The Grace Marriage Podcast

Brad & Marilyn Rhoads
  • 5.0 (19)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Grace Marriage Podcast is a weekly conversation designed to encourage and equip couples to cultivate a marriage built on grace and intentionality, and that thrives through life’s ups and downs. Hosted by Brad and Marilyn Rhoads, along with Rick Dayton, the podcast offers practical wisdom and inspiring stories to help couples build a marriage that reflects God's love and grace.

  1. 10H AGO

    Your First Ministry Is Your Marriage

    What happens when ministry becomes more important than marriage? In this episode, Brad Rhoads sits down again with Pastor Jamus Edwards of Pleasant Valley Community Church to talk honestly about the danger of sacrificing your marriage on the altar of ministry. Jamus shares how early ministry success masked unhealthy priorities at home, how his wife Annie felt lonely and neglected, and how God used conviction, repentance, and intentional marriage investment to reorder his life. This conversation is especially important for pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone whose work or calling has quietly become more important than their spouse. In This Episode: * Why ministry can quietly become an idol * How pastors can unintentionally neglect their spouse * Why saying “no” is essential for a healthy marriage * The danger of fearing people more than fearing God * Why your home reveals more than your platform * How marriage health affects ministry health * Why churches need leaders who model marriage investment 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: * Your spouse should never be sacrificed for your calling * Ministry success does not excuse marriage neglect * Pastors must learn to say no for the sake of their families * A healthy marriage gives credibility to spiritual leadership * The church should encourage leaders toward their spouse, not away from them * Working on your marriage is hard, but neglecting it is harder LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    21 min

  2. MAY 19

    Why Every Church Needs Marriage Ministry

    What happens when churches prioritize children and youth ministry, but neglect marriage? In this episode, Brad Rhoads sits down with Pastor Jamus Edwards of Pleasant Valley Community Church, the founding church of Grace Marriage, to discuss why marriage ministry is essential to healthy churches and thriving families. Jamus shares how poor ministry priorities damaged his own marriage early in pastoral ministry, how ongoing marriage coaching transformed his relationship with his wife Annie, and why discipling marriages strengthens every other area of church life. They discuss pastoral burnout, proactive marriage investment, gospel-centered marriage coaching, and why churches must stop treating marriage ministry like an afterthought. In This Episode: * Why many churches unintentionally neglect marriage ministry * How ministry can quietly damage a pastor’s marriage * The difference between crisis counseling and proactive marriage discipleship * How Grace Marriage groups work in a local church * Why healthy marriages strengthen children, youth, and the entire church * The role of grace, vulnerability, and gospel-centered coaching in marriage growth 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: * Healthy churches are built on healthy marriages * Marriage ministry should be a core part of family discipleship * Pastors must prioritize their own marriages before leading others well * Ongoing marriage investment prevents many future crises * Gospel-centered coaching creates safe spaces for honesty and growth * Intentional marriage rhythms leave lasting legacies for children LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    21 min

  3. MAY 12

    Why Law Enforcement Marriages Struggle and How Intentional Investment Helps

    What do police officers, athletes, and healthy marriages all have in common? Practice. In this episode, Brad sits down with Kris Holzmeyer of Thin Blue First to talk about marriage, ministry, law enforcement stress, and why strong marriages require intentional investment. Kris shares how Grace Marriage has impacted both his own 30-year marriage and the marriages of officers and first responders through quarterly marriage checkups and retreats. They discuss the unique pressures facing law enforcement families, the importance of communication and spiritual connection, PTSD and emotional stress, and why couples must stop simply surviving life together and intentionally work on their marriage. If your relationship feels stuck in the “spin cycle of life,” this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope. In This Episode: * Why healthy marriages require intentional practice * The impact of stress and PTSD on law enforcement families * How quarterly marriage checkups strengthen communication * Why couples need to “work on” their marriage — not just live in it * The importance of spiritual intimacy and prayer * How consistent investment creates stronger connection over time 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: * Marriage grows stronger through intentional rhythms and practice * Communication skills improve when couples regularly engage difficult conversations * Law enforcement stress can deeply impact family dynamics without healthy processing * Spiritual intimacy helps anchor marriages during difficult seasons * Couples often drift when they stop intentionally investing in one another * Strong marriages are built through consistency, not autopilot LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    29 min

  4. MAY 5

    Praying Together Will CHANGE Your Marriage

    Prayer should never be your LAST resort...it should be your FIRST response. In this episode of the Grace Marriage Podcast, Brad sits down with Bill Reiser to discuss two things that will quietly destroy your marriage: unforgiveness and prayerlessness. Bill shares his story of deep childhood trauma, years of buried pain, and the moment God called him to forgive the man who hurt him. That decision didn’t just release the past...it unlocked a level of peace, freedom, and healing that transformed his life and marriage. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why unforgiveness blocks peace and keeps you stuck * The difference between forgiveness and rebuilding trust * How past wounds show up in your marriage today * Why couples in crisis are almost never praying together * How prayer creates real intimacy, not just routine * What healthy, life-giving prayer with your spouse actually looks like * Why prayer must become a first response, not a last resort You’ll also hear a simple but challenging truth: If you want a stronger marriage, start by getting closer to God...together. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: • praying together in marriage • how to forgive your spouse • Christian marriage prayer habits • healing from unforgiveness • rebuilding marriage after hurt • spiritual intimacy in marriage • overcoming bitterness in relationships • why couples should pray together • faith-based marriage growth • how to heal emotional wounds in marriage 📚 KEY VERSES: 📖 Philippians 4:6–7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 📖 Psalm 46:10 - “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    27 min

  5. APR 28

    Stop Calling Yourself Your FAILURES

    What if the biggest thing holding your marriage back… is how you see yourself? In this episode, Brad sits down with Bill Rieser to unpack a foundational truth most couples miss: you can’t build a healthy marriage with a broken identity. Bill shares his redemption story from addiction, infidelity, and nearly getting a divorce… to a complete transformation through Jesus. But the turning point wasn’t behavior modification...it was identity. This conversation dives deep into how: • We label ourselves by our failures instead of who God says we are • Misplaced identity keeps couples stuck in cycles of shame and dysfunction • Understanding your identity in Christ changes how you show up in marriage • Seeing your spouse through God’s eyes transforms how you love them • Forgiveness becomes possible when you live from the truth of who you are If you’ve ever felt stuck, ashamed, or defined by your past, this episode will challenge everything you believe about yourself and your relationship. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: • identity in Christ in marriage • how identity affects relationships • overcoming shame in marriage • Christian marriage transformation stories • how to forgive your spouse biblically • breaking cycles of guilt and shame • seeing your spouse through God’s eyes • how to rebuild marriage after infidelity • spiritual identity vs personal failure • how to grow confidence in marriage 📚 KEY VERSES: 📖 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 📖 1 John 3:1 - “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 📖 John 15:12 - “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    24 min

  6. APR 21

    How Most Churches Miss Marriages (And How to Fix It)

    What if one of the biggest gaps in the Church today… is marriage? In this episode Brad sits down with Sonya Jacobs to talk about why so many churches invest heavily in everything except marriages...and why that HAS to change. After walking through her own marriage struggles early on, Sonya began to realize something: healthy marriages don’t happen by accident, and most couples were never equipped with the tools they actually need. That realization led her to build a thriving marriage ministry from the ground up, which is now impacting hundreds of couples every year. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why most marriage problems aren’t addressed until it’s too late • The difference between reactive vs proactive marriage ministry • How unhealthy marriages quietly impact entire churches and communities • Why churches should prioritize marriage more than they currently do • The key components of a healthy, scalable marriage ministry • How volunteer-driven models can impact hundreds (even thousands) of couples • Why leadership buy-in is critical for culture change • How strong marriages create stronger families, churches, and communities We also unpack the power of programs like re|engage, and how structured environments give couples space to grow, heal, and reconnect..whether they’re struggling or simply want to go from good to great. If you care about building a healthy marriage (or helping others do so) this episode will challenge how you think about marriage, ministry, and long-term impact. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: • why churches need marriage ministry • how to build a healthy marriage ministry • why marriages fail in church communities • proactive vs reactive marriage help • how strong marriages impact families and churches • marriage discipleship in the church • re engage marriage program explained • how to strengthen marriage in ministry life • leadership impact on church culture and marriage • Christian marriage support and growth 📚 KEY VERSES: 📖 Ephesians 5:21 - “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    25 min

  7. APR 14

    Why Strong Marriages Require Healthy Boundaries and Relational Skills

    You don’t need MORE relationships...you need the RIGHT relationships. One of the biggest reasons people feel relationally exhausted isn’t because they care too little…it’s because they’re trying to give too much of themselves to too many different people. In this episode of the Grace Marriage Podcast, Brad sits down with Debra Fileta to unpack why so many relationships lack depth, and how to build meaningful, life-giving connections without burning out. They introduce a simple framework for understanding your relationships, helping you identify who belongs in your inner circle and how to invest your time, energy, and emotional capacity wisely. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why most relationship struggles come from lack of skill (not lack of love) • The hidden reason you feel drained by your relationships • How to identify your “inner circle” (and who actually belongs there) • Why trying to treat everyone the same leads to burnout • The danger of making your spouse your only close relationship • How to recognize healthy vs one-sided friendships • Why depth—not quantity—is what actually builds strong relationships • How to invest in friendships that grow instead of fade They also break down the different levels of communication, from surface-level conversations to emotional and spiritual depth, and why most relationships never grow because they never go deeper. If you’re feeling stretched thin, disconnected, or unsure where to invest relationally, this episode will give you a clear and practical framework to build stronger, healthier connections. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: • why relationships feel draining and how to fix it • how to build deep friendships and relationships • inner circle relationships and boundaries • how to prioritize relationships in marriage and life • emotional investment and relational capacity • how to identify healthy vs unhealthy friendships • levels of communication in relationships • how to build intentional relationships • why your spouse shouldn’t be your only close relationship • Christian approach to friendship and community LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    18 min

  8. APR 7

    People Skills Every Healthy Marriage Needs

    Love is not the problem in most marriages. Many couples genuinely love each other, but still struggle to feel connected, understood, and emotionally safe. Why? Because love alone is not enough. Healthy relationships also require healthy people skills. In this episode of the Grace Marriage Podcast, Brad talks with counselor and author Debra Fileta about why so many relationships break down, not because of bad intentions, but because of undeveloped skills like listening, empathy, emotional awareness, and conflict repair. They explore how our marriages reveal the way we show up in relationships, why defensiveness blocks growth, and how screens and technology are quietly interfering with intimacy in our homes. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why you can deeply love your spouse and still struggle to connect • The real reason your spouse may not feel loved • Why marriage exposes what you haven’t healed or learned yet • How defensiveness blocks growth (and what to do instead) • Why most people were never taught the skills relationships require • The hidden ways screens are damaging intimacy in your home • Why avoiding hard conversations is costing you connection • How to change your marriage by changing what you bring into it If you want a stronger, more connected, and more intentional marriage, this episode is a great, practical place to start. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more couples discover the hope of a grace-filled marriage. 🔑 KEY IDEAS: • people skills in marriage and relationships • emotional intelligence in marriage • why communication fails in relationships • how to improve marriage communication skills • effects of technology on relationships and marriage • how childhood patterns affect adult relationships • listening skills in healthy relationships • conflict resolution and emotional awareness in marriage • why couples feel disconnected despite love • Christian perspective on emotional and relational health 📚 KEY VERSES: 📖 Matthew 22:37 - “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” 📖 1 Corinthians 9:22 - “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING??  ✅ Subscribe & Share – Help us spread the message of grace-based marriage by subscribing to the Grace Marriage Podcast and sharing this episode with friends or family. ✅ Join Grace Marriage – Ready to invest in your marriage? Visit GraceMarriage.com to learn how proactive marriage care can transform your relationship. ✅ Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us reach more couples who need encouragement. FOLLOW US: 📌 Facebook: facebook.com/gracemarriage 📌 Instagram: instagram.com/gracemarriage 📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@grace_marriage

    28 min
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Trailer

5
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About

The Grace Marriage Podcast is a weekly conversation designed to encourage and equip couples to cultivate a marriage built on grace and intentionality, and that thrives through life’s ups and downs. Hosted by Brad and Marilyn Rhoads, along with Rick Dayton, the podcast offers practical wisdom and inspiring stories to help couples build a marriage that reflects God's love and grace.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad & Marilyn Rhoads
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Grace Marriage
  • Show Website
    The Grace Marriage Podcast

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