Practical tools and trusted ministries to help pastors, mentors, and small-group leaders strengthen marriages through biblical teaching, counseling, and mentoring.
Building Strong Marriages in the Church
Healthy marriages build healthy churches. When couples learn to love and serve each other in Christ, they reflect the gospel to the world. Whether you are leading a marriage class, mentoring engaged couples, or supporting those in crisis, these resources will help you equip, counsel, and encourage others with biblical truth and grace.
Here is a curated list of online tools, studies, and ministries to help churches nurture strong, lasting marriages.
Foundations for Marriage Ministry
Resources to Teach and Model God’s Design
- Prepare/Enrich – A leading assessment and facilitation tool that helps couples grow in communication, intimacy, and conflict resolution. Excellent for premarital counseling, marriage mentoring, and enrichment groups.
(Chris Teien is a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator.)
prepare-enrich.com - Focus on the Family (Marriage Materials) – Ready-to-use studies, videos, and print resources that address key topics such as communication, intimacy, and finances.
focusonthefamily.com - Desiring God (Marriage Topics) – Articles and sermons offering deep biblical perspective on leadership, unity, and covenant love.
desiringgod.org - Christian Leaders Institute (Free Marriage Courses) – Online courses that help leaders teach God’s design for marriage in group or class settings.
christianleadersinstitute.org - RightNow Media (Marriage Studies) – A vast video library featuring trusted teachers such as Francis Chan, Gary Thomas, and Chip Ingram. Use these studies for small-group or mentor sessions.
rightnowmedia.org
Counseling and Restoration Tools
Helping Couples Heal, Restore, and Rebuild
- Hope for the Heart (June Hunt) – Biblical counseling resources, radio programs, and topical studies that address forgiveness, communication, anger, and healing. Excellent for mentoring and pastoral counseling.
hopefortheheart.org - Covenant Keepers, Inc. – A ministry offering restoration support and encouragement for struggling or separated couples.
ckministry.org - MyCounselor.Online – Faith-based online therapy for couples who need professional Christian counseling from home.
mycounselor.online - The Right Marriage – Virtual Christian marriage coaching designed to strengthen communication and rebuild trust.
therightmarriage.com - RightNow Media (Forgiveness and Conflict Series) – Video devotionals that address reconciliation, grace, and growth after conflict.
rightnowmedia.org
Small-Group and Mentoring Resources
Equipping Leaders to Guide Couples Toward Growth
- Marriage Resources for Churches (Focus on the Family) – Comprehensive curriculum and facilitator guides for small groups or premarital mentoring programs.
focusonthefamily.com - Fierce Marriage – Devotionals, podcasts, and printable guides for couples and mentors. Ideal for one-on-one mentoring or small-group study.
fiercemarriage.com - Watermark Church (Marriage Resources) – Practical guides and book recommendations for couples seeking growth.
watermark.org - Abiding Marriage – Resource lists and leader helps for churches building marriage ministry teams.
abidingmarriage.org - Prepare/Enrich for Church Teams – Train multiple leaders in your church to use the assessment with premarital and married couples.
prepare-enrich.com
Spiritual Growth and Unity in Marriage
Helping Couples Pursue God Together
- Desiring God (Leadership and Unity in Marriage) – Insightful articles on biblical roles and servant leadership within marriage.
desiringgod.org - Focus on the Family (Spiritual Growth Tools) – Articles and devotionals encouraging couples to pray, worship, and serve together.
focusonthefamily.com - Hope for the Heart (Intimacy and Communication) – Biblical insights for renewing emotional connection and spiritual closeness.
hopefortheheart.org - RightNow Media (Couples Devotionals) – Video studies and guided prayer tools for helping couples grow in faith together.
rightnowmedia.org
Leadership Development and Legacy
Building a Culture of Healthy Marriage in Your Church
- Use Prepare/Enrich to equip mentors and pastors to walk with couples through assessments and follow-up discussions.
- Create ongoing marriage enrichment events or weekends using Focus on the Family or RightNow Media resources.
- Train a core team of mentors to lead small groups using materials from Hope for the Heart and Fierce Marriage.
- Encourage transparency and testimony—invite couples who have experienced restoration to share hope with others.
- Develop a yearly rhythm of premarital classes, marriage tune-up groups, and couples’ retreats.
Practical Steps for Church Leaders
Simple Ways to Strengthen Marriage Ministry
- Identify one or two trusted resources to begin using consistently.
- Recruit mentor couples who model faithfulness and humility.
- Offer Prepare/Enrich assessments before weddings and again after two years of marriage.
- Keep a resource shelf or digital library of the best materials for quick referrals.
- Remind every couple that the goal is not perfection but faithfulness rooted in grace.
Final Thoughts
Equipping Couples to Reflect Christ’s Love
Marriage ministry is more than a program. It is a calling to build homes that display the gospel. When churches invest in marriages, they nurture strong families, healthy children, and vibrant faith communities.
“What therefore God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:9)
May your ministry continue to strengthen marriages, restore hope, and reflect the love of Christ to generations to come.
Compiled and Written for Well Faith – Equipping pastors, mentors, and churches to worship, encourage, learn, and love together in everyday life.