You and Me Forever by Francis Chan
Week 9: Chapter 8 — Staying Together
Read Chapter 8 of You and Me Forever. Key passages: Malachi 2:14–16; Matthew 19:4–6; Hebrews 12:1–2.
Previewing Week 9 of You and Me Forever
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 10-week guide when you’re ready.
Covenant is only meaningful when keeping it costs something — this chapter is about what it looks like to stay, to fight for your marriage, and to finish well.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.The Chans address the reality that many marriages — including Christian ones — end in divorce. How do they handle this topic with both grace and clarity, and do you feel they strike the right balance?
2.God says in Malachi 2:16 that He 'hates divorce' — not as a condemnation of divorced people, but as an expression of His love for covenant faithfulness. How do you hold this truth together with compassion for those whose marriages have ended?
3.The chapter argues that the willingness to fight for a marriage — to stay and work through difficulty — is itself a powerful testimony to the gospel. How does covenant faithfulness in marriage point to God's covenant faithfulness to His people?
a.Can you think of a couple whose perseverance in marriage has been a witness to you? What did their faithfulness communicate?
b.What is the hardest thing about staying in a difficult season of marriage, and how does the gospel address that specific difficulty?