The Marriage Huddle

Crossroads Bible Church
  • 0.0 (0)
  • CHRISTIANITY

The Marriage Huddle is a place for real couples navigating real life to pause, reconnect, and gather wisdom for the journey ahead. Just like a team takes a moment to huddle — to regroup, realign, and remember the play — we step into conversations about the joys and challenges of marriage, the everyday moments that shape us, and the places God invites us into deeper unity. Host Stephanie TeSlaa sits down with couples, counselors, and ministry leaders to offer encouragement, honesty, and practical tools to help you trust God with the next play and walk in oneness — side by side.

  1. JAN 15

    Ep. 14 - Dreaming as One ft Aaron Goodrich, Glori Goodrich, Stephanie TeSlaa

    Marriage doesn’t cancel your dreams, it reshapes them. In this episode, Aaron and Glori Goodrich get real about what happens when two visions collide and have to become one. Together with Stephanie TeSlaa, they unpack sacrifice, emotional maturity, and choosing unity without losing how God uniquely wired you. With honesty, humor, and practical wisdom, they share how conflict can actually refine a shared vision. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to pursue dreams without losing unity in marriage, this episode is for you. Discussion Questions: Do you relate more to the visionary side or the detail/discernment side in how you approach dreams and decisions? When dreams or ideas get shared in your relationship, what usually happens first: excitement, resistance, anxiety, or shutdown? Why do you think that is? How do your past experiences or family story influence the way you dream, plan, or slow things down in your marriage? Are there dreams (big or small) that one of you has felt hesitant to voice? What might help create more safety around sharing them? The conversation emphasized values like simplicity, generosity, and hospitality. Which values matter most to you as a couple, and what is one step you can take this week to live into them together? After listening to this episode, what is one practical change you could make to better honor each other’s gifts instead of working against them?

    1h 12m

  2. 12/04/2025

    Ep. 13 - Counselors in the Huddle: Gary Heim, Lisa Heim, Stephanie TeSlaa

    In our second episode with “Counselors in the Huddle, we welcome Gary and Lisa Heim—authors of True North: Choosing God in the Frustrations of Life—share how frustration, disappointment, and everyday pressures can quietly pull our hearts “south” in marriage. They unpack their True North framework and explore how God uses frustrating moments not to divide us, but to transform us as we learn to turn toward Him and toward one another. Drawing from their story and decades of counseling work, Gary and Lisa show how God can use frustrating moments to form us. They offer simple but powerful practices that help couples turn toward grace, gratitude, and deeper connection. Discussion Questions: When you think about the idea of going “south” versus turning “north,” what did you resonate with most from Gary and Lisa’s explanation?Where do you tend to go when you feel frustrated—toward grumbling, blame, withdrawal, grasping for control, or something else?How do you see God inviting us to turn “north” in this season—toward grace, openness, gratitude, or dependence on Him?What helps you feel safe and heard when you’re frustrated? What makes it harder? How can you invite God into that space to be more available to receive from your spouse?Where might we need to slow down and listen differently to each other during moments of tension or irritability?Gary and Lisa talked about grace and gratitude as pathways north. What’s one practical step we can take this week to move toward grace or gratitude in our relationship?What did God highlight for you individually through this conversation? What did He highlight for us as a couple?

    1h 16m

  3. 11/20/2025

    Ep. 12 - Desires and Demands ft. Matt Kenney, Renee Kenney, Stephanie TeSlaa

    God created us with desires—good and life-giving longings meant to draw us closer to Him and to one another. But when those desires are mishandled in marriage, they can quietly turn into demands that lead to disappointment and disconnection. In this episode, Matt and Renee explore how our desires can become a place where God does His refining work. They share how to bring those longings to Him first, communicate them with humility, invite His perspective when disappointment surfaces, and allow God’s grace to transform both our hearts and our marriage. This is a conversation about surrendering control, rediscovering gratitude, and letting God reshape our hearts so that our desires lead to connection, not division—drawing us closer to Him and to each other. Discussion Questions When you hear the words desires and demands, what comes to mind in the context of your marriage? What are some desires you brought into marriage that have changed or deepened over time? What do you notice about yourself when a desire starts to become a demand? In your relationship, which expectations tend to cause the most friction or misunderstanding? What helps you reorient your heart toward gratitude and grace instead of resentment or entitlement? Where might God be inviting you to release control and trust Him with a longing that hasn’t been fulfilled yet?

    1h 9m

  4. 11/13/2025

    Ep. 11 - When Grief Becomes Part of Your Marriage Story ft. Nancy Kingma, Gary Stowie, Kathy Stowie, Stephanie TeSlaa

    Grief touches every part of life — our hearts, our relationships, and the way we show up to one another. In this episode, Gary and Kathy Stowie share the story of a profound loss and how it shaped them individually and as a family. We’re also joined by Nancy Kingma, a counselor who walks with individuals and families through grief and trauma, offering insight into how couples can remain connected with compassion, patience, and grace. This tender conversation invites us to slow down, honor the weight of loss, and remember that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from Gary and Kathy’s story or from Nancy’s insights?How has grief touched your life or the life of those close to you?When you are hurting, how do you feel most cared for?What might it look like to simply be with someone in their grief rather than trying to fix it?How can we become more comfortable creating space for grief—in our marriages, friendships, and church family?Who in your life might be carrying grief quietly?For those currently experiencing grief, what has been challenging and what has helped? Where have you sensed God meeting you?

    1h 19m

  5. 11/11/2025

    Ep. 10 - From Busy to Broken to Beautiful ft. Greg Zimmer, Kris Zimmer, Stephanie TeSlaa

    hey were doing all the right things—raising kids, building careers, keeping busy. But somewhere along the way, Greg and Kris Zimmer’s marriage started running on empty. What began as busyness turned into distance, and before they knew it, the divorce papers were on the table. In this episode, they share how God stepped in, woke them up, and began rebuilding a love that was nearly lost. Discussion Questions: What does busyness look like in your current season of marriage? How is it affecting your ability to connect? In what ways has “doing good things” (career, kids, church, commitments) ever distracted you from “being present” in your marriage? How do pride, avoidance, or exhaustion make it harder to admit when your relationship is in trouble? What are some healthy ways you and your spouse can check in on your connection before disconnection takes root? What does repentance or humility look like in marriage when one or both spouses realize things need to change? Do we need to make any changes in our marriage or family to prioritize a healthier marriage?

    58 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    Ep. 9 - Leave & Cleave: The Parent's Perspective ft. Bruce Osterink, Sue Osterink, Stephanie TeSlaa

    Letting go is not easy, especially when your child gets married and the responsibility you once carried shifts to their spouse and to God. In this episode, Stephanie TeSlaa talks with Bruce and Sue Osterink about what it looks like for parents to support that transition with grace. Through honest stories, practical wisdom, and even a roll of “holy duct tape,” they share how to stay loving and present without overstepping, helping your child’s marriage thrive. Discussion Questions: DQ1: How does seeing the importance of marital unity change the way you interact with your adult child(ren)? DQ2: How can you change your approach to family expectations—such as holiday, etc.—that may cause tension in your relationship with them or create stress in their marriage? DQ3: What does it look like to support your adult children's decisions when you do not agree with them? DQ4: In what ways can you shift your role from being your child’s first stop for support to encouraging them to go to their spouse first? DQ5: How do you and your spouse navigate tension in your own marriage that arises from the process of letting go? DQ6: If you realize you’ve unintentionally created a wedge in your child’s marriage, even years later, what steps can you take together to repair and support their relationship?

    1h 2m

  7. 11/11/2025

    Ep. 8 - Leave & Cleave: The Couple's Perspective ft. Dave Geroux, Jaclyn Geroux, Stephanie TeSlaa

    What does it really look like to leave your family and cleave to your spouse? In this episode of The Marriage Huddle, Dave and Jaclyn open up about the struggles and breakthroughs of prioritizing their marriage over old patterns and expectations. From navigating parents’ involvement to creating a cocoon for their relationship, they share the moments that tested their commitment—and the steps that brought resurrection to a marriage on the brink. DQ1: In what ways might your family of origin’s expectations or traditions be unintentionally shaping your marriage? How can you identify where “leaving and cleaving” might cause division or conflict? DQ2: Reflect on a time when external influences—parents, friends, or others—interfered with your marriage decisions. How could you have handled it differently? DQ3: What are some practical ways you and your spouse can create intentional “cocoon” time to focus on your relationship without outside distractions? How could that be beneficial? DQ4: How do you currently navigate loyalty between your spouse and your extended families? How does your spouse feel in relation to the loyalty you may hold for your own family? DQ5: Are there any recurring patterns of conflict in your marriage that could be tied to old family dynamics? DQ6: How could prioritizing your spouse above all others (except God) help develop unity, respect, and mutual submission? DQ7: If one or both of you have felt secondary in your marriage, what steps can you take to rebuild trust, closeness, or security? DQ8: As a couple, what is one actionable way you can “leave and cleave” this week—whether in conversation, decision-making, or boundary-setting?

    1h 10m

  8. 11/10/2025

    Ep. 7 - Tackling Bitterness ft. Tim Bassett, Shayla Bassett, Stephanie TeSlaa

    Bitterness can quietly take root in any marriage—and Tim and Shayla Bassett know this firsthand. In this episode, they share how it distorted their view of each other and, with Stephanie TeSlaa, discuss how the stories we tell ourselves can fuel conflict and how to reset those narratives. They remind us that even painful struggles can become a pathway to a stronger, Christ-centered marriage. DQ1: When have you noticed bitterness or resentment creeping into your marriage? How did it show up in your words, actions, or thoughts? DQ2: What stories or assumptions do you catch yourself telling about your spouse that might not be true? How could challenging those narratives change your perspective? DQ3: How do you usually respond when conflict arises—do you lean toward avoidance, arguing, or something else? How could you try a different approach next time? DQ4: When you reflect on your own heart, what is one area where pride or selfishness might be fueling tension? How could you invite God to work there? DQ5: Can you think of a time when you and your spouse were able to restore connection after conflict? What helped most in that moment? DQ6: What’s one small step you could take this week to address bitterness in your heart or in your marriage?

    1h 6m
See All (14)

About

The Marriage Huddle is a place for real couples navigating real life to pause, reconnect, and gather wisdom for the journey ahead. Just like a team takes a moment to huddle — to regroup, realign, and remember the play — we step into conversations about the joys and challenges of marriage, the everyday moments that shape us, and the places God invites us into deeper unity. Host Stephanie TeSlaa sits down with couples, counselors, and ministry leaders to offer encouragement, honesty, and practical tools to help you trust God with the next play and walk in oneness — side by side.

Information

  • Creator
    Crossroads Bible Church
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Crossroads Bible Church
  • Show Website
    The Marriage Huddle