Aristotle said three things are necessary for any good "argument"- logos, pathos and ethos. Find out how these three things can help you in your next marital conflict.
Talking Points:
- Logos is the logic of the message. Make sure to think through your emotions before you confront your spouse. Proverbs 14:29
- Ethos speaks to the credibility of the speaker. This speaks to trust – can your spouse trust that your heart is for the good of the marriage? Philippians 2:3-4
- Pathos speaks to the emotions of the listener. This is about being empathetic, thinking about the conflict from your spouse’s point of view, too. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- How do conflicts typically go between you and your spouse? What gets in the way of doing conflict in a healthy way?
- Which of the 3 components is easiest for you? Which is the hardest? Explain.
- Read Proverbs 14:29. How often do you take time to process your feelings before confronting your spouse? How could it help you in the future to order your thoughts before speaking?
- Read Philippians 2:3-4. Evaluate yourself. In conflict, do you think your spouse trusts that you care about their perspective as much as your own? How could you show more humility and kindness in your next argument?
- Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Identify all that this passage says about love. Where do you need to grow most?
- Even in conflict, how can you show a desire to see your spouse’s point of view in a future conflict?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
