Cherish by Gary Thomas
Week 2: Chapter 1 — The Rings of Marriage
Read Chapter 1 of Cherish by Gary Thomas. Key passages: Song of Solomon 2:4; 1 Peter 3:7.
Previewing Week 2 of Cherish
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Thomas opens the book's first chapter by inviting us to reconsider the daily texture of our marriages — not the big moments, but the small, ordinary ones that quietly reveal how much we truly treasure our spouses.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Thomas uses the image of rings — not just wedding rings, but the rings of a tree — to talk about the layers that develop in a marriage over time. What does this image suggest about how cherishing is built (or eroded) gradually, layer by layer?
2.He distinguishes between the 'love' that brought two people together and the 'cherish' that must be cultivated over time. Why do you think so many couples invest heavily in the wedding but far less in learning to cherish once the vows are made?
3.Thomas talks about the importance of how spouses *think* about each other when they are not together — the mental habits and interior monologue that shape how we treat each other when we are together. What does your internal narrative about your spouse look like on an ordinary Tuesday?