--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe one of the best preparations…" description: "\"I believe one of the best preparations for marriage is participating in a small group. If a person has learned to be intimate and honest with a few fri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/andy-stanley-737_believe_i-believe-one-of-the-best-preparations-f_496628.png" --- # I believe one of the best preparations for marriage is… ![“I believe one of the best preparations for marriage is participating in a small group. If a person has learned to be intimate and honest with a few friends before they get married, they will have less reason to fear intimacy after they are married.” quote by Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/andy-stanley-737_believe_i-believe-one-of-the-best-preparations-f_496628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/andy-stanley-737_believe_i-believe-one-of-the-best-preparations-f_496628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/andy-stanley-737_believe_i-believe-one-of-the-best-preparations-f_496628.png) > “I believe one of the best preparations for marriage is participating in a small group. If a person has learned to be intimate and honest with a few friends before they get married, they will have less reason to fear intimacy after they are married.” [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intimacy and honesty practiced in friendships prepare couples for marital intimacy, reducing fear. **In simple terms:** Friendship honesty builds marital intimacy. Key Takeaway Practice honest, close friendships. Themes relationships intimacy trust marriage Mood encouraging thoughtful Type advisory practical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - small group ministry - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts communication skills emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does small group intimacy translate to marriage? - What boundaries are needed in friendships? A Different Perspective Friendships may not fully replicate marital dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Fear Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-intimacy-1210631/) [Few friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few-friends/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Intimacy Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy-married-4237633/) [Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Participating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-participating-4237632/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Participating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participating/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Preparations Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparations-marriage-4237631/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Small Group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-group/) [Small groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-groups/) ## Related quotes > [I know what my sweet spot has been. It's personal stuff, dysfunction, fear of intimacy, family stuff, psychology stuff. I eviscerate myself onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/i-know-what-my-sweet-spot-has-been-it-s-personal-stuff-dysfunction/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [We want to be in open, loving communion with each other and our greatest fear is intimacy. That it won't work and we'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/we-want-to-be-in-open-loving-communion-with-each-other-and-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [If a man is really into you, nothing will stop him from being with you - including a fear of intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/if-a-man-is-really-into-you-nothing-will-stop-him-from-being-with-you/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Artistic anorexia & sexual avoidance have the same root fears – fear of intimacy, fear of exposure, fear of failure”.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/artistic-anorexia-sexual-avoidance-have-the-same-root-fears-fear-of/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [When I started studying the issue and issues related to fatherlessness, I realized I had all of them. Fear of intimacy, fear of commitment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/when-i-started-studying-the-issue-and-issues-related-to/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“A great many of our patients have conflicts in the realm of intimacy, and obtain help in therapy sheerly through experiencing an intimate relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/a-great-many-of-our-patients-have-conflicts-in-the-realm-of-intimacy/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [I don't have any fear of intimacy, but rather thrive on it, which is rare in a public person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-don-t-have-any-fear-of-intimacy-but-rather-thrive-on-it-which-is/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“This is particularly true of those who "love too much" and those who tend to lose themselves in their relationships. Sometimes our love becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-engel/this-is-particularly-true-of-those-who-love-too-much-and-those-who/) [Beverly Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-engel/) > [Maybe a romantic getaway will solve your crippling fear of intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-a-romantic-getaway-will-solve-your-crippling-fear-of-intimacy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After sex, men fear too much intimacy; they want to separate again. Women want to talk, to continue the merging, melting fusion into one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-friday/after-sex-men-fear-too-much-intimacy-they-want-to-separate-again/) [Nancy Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-friday/) > [My kids think you are always supposed to be in a small group and lead one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/my-kids-think-you-are-always-supposed-to-be-in-a-small-group-and-lead/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“We almost always involve unbelievers in our small groups. And we give them opportunities to lead the discussion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/we-almost-always-involve-unbelievers-in-our-small-groups-and-we-give/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Nature is an old lady with few friends these days, and those who wish to make use of her charms, she rewards passionately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-krabbe/nature-is-an-old-lady-with-few-friends-these-days-and-those-who-wish/) [Tim Krabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-krabbe/) > [I have very few friends. I have a handful of close friends, and I have my family, and I haven't known life to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/i-have-very-few-friends-i-have-a-handful-of-close-friends-and-i-have/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [A lot of my friends have been collectors, and I owe a lot to them. I'm always interested in sharing collections and learning that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dumontier/a-lot-of-my-friends-have-been-collectors-and-i-owe-a-lot-to-them-i-m/) [Michael Dumontier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dumontier/) ## More by Andy Stanley > [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We are not all leaders. We are called leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/we-are-not-all-leaders-we-are-called-leaders/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Preachers prepare with this fear: 'Am I going to be able to fill the time?' The audience never worries about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/preachers-prepare-with-this-fear-am-i-going-to-be-able-to-fill-the/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [If it suddenly became impossible for us to cover up all the junk we normally hide from the rest of humanity, I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/if-it-suddenly-became-impossible-for-us-to-cover-up-all-the-junk-we/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The greatest thing you do as a leader may not be what you do as a leader but who watches you do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-greatest-thing-you-do-as-a-leader-may-not-be-what-you-do-as-a/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“right standing with God comes through faith in the promises of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/right-standing-with-god-comes-through-faith-in-the-promises-of-god/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [People pray in one direction but they walk in a different direction, and direction always determines where we end up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/people-pray-in-one-direction-but-they-walk-in-a-different-direction/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The God of Christianity never claims to be fair. He goes beyond fair. The Bible teaches that he decided not to give us what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-god-of-christianity-never-claims-to-be-fair-he-goes-beyond-fair/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Any fear associated with giving to God's kingdom is irrational. It's on par with a farmer who, out of fear of losing his seed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/any-fear-associated-with-giving-to-god-s-kingdom-is-irrational-it-s/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We rob ourselves when we make decisions in the moment with no thought of how those decisions will impact our futures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/we-rob-ourselves-when-we-make-decisions-in-the-moment-with-no-thought/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“In the critical arenas of life, you cannot make up for lost time. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/in-the-critical-arenas-of-life-you-cannot-make-up-for-lost-time-as/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [I've talked to many individuals who want to discuss their problems. But they don't really have problems. They have chosen to live in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-ve-talked-to-many-individuals-who-want-to-discuss-their-problems/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [I can't make people fall in love with Jesus, but I can arrange dates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-can-t-make-people-fall-in-love-with-jesus-but-i-can-arrange-dates/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [A leader is someone who has the courage to say publicly what everybody else is whispering privately. It is not his insight that sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/a-leader-is-someone-who-has-the-courage-to-say-publicly-what/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/when-your-memories-exceed-your-dreams-the-end-is-near/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) [Explore all 386 Andy Stanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe one of the best preparations for marriage is participating in a small group. 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