Premarital
Because you can reduce your risk of divorce by 30%.
High Value
Preparing for marriage is important, so important that it has been found to reduce the rate of divorce by 30%. Premarital coaching and education are investments in your future, investments you shouldn’t risk to pass up. This is marriage after all!
How it works
Whichever book you choose, Mark and Karen personally coach you through every chapter.
You won’t do this alone. Start with a “Let’s Get Acquainted” Zoom with us, then after each chapter you’ll book a Zoom review with Mark and Karen to talk through what you discovered.
Step 1 — Book a free Zoom call
Pick a time on our calendar. It’s a no-obligation, 30-minute Zoom call so you can get to know us and we can hear from both of you.
Step 2 — Get your online books, Start Naked
Option 1 — Online book + coaching
Each of you gets your own online Start Naked book. Answer each chapter on your own, discuss your answers together, then meet with Mark and Karen on Zoom to review it.
Price: $75 per couple covers both online books and personal coaching with Mark and Karen through all six chapters.
Option 2 — Paperback + coaching
Prefer paper? Each of you buys your own Start Naked paperback on Amazon. Answer each chapter on your own, discuss together, then meet with Mark and Karen on Zoom to review it.
Price: $50 per couple for personal coaching with Mark and Karen through all six chapters (books purchased separately on Amazon).
Book your review lessons on our Calendly: Wednesdays at 5 pm and 7 pm, Saturdays at 3, 5 and 7 pm (Pacific).
Look inside Start Naked
Click here for the sample book (PDF)
Next, fill out our short online Premarital Application so we can get to know you both before we begin.
Fill out the Premarital Application
Step 3 — Answer on your own, then meet to discuss
For each lesson, each of you answers the questions in your own book first — honestly, no peeking.
Step 4 — Meet with us on Zoom
We walk through what you discovered, lesson by lesson. Premarital classes are by Zoom, not in person. There are typically six class sessions, and after each chapter couples book a Zoom review with Mark and Karen. The goal is to get through the course in 6 to 7 weeks.
Step 5 — Build on the Rock
Finish ready to say “I do” — knowing each other better and knowing how to talk about the hard things. We also offer a check-in after the wedding.
Cost
Online book: $75 per couple, books and coaching included. Paperback: $50 per couple for coaching, plus your two Amazon copies. The Marriage Refuge is supported by donations — please prayerfully consider giving, or paying it forward for a future couple. Donate
Who it’s for
- Engaged couples, or couples seriously thinking about marriage
- Couples who want a marriage built on Christ, not just a nice wedding
- Couples where one or both have been married before — you are welcome here
The workbook: Start Naked
A Premarital Workbook for Couples — by Mark & Karen Stevens, authors of Fight Naked and Thrive Naked.
Before you say “I do,” get honest.
What if you could walk into marriage already knowing how your fiancé(e) thinks about money, conflict, family, faith, children, and sex — and already knowing how to talk about the hard things?
What does “naked” mean?
Not physical. We are not encouraging anyone to be physically naked or to have sex before marriage — God designed sex for a husband and wife within marriage, and it is worth waiting for. To start naked means to be naked in heart: open and honest with each other and with God, with nothing hidden.
“The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.” — Genesis 2:25
Six lessons
- Where We Come From — the “suitcase” each of you brings from your family
- Two Becoming One — God’s design: receive, leave, hold fast, become one
- Eyes Wide Open — how well you fit, red flags, and making the decision
- Talk Naked — listening, speaking, fighting fair, and forgiveness
- Partners at Home — roles, chores, children, careers, and money
- Naked and Unashamed — God’s gift of intimacy and building on the Rock
Every lesson includes
- A Scripture verse and short devotional
- Questions you answer in your own separate book
- Weekly couple challenges and space for notes
- A time to share your answers and discuss them, and a closing prayer
Lesson 1 is the longest. Lessons 2–6 take about an hour each: about 45 minutes on your own, then 15 minutes together.
Start Naked is the first book in our Naked series: Start Naked (before marriage), Fight Naked (when conflict comes), Thrive Naked (growing in the years ahead).
Meet Mark & Karen
Married 50 years, and we’ve coached hundreds of couples. We have 4 adult children and 7 grandkids. Karen was the pastor of the women’s ministry at the Rock Church. Mark was the Executive Pastor of Rock Church and has an MBA from Pepperdine. We’ve walked this road ourselves — what we share isn’t theory, it’s testimony.
Hear directly from couples we’ve worked with
“Mark and Karen have been guiding and directing us for years. We started in a premarital class with them and they modeled for us on how to have a Godly marriage. The class was great and helped us open up tremendously and we learned to communicate and to better understand each other. We’ve enjoyed years of marriage guidance from Mark and Karen.”
— Chuck & Tracy
Questions
Does it cost anything?
Online book: $75 per couple, books and coaching included. Paperback: $50 per couple for coaching, plus your two Amazon copies. The Marriage Refuge is supported by donations — please prayerfully consider giving, or paying it forward for a future couple.
Is it in person?
No. Premarital sessions are by Zoom, so you can join from anywhere.
Why is the book called Start Naked?
It’s about being open in heart — honest about your past, family, money, faith, and hopes. It is not about physical nakedness, and we encourage waiting for sex until marriage.
We’ve both been married before. Is this for us?
Yes. Many of the couples we’ve coached have been married before.
Do we have to be Christians?
The workbook is rooted in Scripture and we coach from a Christian view of marriage. Everyone is welcome to a free call to talk it through.
How long does it take?
Six lessons. Lesson 1 is the longest; the rest are about an hour each, plus a short weekly challenge. Most couples finish in 6 to 7 weeks, with one Zoom session per week.
Ready to start?
Questions? Let’s talk.
