Before the Wedding...
Use these evaluation tools after the Marriage Mentoring sessions are complete:
The Gift of Preparation: Why Premarital Counseling Matters in Christian Marriage
In the LCMS, we view marriage not just as a personal decision, but as a vocation—a calling from God to serve one another, to raise children in the faith, and to bear witness to the Gospel through love and fidelity. Premarital counseling helps couples enter that calling with open eyes, open hearts, and a firm foundation.
If you are engaged or thinking about marriage, seek counsel not just from the world, but from the Word. Let God prepare you for the road ahead.
Because marriage is not just about finding the right person. It’s about being the right person, by God’s grace.
And that preparation starts long before the vows are spoken.
Marriage is a gift of God. It was instituted in the Garden of Eden, blessed by our Lord Jesus at the wedding in Cana, and upheld throughout Scripture as a holy union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6). Within this sacred relationship, God gives companionship, support, the joy of children, and a picture of Christ's love for His Church (Ephesians 5:22–33).
Given the sacredness of marriage, it is not something to enter into lightly or unprepared. That is why premarital counseling is not only helpful but essential for couples preparing for Christian marriage.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)