly about conflict management, but we’ve learned it’s something sharper and more hopeful: two people moving with one purpose under Christ. When the goal is bigger than the argument, even the everyday stuff that usually sparks tension starts to shrink. We open with a simple question that cuts through the noise: Are we just sharing a life, or are we sharing a mission? 

We walk through the biblical picture of being yoked together and why alignment matters more than “winning.” We dig into mutual submission from Ephesians 5:21, then connect it to the kind of partnership described in Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 and Philippians 2:2. Along the way, we talk candidly about selfishness, personal preferences, and the moment pride gets exposed for what it is. If you’ve ever felt like unity means losing yourself, this conversation offers a better definition: keeping your God-given differences while choosing humility and cooperation. 

Then we ground it in two powerful examples of kingdom partnership. Priscilla and Aquila show what it looks like to combine work, hospitality, and discipleship in ways that strengthen the church and shape future leaders. Abraham and Sarah remind us that couples can serve God together even through delays, uncertainty, and imperfect moments, because perseverance is part of faith. 

If you want a biblical marriage that feels purposeful, practical, and centered on Jesus, press play, then subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more couples can find it.

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Transcript

What Unity Really Means

Daniel Moore 0:06

Marriage unity sounds nice in theory, but what does it actually look like in real life? Is it just keeping the peace, avoiding arguments, and learning to live with each other's quirks? Or is it something deeper? Well, in this week's episode, we're diving into what true biblical unity really means. Not just surviving together under one roof, but moving forward together with purpose. Because marriage was never designed to be two individuals coexisting. It was designed to be a partnership centered on serving God side by side. And when that shared mission becomes the focus, even the little everyday frustrations start to lose their power. We'll explore the powerful imagery of being yoked together, what scripture says about mutual submission, and how couples can align their hearts around a greater purpose. From the wisdom of Ecclesiastes to the challenge of Philippians will unpack how unity in marriage isn't about losing yourself, it's about joining together in something bigger than both of you. So whether you feel like you and your spouse are pulling in the same direction, or you've been drifting apart, this conversation this week will help recenter your marriage on what truly matters. Walking with Christ together on mission as one. Welcome to Marriage Life and More. This is a podcast about marriage, Bible, and book studies where we interview people that have inspiring stories. I'm Daniel Moore, your host. Standing over next to me is my beautiful host, co-host, my wife. Hey hey, whatever she is. Thank you guys for joining us this week. If not familiar with our show, check out our website at marriagelifeandmore.com for our platforms. Our YouTube and Rumble links are there. And we're on the creation podcasting app at Edifi. And we're also on your Alexa and Google Smart Devices. You can also visit us on social on Facebook, Instagram, and X at CTGapOnline. And if you're a fan of our show, please subscribe and feel free to leave a comment on our platforms. Give us a thumbs up or five-star review on Apple Podcast. And we'd be thankful to you for doing that. And as another reminder here, coming up here in just a little over a week, I'm going to be at the Somewhere in Time Bookstore in Webb City, Missouri, doing a book signing there. Have all my books with me. So if you guys don't have a copy of them yet and you'd like to come pick one up and meet me in person, I'd love that. Be able to sign a book for you and get you a copy of that. Of course, you live in the local area, you can participate in that. So again, that's at the Somewhere in Time Bookstore over in Webb City, Missouri from 1 to 3 p.m. on May the 9th. Well, last week we started off our episode 3 of our series on Marriage as a Mission, which is the first book that I wrote. And if you have a copy of that, you can get that anywhere online where you can get your books. And last week we started episode three, and we was talking about marriage as a kingdom partnership. This week we're going to finish up that episode here on Married Life and More.

Michelle Moore 3:15

When it comes to marriage, unity is about far more than simply tolerating your spouse's experimental cooking or surviving yet another debate about which way the toilet paper roll should face. Goatee or mullet.

Daniel Moore 3:30

Is it a goatee or is it a mullet?

Michelle Moore 3:33

Well, I don't know that I've ever even heard it.

Daniel Moore 3:36

Well, the mullet is it rolls from the back. If it's a goatee, then it's rolling over the front.

Michelle Moore 3:42

It's gonna be a goatee. It always rolls over from the front.

Daniel Moore 3:45

Over the front? Always. I usually do a mullet.

Michelle Moore 3:48

And I usually change it. That's very I have never heard it been called that.

Daniel Moore 3:53

Yeah, that's what it's called. So this episode's gonna work for us then. Because we gotta agree on a goatee or a mullet.

Michelle Moore 4:01

I'm gonna win. So, real biblical unity goes far deeper than uh peaceful coexistence. It's about two people intentionally moving in the same direction with the same purpose, serving God together as a team. Does that mean we gotta come together and figure out what we're gonna do with the toilet paper?

Daniel Moore 4:23

It's party in the back, baby. Okay. Bullet. Oh my gosh.

Michelle Moore 4:29

Marriage isn't just about sharing a house, a bank account, or a Netflix password. It's about sharing a mission. God designed marriage to be a partnership where both husband and wife walk together towards something bigger than themselves. When that shared purpose becomes central, the small annoyances of life begin to shrink in importance, like the toilet paper. Suddenly the question isn't who's right about the pasta sauce, but how can we glorify God together in the way we live? A helpful picture of this comes from the agricultural imagery often used in scripture. Think of marriage like two oxen yoked together, pulling a plow across a field, and before anyone objects, Deuteronomy 2210 warns against mismatched animals. So no, we're not calling your spouse a donkey. When oxen are yoked properly, they move in the same direction and share the weight of the work. The yoke keeps them aligned so the field is plowed straight and gets the job done efficiently. But imagine if one ox decided it wanted to veer left while the other was determined to head right, maybe towards the nearest Chick-fil-A. The result wouldn't be productive farming. It would be chaos, crooked rows, and a very frustrated farmer. In the same way, when husbands and wives pursue different priorities or pull against each other's direction, life becomes unnecessarily difficult. That's why Ephesians 5.21 gives such powerful guidance. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Mutual submission isn't about losing individuality, it's about choosing humility and cooperation so that both partners can move forward together with Christ at the center.

Daniel Moore 6:27

So one thing that I noticed last week that I was going to say and I forgot, but this week it kind of hit my mind again. You remember the episode we did uh in our very first series on the four laws of love about pursuit? Uh how sometimes when we get married, we forget that we have to pursue our other spo our spouse. And when that happens, then that marriage starts to fall apart. That relationship relationship starts to fall apart. Um we have to constantly pursue the happiness and the goals and it's a it's a nonstop action that we have to do. And that also plays over into our situation when it comes to God. Because whenever uh and I think last week it actually mentioned that word in one spot and I was gonna say something and it it slipped on by before I forgot to do it, but whenever we are kingdom-minded, what do we do with God when we truly want to fulfill his purpose and do what he wants us to do? We pursue him. We per we pursue that calling that he's put upon us and we try to do that without failure. You know, we try to do whatever we can to make sure that when we do pursue the things that he has for us, even that we do it to completion. You know, we want to make God happy with what we're doing. And, you know, this part here where you just read about people losing their individuality. And I think sometimes, you know, we've talked to couples before that kind of look at it this way, and I've read seen other places where people's mentioned on social media or whatever. Sometimes whenever a couple's trying to to do things, but they're a like the two oxen going opposite directions, uh a lot of some of the reasoning for that is because they feel like they're gonna lose who they are.

Michelle Moore 8:26

Yeah.

Daniel Moore 8:26

And they feel like that all of a sudden it's not them anymore, it's all about the other spouse. And it's all about what they want and all that kind of thing. And they get in this mindset, they get in this thing going on where they think, well, if I give in to that, that's not really me. So then I'm gonna lose who I am, and I'm not gonna have any say-so in any of this. And I mean, to me, does that sound kind of selfish? You know, whenever that I mean, that's kind of what I feel like when I think of that kind of a mindset. You know, that's where the oxen separate and take off like that, is when you have that selfish mindset. There's many times that you have done something that I wasn't wasn't my cup of tea, but I still wanted to have the fulfillment of what it was that you wanted to do, and you've done the same for me. That's what keeps those oxen going down that path straight.

Michelle Moore 9:18

Yeah.

Two Are Better Than One

Daniel Moore 9:19

Because even if they both have a different mindset for a moment, if they're truly thinking about the other mate and what they believe in and what they are wanting to do and what they're wanting to accomplish, if I truly care about you and what you think and all that kind of thing, I'm going to do the best that I can to make sure that I pursue not only what you're wanting, but what God wants me to do for you as a spouse. There's a kind of a big equation there that goes together with that that we have to think through. And so I just want to throw that in there real quick before I forgot again, because last week I was going to do that and I totally forgot about it. That's good. But you can go ahead and continue there.

Laying Down Preferences And Pride

Michelle Moore 9:54

So this idea is echoed beautifully in Ecclesiastics 4, 9 through 12, which reminds us that two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. On the surface, that might sound practical advice about dividing chores. One unloads groceries while the other wrestles the toddler out of the shopping cart. But the principle runs much deeper. The passage highlights the strength that comes from partnership. When one person stumbles, the other helps them. When challenges arise, two people standing together are stronger than one standing alone. In marriage, this means more than simply sharing responsibilities. It means sharing spiritual direction. Couples who pursue kingdom goals together, serving in their church, reaching out to the neighbors, mentoring young believers, or raising children who know and love God, experience a unique bond that goes beyond ordinary companionship. Their relationship becomes strengthened not just by affection, but by shared purpose. Paul empathizes this same mindset in Philippians 2.2, when he urges believers to be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Applied to marriage, this means aligning your hearts around what matters most. When both husband and wife are passionate about loving God and loving others, something powerful happens. The focus on the relationship shifts. Instead of constantly turning toward each other with criticism, frustration, or running a tally of who forgets to take out the trash, both partners begin turning forward toward God's calling on their lives. Suddenly, you're not just roommates managing household logistics, you're co-laborers in Christ. Your marriage becomes a partnership in ministry, a place where encouragement, prayer, and shared faith fuel your journey together. Of course, unity with purpose doesn't mean every preference magically disappears. There will still be disagreements, sometimes even over things as small as what to bring to church Bakesel. One spouse may champion chocolate brownies while the other is passionately committed to lemon bars. But if the goal is to bless people and serve the church, the flavor becomes a secondary issue. Unity with purpose means being willing to lay aside personal preferences for something greater. It's recognizing that the mission matters more than winning the argument. When couples adopt that mindset, many of the conflicts that once seemed huge start to look surprisingly small.

Daniel Moore 12:45

So at one point in our marriage, do you feel like that you had trouble uh laying aside your personal preferences? Do you think that you struggled with that?

Michelle Moore 12:57

Oh, absolutely. Because I made it about me.

Daniel Moore 12:59

Yeah.

Michelle Moore 13:00

I mean, I'm willing to admit that. I mean, of course, you know, we've talked about that. I can be a I mean, even sometimes I still have my prefer my personal preferences. And I do kind of like throw them at you. Um then I have to step back and I think, okay, Michelle, you're you're you're you're being all prideful here by wanting to get to do the things you're wanting to do. You're not thinking about your spouse. But I definitely 100% say yes on that one.

Daniel Moore 13:31

What what do you think it was that kind of helped you get past that? Because you to me are, I think we are a lot more at this point in our marriage likely to make sure that it's kind of an equal opportunity type of thing between the two of us because there's things that you'll want to do sometimes or have a personal preferences that you have that I will try to accommodate and vice versa. Um it kind of goes both ways, which does help our conflict level stay down. I mean, that helps us get along much better. Uh what what do you think actually finally what was that light bulb do you think that clicked on one day that made you realize that hey, that this does better if we work together on this instead of trying to push our agenda so much? Was there anything you can think of?

Michelle Moore 14:17

I I mean, honestly, I feel like knowing that both of us had the best interest of each other and knowing that I wanted to please God and knowing that our marriage was a mirror of God, it changes how you think about things. And it truly, I mean, I would rather make you happy than myself. I would rather do things for you just to make you happy because I know how much God gave up for us to send his only son. And I think our marriage is that sacrifice. Yeah, I need to sacrifice things too because of you. Before it was all about me. You know, now I don't look at it that way. And then I think about if it makes you happy. Well, sometimes I was like, if it makes him happy, I'll get a pool.

Daniel Moore 15:08

But you know so far there's no pool out there.

Michelle Moore 15:11

No, there's no pool. But, you know, I mean, sometimes I mean I just I really truly feel like I do it because I want to see you happy. And I know if we're both happy together, it's fulfilling what God has for us.

Daniel Moore 15:28

Yeah. And you say this a lot too, and I think there's a lot of truth in it. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Because if you if you try to die on that hill of everything that you want and everything that you prefer, yeah, it's just a lot of times you're just gonna get nowhere with that but into a big, huge fight.

Michelle Moore 15:48

And I'll tell you, he'll he'll tell you, I just don't I don't look at things like I used to, and it it's not worth it to me. I want to make my husband happy. I'm not saying if he does something wrong, then I'm gonna roll over with it.

Daniel Moore 16:03

Right.

Michelle Moore 16:04

But is it worth it? You know, is it is something really gonna be like as he says, pick your battles. Most of it just rolls off of me. But I also think that God, because I'm in tuned, isn't really, you know, he forgives me for so much. Yeah. Why would I hold something against you?

Daniel Moore 16:24

Yeah. Yeah, that's perfectly well said. I mean, I think even from my side of it, looking at it and the way that I approach things, you know, both of us can be as strong-willed as we want to be, but is it really beneficial sometimes within our own marriage and our relationship with God to really push that agenda past the limit? You know? And yes, probably some things there might be that we just stand firm on it.

Michelle Moore 16:50

Like my pull.

Daniel Moore 16:51

We push through it. And when we get her when we get her pull, I'll post a picture to social media. So might be a while.

Michelle Moore 17:01

It's been a while for anyway, so let's just keep on.

Grace Grows Through Serving Together

Daniel Moore 17:05

I just yeah, I just was just kind of want to throw that out there for a minute. So go ahead and continue there.

Michelle Moore 17:10

As couples pursue God together, something beautiful begins to grow in their relationship. Patience deepens not just because they've learned to tolerate the way their spouse loads the dishwasher incorrectly, but because they are developing the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5, 22-23. Compassion grows as well. Serving side by side reveals each other's strengths, but it also exposes weaknesses, insecurities, and struggles. Instead of using those discoveries as ammunition, couples learn to respond with grace. As 1 Peter 4.8 reminds us, love covers a multitude of sins. Ministry together becomes a training ground for humility, forgiveness, and genuine care for one another. Ultimately, unity with purpose doesn't mean becoming identical people. God didn't design marriage to produce clones. Instead, he created husbands and wives to complement each other, different strengths, different perspectives, different personalities working together for a shared mission. Think of it less like two identical instruments playing the same note and more like a beautiful duet. Each voice contributes something unique, but together they create harmony. It's the difference between a powerful song and one person singing while someone else shouts random lyrics from the back row. So take your spouse's hand, not just for romance, but for mission. Walk together with your eyes fixed on God's purpose for your lives. When couples pursue Christ side by side, their marriage becomes more than a relationship. It becomes a ministry. And who knows? If you're both focused on the bigger picture, you might even find yourself willingly letting your spouse pick the dessert flavor this time. After all, unity with purpose sometimes starts with something as simple as sharing the lemon bars. That's so cute.

Daniel Moore 19:13

And, you know, one thing that I want to pull out of that is that's real interesting, is it kind of reaffirms that thing where opposites attract. Yeah. You know, a lot of times you'll notice that in marriages, if you start talking to the spouses, that there are there is a lot of opposites involved. You know, you and I have a lot of opposites. There's a lot of things that there's things that you're good at that I'm not, and there's things that I'm good at that you're not, and there's ways that you think about certain things where I have a total different outlook on it, and vice versa. And it's so cool how it can be that way, but yet we can pull it together and make something beautiful out of it.

Michelle Moore 19:52

Oh, absolutely. And and I also, you know, when it was talking about um the insecurities and struggles, instead of using those discoveries as ammunition and couples learn to respond with grace, I was thinking about how, you know, there's been times I've had struggles. And you could use that as ammunition and you never have.

Daniel Moore 20:12

Yeah.

Michelle Moore 20:13

You've literally given me grace and you've come along and you've helped me grow.

Daniel Moore 20:17

Yeah.

Michelle Moore 20:18

And so if your partner does have that, that's what you're there for.

Daniel Moore 20:22

Yeah.

Michelle Moore 20:23

To be alongside of them, give them grace, encourage them.

Daniel Moore 20:27

Yeah, that's there's no reason to tear each other down.

Michelle Moore 20:30

Uh because we're different.

Daniel Moore 20:32

Yeah. And we, you know, God made us that way. And so I think that if we can take those moments where we question what's going on, we question what's being said, we question what our spouse is doing, and instead of just lashing back at that moment, just spouting something off, sit back and sit on it for a minute, think about it and pray about it. Yeah, a lot of times God will really reveal to you the importance of why it's that way. And when that happens, then you can come and talk to your spouse about it and everything. Um, it seems like that just it meshes so beautifully a lot of times. And you learn that's how you learn more about each other as well.

Michelle Moore 21:12

Yeah, and I think, you know, if you have those weaknesses, those weaknesses may just be for that season of life.

Daniel Moore 21:19

Yeah.

Michelle Moore 21:20

You know, if you have someone that's encouraging and pouring into that, then that weakness may not be that same weakness one year, two year down the road. God's gonna use that.

Priscilla And Aquila As A Model

Daniel Moore 21:30

Yeah, he will. And he'll create something beautiful out of it. Not only in your life, but if we're doing this kingdom aspect of it, it's it's gonna flow into somebody else's relationship. So you might be thinking, well, how does this look? You know, when we're talking about this kingdom, what are some good examples that we Can look at. I'm going to share one with you here, and then Michelle's going to share one as we wrap up this episode for this week. And this one here that I'm going to share, I'm going to actually come back to several times throughout this series. It's a super powerful story that has so many applications that you can pull out of it. And that's the story of Priscilla and Aquila. You know, they stand out as one of the most powerful and inspiring examples in scripture of a married couple united around a shared kingdom purpose. Their story appears throughout the New Testament like a series of small snapshots that when pieced together reveal a beautiful portrait of partnership and ministry. They weren't simply warming a pew in the early church or showing up for pilg dinners and the occasional hymn sing. They were active participants, workers, leaders, mentors, disciplers, and missionaries who used their marriage as a tool for advancing the gospel. And their story begins in Acts 18, verses 1 through 3. And you want to read that to us?

Michelle Moore 22:54

Yeah. After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. And because he was the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tent makers by trade.

Daniel Moore 23:12

So here we discover that Priscilla and Aquila were not only devoted believers, but they also were hardworking business owners. They made tents for a living. That's a practical trade that probably involved long hours, lots of fabric, and more rope than the average camping store, probably lots of pricked fingers also. But they didn't view their work as separate from their faith. Instead, their profession became the very avenue through which ministry flourished. When the apostle Paul arrived in Corinth, they welcomed him not only as a fellow tradesman, but as a brother in Christ. He lived and worked alongside them, which likely meant that their days were filled with sewing canvas, discussing theology, praying together, and probably sharing the occasional laugh over crooked tent seams. But they weren't just making tents. They were helping build the church. Their home became more than a residence. It became a ministry headquarters. It was a place where discipleship happened over mills, encouragement flowed freely, and the gospel was lived out in everyday life. Later, in Romans chapter 16, verses 3 and 4, Paul writes, Greek Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus who risk their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. So as we read that scripture and look at it, think about that for a moment. Paul doesn't call them nice people who occasionally helped out. He called them fellow workers in Christ Jesus, partners in the mission. And apparently their partnership went far beyond hospitality and tent repair. At some point they literally risked their lives for Paul. Scripture doesn't give us the dramatic details, but the phrase risk their necks suggests that they were willing to step into danger for the sake of the gospel. That's not casual Christianity, that's courageous commitment. What's especially striking about Priscilla and Aquila is that they ministered together as a true partnership. In several passages, Priscilla's name even appears before Aquila's, something highly unusual in the cultural context of the time. This subtle detail suggests that she was deeply involved in their ministry work, not merely watching from the sidelines or refilling everyone's coffee cups. They were united in purpose, serving shoulder to shoulder for the kingdom. While their most significant contribution appears later in Acts chapter 18, verses 24 through 26. You want to read that one for us?

Michelle Moore 25:42

Now a Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in scriptures. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Abraham And Sarah Trust God Together

Daniel Moore 25:59

So here Apollos, he was clearly gifted, he was eloquent, he was knowledgeable, and he was passionate. And if he lived today, he might have a podcast, a book deal, or a conference speaking schedule. But despite his strengths, his understanding of the gospel was incomplete. Instead of publicly correcting him in front of everybody, or letting confusion spread, Priscilla and Aquila handled the situation with wisdom and grace. They privately took him aside and explained the truth more clearly. That is discipleship at its finest. And notice too that they did it together. This wasn't Aquila saying, Priscilla, go make some snacks while I handle the theology. Nor was it Priscilla saying, Honey, step aside. I've got this. They worked as a team, mentoring Apollos and strengthening his understanding of the gospel. And the result? Apollos went on to become a powerful leader in the early church. And you can read that in 1 Corinthians 3, verses 5 and 6. Their quiet investment helped shape a future ministry that would impact countless believers. Now imagine this for a moment if Priscilla and Aquila had decided that ministry was simply too inconvenient. I mean, what if they had said, you know, Paul, we love God and all, but running this business keeps us busy? Maybe try the tent makers down the street. Well, Paul might have arrived in Corinth with nowhere to stay, no workplace and no close fellowship. And what if Apollos had never received that gentle correction? He might have continued preaching with incomplete understanding, potentially leading others into confusion. Sometimes the most important moments in kingdom ministry and history happened not in stadiums or synagogues, but in living rooms. Paul later summarized the principle in 1 Corinthians 3 verse 6. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave growth. But that watering became effective partly because Priscilla and Aquila had invested in Apollos first. Their marriage was like two threads woven tightly together into one strong cord, pulling in the same direction for God's purposes. When couples unite around a shared mission for the kingdom, their impact multiplies exponentially. Think of it like a rowing team. If one spouse rows forward while the other rows backwards, the boat spins in circles, and someone probably ends up splashing water everywhere. But when both row in the same direction with the same rhythm, even a small boat can travel great distances. Priscilla and Aquila weren't celebrities of the faith. They didn't perform miracles on street corners or preach sermons to massive crowds, they were faithful, humble, and intentional believers who lived out Romans 12 verses 11 through 13. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord, contribute to the needs of the saints, and seek to show hospitality. That's the vision of kingdom-centered marriage, service rooted in love, partnership fueled by shared purpose, and a relationship that doesn't merely walk side by side, but moves forward together toward God's mission. And sometimes that mission begins with something simple, like opening your home, sharing a meal, praying with someone at your kitchen table, and investing in a life that God intends to use in ways that you may never fully see. And yes, it's entirely possible to serve God faithfully while owning matching coffee mugs. In fact, that might just be the first step towards organized ministry. You know, Michelle and I, we've actually had Life Group at our house before, and we've led other life groups. Uh, there's probably places where you and I have actually impacted a couple that we don't even know right now. And I pray that that's actually happened. I hope that God's light showed out of us to where another couple might have been impacted uh by the things that they saw and by the walk that they see us walk. You know, we'll probably may never know that the side of eternity. But that's not what it's all about. It's not about receiving alkalades or rewards, notches on our uh scorecard. You know, it's like that's not what this is all about. Uh we want to make sure that as we walk together, you know, you and I doing this podcast, you and I doing the marriage ministry, we just want to make sure that God is lifted up and exalted. Yeah. And that he's glorified in everything that we do. Absolutely. And we pray that positive things would happen in couples' lives. So we also have one here about Abraham and Sarah. Why don't you go ahead and share that one with us?

Michelle Moore 30:39

Yeah, Abraham and Sarah provided another compelling example of a married couple working together in unity for God's purposes. Although their journey included a few stumbles, a few moments of doubt, and at least one memorable laugh along the way. In Genesis 18, 12, Sarah famously laughs at the idea that she should bear a child in her old age. To be fair, is someone told an almost 90-year-olds today they were about to start a parenting journey, laughter might also be the immediate response. I know it would be for me. Yes. Their story begins with a remarkable call from God in Genesis 12, 1 through 3, where the Lord commands Abraham to leave his homeland, his extended family, and everything familiar in order to follow him into an unknown future. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him. But while the call was given directly to Abraham, the journey required Sarah's full participation. Following God meant leaving behind everything comfortable and predictable. Sarah had to say goodbye to the stability of home life and embrace a nomadic existence filled with tents, long journeys, uncertain destinations, and occasional awkward family situation. In fact, on two occasions, Abraham's fear led him to claim Sarah was his sister, resulting in her nearly becoming part of royal harems. That's in Genesis 12, 14 through 20 and 201 through 18. If ever there were moments that tested marital trust, those were probably near the top of that list. Yet Sarah's role in God's plan was far from passive. Hebrews 11 11 honors her faith, saying, By faith, Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Although she initially laughed at the promise, she eventually believed it. Her faith grew alongside Abraham's as they waited year after year for God's promise to come true. Waiting is rarely easy, especially when the promise involves something as life-changing as a child and the clock seems to be moving in the wrong direction. But together they endured the long seasons of uncertainty, and eventually, through God's power, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the child of promise, through whom God's covenant would continue. Now imagine if Sarah had refused to follow Abraham when God called him in Genesis 12. Suppose she had said, That sounds wonderful for you, eh? But I'm staying right here where the water system works and the neighbors are familiar. Without Sarah's courage and willingness to step into the unknown, the story of God's covenant people may have unfolded very differently. What makes Abraham and Sarah's partnership so powerful, it's not that they were flawless, but that they persevered together. Their story includes moments of impatience, missteps, and attempts to help God out with human solutions, Genesis 16 is a classic example. Yet through it all, they continue moving forward with God. Romans 4.19 tells us Abraham did not weaken in faith even when he considered the reality of the old age. Their faith eventually rose above what seemed logically impossible. Their marriage teaches us something important. Serving God together does not require perfection, it requires faithful perseverance. There will be delays, there will be detours, there will be seasons where God's promises feel distant and unclear. But when a husband and a wife hold on to God's promises together, their unity becomes a powerful testimony of trust. In modern terms, their life like signing up for a lifelong road trip with no GPS, no detailed itinerary, and no guarantee about where the next rest stop may appear, except for one thing. God had promised the destination would be worth it. And Sarah wasn't just sitting quietly in the passenger seat. She was a co-traveler in faith, walking alongside Abraham through every twist and turn of the journey. This story reminds us that when couples dare to trust God together, even seasons that feel barren can become the very places where God brings forth his greatest work. What once looked like impossibility can become the birthplace of promise and the foundation of kingdom partnership that echoes through generations.

Daniel Moore 35:39

You know, as you share that story, I think uh there's several people out there that I know there's a podcast that I listen to. It's uh a retired pastor and his wife, it's family life today. Uh both of them have shared this story, and then I've seen it in other places as well with other people that I know, uh, where one of the spouses was called to be a pastor and the other spouse is like, not on your life. I'm not gonna be a pastor's wife, you know, or whatever, it's something along that line. And you know, sometimes God does catch us off guard and he will put a calling on one of the spouses' life where they have to share it with the other spouse, and then from that moment forward, it's a God thing on whether if that other spouse wants to jump on board or not. And sometimes those callings are out there, they're crazy. They're at God's asking you to, you know, like here. He was sending them to some place they didn't know where it was, what it was, what was going to happen when they got there. I mean, I hear stories sometimes of missionaries, and I know Michelle, you've heard them as well, where God calls a couple to go somewhere and they have very few details. God's just like, you need to sell everything you got, pack up. You're going to this country to become missionaries to an unknown people, and they have to sit there and pray through that and figure out all of that. That would be so difficult.

Michelle Moore 37:05

It would be. It really would be.

Purposeful Marriage And Final Challenge

Daniel Moore 37:07

You talk about being kingdom-minded. Oh. I mean, both spouses at that point have to come to a point to reconcile what they think about things for their own life versus what God wants them to do. And if that's you out there that's listening right now, and God puts you on the spot with that, uh, you know, where are you gonna take that? I mean, to a point, even in our story, even with the podcast, you know, there was a while that I was interested in trying to get you on to do the marriage stuff, but you just weren't quite ready yet. And it c it took a while uh for you to pray and just, you know, if it wasn't for God, yeah, figure out there's no way I'd I'd be doing it even today. Yeah. And so things don't when God calls you, sometimes it's not just a snap of a finger and all of a sudden it starts tapping and falls into place. If you're married and in a marriage relationship, there's other factors that are gonna take place, and you both have to seek God and ask God, okay, I know this is what you're wanting us to do, but you have to align both of us in mind and spirit and soul. You have to get us both on the same page so that we can be as effective as we can for the kingdom. So as we wrap up this episode this week, as we finish up episode three here about having kingdom impact with our marriages. Is there anything that you'd like to add to this episode that we've put out here before we wrap it up?

Michelle Moore 38:50

No, it's really good episode.

Daniel Moore 38:52

I think it's just an eye-opener.

Michelle Moore 38:53

Yeah.

Daniel Moore 38:54

I think in a lot of ways we have to remember that we're not just married just to be married, just to start a family and have a nice car and a nice house, and all that stuff's great. God blesses us with all of it. But there's a bigger calling on our lives.

Michelle Moore 39:07

Absolutely.

Daniel Moore 39:08

Not only individually, but as a married couple. And I think this is a good reminder for that uh that there is more to it than that. So I just want to remind everybody out there, just please subscribe, share this podcast, uh, go to our website, Marriage Life and more. And you can find out more about our ministry there. If this is the first episode you've ever heard and you want to find out more about us, then go check out the website. Uh, we've got lots and lots of episodes you can listen to. Several books are available. You can check those out on there as well. So, as we wrap up this episode, remember that marriage was never meant to be just a comfortable arrangement for two people trying to survive life together. It was designed by God to be a kingdom partnership. When a husband and wife intentionally pursue Christ side by side, the relationship becomes something far greater than romance or companionship. It becomes a shared mission. Instead of asking, what can my spouse do for me, the focus shifts to how can we serve God together? And when that happens, even the ordinary moments of life, like raising kids, serving in church, helping a neighbor, encouraging a friend, those become opportunities for kingdom impact. So don't just aim for a peaceful marriage, aim for a purposeful one. Pray together, serve together, and keep pointing each other toward Christ. Because when two people chase God in the same direction, their marriage becomes more than a relationship, it becomes a ministry.

Michelle Moore 40:33

That's right.

Daniel Moore 40:34

And that's the kind of partnership that not only strengthens your bond with each other, but also leaves a lasting impact for the kingdom of God. It's a good way to leave this episode this week as we leave you guys here. So that's gonna be all for this week. We'll be back next week with episode four of our series on marriage as a mission. As we go, we pray that your marriage is stronger and your walk with God is closer after this episode. This is an extension of Connecting the Gap Ministries, and we pray that you have a blessed week.