Three Ingredients for Relationships that Go the Distance | Part 3 | Andy Stanley

Main message: Jesus-shaped relationships last: practice a simple three-part approach—confess your unmet desires, adopt a posture of mutual submission, and live by one rule—honor one another.

Key points:

• Confession: admit the real issue in conflicts is often “I’m not getting what I want,” which tempers heat and re-centers the relationship.
• Posture: embrace mutual submission—ask “What can I do to help?” and be willing to bear others’ burdens.
• Rule: avoid rule-based, scorekeeping relationships; instead honor others (defer, esteem them highly) as a deliberate gift, not something earned.
• Honor in practice: choose generous explanations for gaps, speak positives publicly and negatives privately, and risk truthful loving correction when needed.
• Honor is modelled on Christ (who valued others above himself) and should characterize Christians’ families, workplaces, and communities.

Scriptures mentioned: Philippians 2:3-5, 1 Corinthians 13, Romans 12:10, Joshua 1:9, Proverbs 27:6