
In Thrive, Pastor Bigney applies God’s Word to marriage and parenting which will help you turn your surviving into thriving.
Episodes
74- · 26 minYour Marriage Is Reaping What Your Words Have Sown
You’ve prayed for better communication in your marriage, but the same arguments keep happening. What’s missing? Brad and Vicki Bigney explain why lasting change requires more than good intentions. Drawing from Matthew 12 and biblical counseling principles, they reveal how your heart drives your words, why careless speech matters to God, and how intentional, grace-empowered effort can help you replace destructive communication habits with words that strengthen your marriage. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minYour Marriage Can Recover From Hurtful Words—Here’s How
Hurtful words can leave a marriage feeling burned to the ground—but the damage doesn’t have to be permanent. Brad and Vicki Bigney share four practical, biblical steps for rebuilding after destructive communication. Discover how humility, repentance, and godly communication can begin restoring trust and hope in your marriage. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minDo You Want To Win The Argument—Or Win Over Your Spouse?
You can win argument after argument and still lose the closeness you desperately want in your marriage. Brad and Vicki Bigney share practical principles for better, God-pleasing communication, from assuming the best to asking clearly for help and beginning hard conversations gently. Find out how changing the way you talk could help replace defensiveness and resentment with partnership, connection, and biblical love. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minWhy the Silent Treatment Is Hurting Your Marriage
The silent treatment, constant criticism, and keeping score may feel justified in the moment, but they can quietly push your spouse further away. Brad and Vicki Bigney expose the destructive communication habits that keep marriages stuck and explain why you may need to “word your way” toward a better place. Discover how biblical wisdom and the Holy Spirit can help you replace harsh, damaging patterns with words that cultivate peace, security, and genuine intimacy. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minAre You Using Your Spouse’s Vulnerabilities Against Them?
Does your spouse feel safe enough to be vulnerable with you—or have your words taught them to keep their guard up? Brad and Vicki Bigney expose how character assassination, past failures, and weaponized insecurities can quietly destroy emotional safety and intimacy in marriage. Discover how biblical love can reshape the way you speak about your spouse’s weaknesses and help move your marriage toward greater trust and closeness. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minAre You Sowing Life or Death Into Marriage?
Your words are planting seeds in your marriage every day—but what kind of harvest are they producing? Brad and Vicki Bigney explore the biblical power of the tongue and expose how contempt, sarcasm, and judgment can quietly push your spouse away. Discover how to stop sowing words that wound and start speaking life that cultivates greater love, closeness, and Christlikeness. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minHow Your Words Can Make or Break Your Marriage
How much damage can a few careless words really do to a marriage? Brad and Vicki Bigney explore what James 3 reveals about the tongue, self-control, and the surprising power your words have to shape the course of your relationships. Learn why stewarding your words matters—and how changing the way you speak could begin changing the direction of your marriage. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minThe Marriage Breakthrough That Starts With Listening
Why do some marriages grow stronger through stress while others slowly drift apart? Brad and Vicki Bigney reveal how biblical communication, genuine listening, and Christ-centered empathy can transform your marriage into a place of trust, safety, and oneness. Discover the subtle responses that either strengthen intimacy—or quietly damage it. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minFeeling Distant? These Conversations Build Real Oneness
Is your marriage filled with schedules, responsibilities, and logistics—but missing genuine connection? Brad and Vicki Bigney reveal how biblical communication can move a relationship from surviving to thriving by creating deeper oneness, shared purpose, and fresh hope. Learn why the conversations you’re avoiding may be the very thing your marriage needs most. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minStruggling to Connect? Healthy Couples Do This Differently
Do you feel like you live with your spouse but no longer truly know them? Brad and Vicki Bigney explore how curiosity, intentional conversations, and biblical stewardship of words can transform an ordinary marriage into a thriving one. Discover why the smallest interactions often have the greatest impact on connection and unity. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minThe Communication Habit Healthy Couples Never Skip
Pastor Brad Bigney and his wife Vicki unpack why so many Christian marriages slowly drift into shallow, disconnected communication without even realizing it. From daily check-ins to learning how to ask better questions, this conversation reveals simple biblical habits that can rebuild emotional connection and strengthen intimacy. If your marriage feels more functional than thriving, this discussion may expose what’s quietly missing. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minLearn Your Spouse Before You Lose Connection
Pastor Brad Bigney and his wife Vicki expose the hidden expectations, frustrations, and communication habits quietly damaging Christian marriages. If you’ve spent years wishing your spouse would change, this conversation will challenge the way you think about biblical love, sanctification, and marriage communication. Learn why truly understanding your spouse—not remaking them—is often the breakthrough struggling couples desperately need. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minThe Importance Of Making THIS Safe For Your Spouse
What does it really mean for your marriage to be a safe place for your spouse? Brad and Vicki Bigney walk through practical ways to replace fix-it instincts with biblical listening that builds trust and oneness. If you long for conversations that strengthen your roots instead of shallow exchanges that frustrate, this will challenge and equip you. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minBusy Schedule, Broken Marriage Communication—Here’s The Fix
Brad Bigney and his wife Vicki expose how hurried schedules and shallow exchanges slowly erode marital connection. Want to learn how to lean into deeper conversations without turning every talk into a therapy session? This teaching will give you meaningful direction. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minMarriage Taking Lots Of Effort? Here’s Why That Could Be A Good Thing
Do you and your spouse ever seem to be speaking different languages? Using biblical examples and real-life stories, pastor Brad Bigney and his wife Vicki address why real, effective communication can sometimes feel exhausting - and how that might actually be a sign of something good. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minIs This What’s Fracturing Your Marriage Conversations?
Pastor Brad Bigney and his wife Vicki tackle one of the most overlooked marriage killers. With biblical clarity from Ephesians 5 and Galatians 5, they explain how keeping in step with the Holy Spirit transforms everything about the way you communicate. If your relationship is defined by frustration, this will show you how to start thriving. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minHow The Way You Communicate Reflects Christ To Your Spouse
Your spouse can tell within seconds whether you truly care—based on how you listen. Pastor Brad Bigney reveals why Scripture commands you to be “quick to hear, slow to speak,” and how this one shift can instantly deepen trust and emotional safety in your marriage. You’ll learn practical, biblical habits that help you reflect Christ and create the kind of connection every marriage longs for. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minTHIS Is The Key To Healthy Marriage Communication
Most marriages don’t fall apart from lack of love—but from lack of truly listening. Pastor Brad Bigney reveals how grace-filled, Christlike listening can instantly deepen trust, restore emotional safety, and transform everyday conversations with your spouse. Learn the biblical communication principles that can move your marriage from distance and frustration to genuine intimacy and lasting spiritual unity. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- The Biblical Key To Ending Your Marriage Wars
You can love Jesus, know your Bible, and still wreck conversations at home. Many marriages don’t collapse from one big sin but from one hidden habit that keeps repeating every day. It feels normal. It feels justified. It quietly destroys unity. Once you see it, you won’t be able to ignore it — and fixing it changes everything. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!
- · 26 minTired Of The Same Arguments? Make Sure You’re Doing THIS Well First
Pastor Brad Bigny and his wife, Vicki, expose the missing piece in most marriage conflict: real listening. If your conversations feel tense, repetitive, or hopeless, this will help you see what’s quietly sabotaging understanding. One biblical shift could change how your spouse hears you—and how you hear them. ___ Thanks for listening! Thrive would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Thrive we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!