https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/rss.xml Engagement Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Mon, 25 May 2026 20:22:26 -0400 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/reasons-not-to-rush-into-marriage.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/reasons-not-to-rush-into-marriage.html Dr. Audrey Davidheiser https://www.crosswalk.com/author/dr-audrey-davidheiser/ “Once you know, you know. Why wait?” Good question. There’s a sweet spot between rushing toward matrimony and delaying the ceremony. If you can step into marriage after an unhurried preparation time, you’ve settled on the happy medium. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:52:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/kevin-east/4-reasons-why-financial-debt-is-a-gift-for-young-couples.html https://www.crosswalk.com/kevin-east/4-reasons-why-financial-debt-is-a-gift-for-young-couples.html Kevin East https://www.crosswalk.com/author/kevin-east/ Debt isn't sinful. It isn't evil. But it is enslaving. It redefines a relationship between two people. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/what-does-the-bible-say-about-living-together-before-marriage.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/what-does-the-bible-say-about-living-together-before-marriage.html Betsy St. Amant Haddox https://www.crosswalk.com/author/betsy-st-amant-haddox/ The world likes to promote the idea that living together before the covenant of marriage occurs is smart. Wise, even. After all, our culture suggests taking a “test drive” before “purchasing”—which, in my opinion, is an incredibly unflattering and crude way to reference God’s gift of intimacy between a husband and wife.But what if you aren’t compatible, people argue. They say that living together before getting married can open your eyes to the idiosyncrasies of your future spouse. It can show you your fiancé’s quirks and bad habits and give you the opportunity to decide if you can deal with them or not. The problem with that is, we all have quirks and bad habits, and no one, outside of the security of covenant, is going to endure those irritations long-term. The question isn’t “do they do things that bother you” but rather, “will I stay committed and faithful even though they do”?Other arguments for co-inhabiting include monetary gain. If you combine incomes and share the bills, you’re setting your marriage up to be stronger financially. Maybe on paper that’s true, but the flip side is that this combining of resources and responsibility before things are legal just makes it harder to disengage once you break up—which couples who live together before marriage are likely to do.Regardless, for believers, it comes down to not what the world says or what makes sense logically, but rather, what the Bible instructs. There are certainly a few gray areas in the Bible on various topics—but Christians living together before marriage is not one of them. This issue, referenced multiple times through the word of God, is incredibly clear.Here are 8 Scriptures that clearly outline God’s plan for His children on sexual purity.Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Soroush Karimi Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-words-of-wisdom-for-newlyweds.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-words-of-wisdom-for-newlyweds.html Sara Horn https://www.crosswalk.com/author/sara-horn/ God brought the two of you together, and each of you will have strengths to offer and weaknesses to overcome. Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0500 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/things-to-consider-when-planning-a-proposal.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/things-to-consider-when-planning-a-proposal.html Alicia Searl https://www.crosswalk.com/author/alicia-searl/ She's the one! You know it and feel it to the core of your being. Oh, how exciting! Now, you've reached this pivotal moment in your life where you're ready to pop that very important question, all the while praying she responds with a wholehearted, "YES!"Well, my fellow brother in Christ, while this time can be a bit nerve-wracking (and exciting), and you may want everything to be simply perfect, there are a few things you need to consider before moving forward. So, take a deep breath and ask yourself a few questions before you get down on one knee.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Tom Werner Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-types-of-men-that-make-bad-husbands.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-types-of-men-that-make-bad-husbands.html Debbie W. Wilson https://www.crosswalk.com/author/debbie-w-wilson/ Don’t marry someone to redeem him. That’s Jesus’ job. Marry someone you respect for who they are now, not for who you hope they will become. Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:40:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-beautiful-bible-verses-for-engagement.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-beautiful-bible-verses-for-engagement.html Emma Danzey https://www.crosswalk.com/author/emma-danzey/ As you get ready for your wedding day, spend time praying that it will be a time where all who witness the marriage will see the gospel through your commitment to one another. The Lord loves to use marriages and weddings to point others to His eternal love and salvation. Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:30:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/the-good-man-checklist.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/the-good-man-checklist.html Nicole Unice https://www.crosswalk.com/author/nicole-unice/ What should you look for in a "good man?" Sometimes, in the quest for that spiritual leader, you might miss the qualities that Christ put in your man that aren't quite so visible. Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/4-myths-your-husband-believes-about-marriage.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/4-myths-your-husband-believes-about-marriage.html Rhonda Stoppe https://www.crosswalk.com/author/rhonda-stoppe/ Influenced by the marriage of his own parents––or the lack thereof––your husband has gathered together ideas of what marriage should be like. Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:40:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/10-warning-signs-that-mean-you-re-not-meant-to-say-i-do.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/10-warning-signs-that-mean-you-re-not-meant-to-say-i-do.html Phylicia Masonheimer https://www.crosswalk.com/author/phylicia-masonheimer/ Marriage is serious. God takes it seriously, and so should we. But in an age where weddings take up more conversation time than marriage itself, it’s easy to jump into an engagement on a wave of infatuation without asking some hard questions. Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:50:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:22:26-04:00