1. The document discusses blended families and reasons for divorce in first and second marriages. It notes that 48% of first marriages end in divorce and that blended families are becoming more common as 79% of women and 89% of men remarry. 2. The top reasons for divorce in first marriages are listed as immaturity, sex issues, lack of marriage preparation, in-law problems, conflicting values, adjustment problems, child rearing difficulties, and financial disputes. For second marriages, the leading causes of divorce are issues around child rearing, finances, problems with relatives, and differing values. 3. The document provides advice for preparing for and achieving unity in a blended family, including getting to know family

1. #10 – Blended Families - Part I
In Love for Life
Building or Rebuilding a Great Marriage
Mike Mazzalongo

2. Blended Family - Statistics
• 48% of all first marriages end in divorce."
• 79% women & 89% men remarry"
• 68% of remarriages have children
from previous marriages"
" " " " " " “thebondedfamily.com”"

3. Blended Family - Statistics
• 21 New blended families formed every day in
U.S."
• Less than 12% divorced or single parents go
too church because they, “…don’t feel the
church cares about their broken lives.”
“thebondedfamily.com”"

5. Blended Family – Biblical Examples
• Jacob and two wives"

6. Blended Family – Today’s Examples
• Subsequent marriages"

7. Blended Family – Today’s Examples
• Subsequent marriages"
• Single parents with multi-partner children"

8. Blended Family – Today’s Examples
• Subsequent marriages"
• Single parents with multi-partner children"
• Grandparents raising grandchildren"

9. Blended Family – Today’s Examples
• Subsequent marriages"
• Single parents with multi-partner children"
• Grandparents raising grandchildren"
• Multigenerational"
– Adoptive situations"
– Group homes"

10. REASONS FOR DIVORCE IN "
1ST MARRIAGES"

11. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"

12. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"

13. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"
3. Marriage Preparation"

14. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"
3. Marriage Preparation"
4. In-Laws"

15. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"
3. Marriage Preparation"
4. In-Laws"
5. Values Conflict"

16. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"
3. Marriage Preparation"
4. In-Laws"
5. Values Conflict"
6. Adjustment Problems"

17. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"
3. Marriage Preparation"
4. In-Laws"
5. Values Conflict"
6. Adjustment Problems"
7. Child Rearing"
"

18. Reasons for Divorce in 1st Marriages
1. Immaturity"
2. Sex"
3. Marriage Preparation"
4. In-Laws"
5. Values Conflict"
6. Adjustment Problems"
7. Child Rearing"
8. Finances"

19. REASONS FOR DIVORCE IN "
2nd MARRIAGES"

20. Reasons for Divorce in 2nd Marriages
1. Child Rearing"

21. Reasons for Divorce in 2nd Marriages
1. Child Rearing"
2. Finances"

22. Reasons for Divorce in 2nd Marriages
1. Child Rearing"
2. Finances"
3. Relatives"

23. Reasons for Divorce in 2nd Marriages
1. Child Rearing"
2. Finances"
3. Relatives"
4. Values"

24. Reasons for Divorce in 2nd Marriages
1. Child Rearing"
2. Finances"
3. Relatives"
4. Values"
5. Sharing of Tasks"

25. Phil. 3:13-14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider
myself yet to have taken hold of it. But
one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I
press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus."

26. How To Prepare - Phil. 3:13-14
1. Know Your Mate and Children"

27. How To Prepare - Phil. 3:13-14
1. Know Your Mate and Children"
2. Understand Children s Needs"

28. How To Prepare - Phil. 3:13-14
1. Know Your Mate and Children"
2. Understand Children s Needs"
3. Build a New Relationship"

29. How To Prepare - Phil. 3:13-14
1. Know Your Mate and Children"
2. Understand Children s Needs"
3. Build a New Relationship"
4. Include Everyone"

30. Arriving at Unity"

31. Arriving at Unity
1. Avoid Co-Conductor System"

32. Arriving at Unity
1. Avoid Co-Conductor System"
2. Give Up Previous Role"

33. Arriving at Unity
1. Avoid Co-Conductor System"
2. Give Up Previous Role"
3. Establish Ground Rules"

34. Ground Rules
• Courtesy"

35. Ground Rules
• Courtesy"
• Family Rules"

36. Ground Rules
• Courtesy"
• Family Rules"
• Fairness"

37. Ground Rules
• Courtesy"
• Family Rules"
• Fairness"
• Division of Labor"

38. Ground Rules
• Courtesy"
• Family Rules"
• Fairness"
• Division of Labor"
• Spiritual Goals"

39. ONLY JESUS CAN MAKE"
TWO INTO ONE"