One Degree Marriage: Practical Tools & Rhythms for Christian Marriages

Conflict isn’t the enemy in marriage. How you handle it is.
In this episode, we walk through five practical rules for healthy conflict in marriage—rules that help couples stay connected, communicate clearly, and resolve disagreements without damaging trust.
We talk about why conflict can actually strengthen your relationship, how subtle habits like “always” and “never” language sabotage communication, and what it looks like to approach hard conversations as teammates instead of opponents.
You’ll hear real-life examples from our own marriage, a simple framework for bringing up difficult topics, and why having a conflict plan matters more than you think.
If you want better communication, healthier conflict, and a marriage that grows stronger over time, this episode is for you.
Episode Show Notes

Hard conversations don’t usually fail because of the topic—they fail because of how they start.
In this episode, we share a simple, practical framework for bringing up difficult topics in marriage without triggering defensiveness or conflict. Learn how the first minute of a conversation can change everything and how to invite your spouse into connection instead of control.
🔗 Resources Mentioned
The Communication Toolkit (digital PDF): A practical set of tools and scripts to help couples navigate hard conversations with clarity, calm, and connection.

What is the biblical purpose of marriage? Is marriage meant for happiness and companionship, or something more?
In this episode of the One Degree Podcast, we walk through Ephesians 5 and Genesis 2 to explore what it looks like to not waste your marriage. We unpack servant leadership, biblical submission, and why Scripture calls you to focus on becoming a better spouse rather than wishing for a different one.
Ultimately, marriage isn’t just about having a healthy relationship. It’s about becoming faithful followers of Jesus who live on mission together and make disciples... starting in your home.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

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It’s easy to read Scripture with your spouse in mind.
In marriage, we often approach the Bible looking for what they should change instead of allowing God’s Word to confront us first. But Scripture was never meant to be a tool for managing your spouse’s obedience. It’s meant to shape your own heart.
In this episode of the One Degree Marriage Podcast, we talk about why the Bible addresses individuals before relationships, how passages like Ephesians 5 are often misunderstood, and why obedience in marriage isn’t meant to be transactional. We also discuss what faithfulness looks like when your spouse isn’t changing, how to pursue obedience without resentment, and when bringing in wise counsel is both biblical and necessary.
This conversation is for Christian couples who want a stronger, healthier marriage but feel stuck focusing on what their spouse isn’t doing instead of what God is calling them to do.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Scripture is meant to be a mirror before it’s ever a megaphone
How Ephesians 5 speaks to personal responsibility, not control
The difference between faithfulness and transactional obedience
What to do when obedience isn’t reciprocated in marriage
When prayer, counsel, and community are essential
Why marriage isn’t about fixing each other, but pursuing faithfulness together

One Degree Shift:
This week, read Scripture asking, “How am I being called to obey?” rather than “How should my spouse change?”

What if one simple habit could dramatically improve communication, reduce conflict, and help your marriage stay spiritually connected, without adding more to your plate?
In this episode, we break down the Weekly Marriage Meeting, the one habit we believe has had the biggest long-term impact on our marriage.
We explain exactly what a Weekly Marriage Meeting is, why it works when other marriage goals fail, and how this simple rhythm helps couples move from feeling like roommates to feeling deeply connected again. You’ll hear the real structure we use each week, including how we talk about communication, conflict, intimacy, finances, schedules, and spiritual growth.... without awkwardness or overwhelm.
Whether you’re newly married or have been married for decades, this episode will help you build intentional connection through small, consistent habits that compound over time.
RESOURCES:
FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template
Weekly Marriage Meeting Journal