20 Best Books On Christian Marriage (2023 Update)

Updated with discussion questions and two bonus chapters when you say "i do," you begin the journey of a lifetime– and you have dreams of that journey being perfect. but it won't take long for expectations of the perfect marriage to fade away in the struggles of everyday life. a long-term, vibrant marriage needs to be grounded in something sturdier than romance–it needs the life-changing power of the gospel. in this rebranded edition of what did you expect?, popular author and pastor paul david tripp encourages couples to make six biblical commitments to the lord and to one another. these commitments, which include a lifestyle of confession and forgiveness, building trust, and appreciating differences, will equip couples to cultivate thriving, joy-filled marriages built on christ.

A longtime christian teacher and counselor calls engaged and married couples to a grace-based lifestyle of daily reconciliation, marked by six practical commitments. marriage, according to scripture, will always involve two flawed people living with each other in a fallen world. yet, in counselor paul tripp's professional experience, the majority of couples enter marriage with unrealistic expectations, leaving them unprepared for the day-to-day realities of married life. this unique book introduces a biblical and practical approach to those realities that is rooted in god's faithfulness and scripture's teaching on sin and grace. spouses need to be reconciled to each other and to god on a daily basis, tripp declares. it must be the lifestyle of any healthy marriage. presents six practical commitments that give shape and momentum to such a lifestyle. these commitments, which include honestly facing sin, weakness, and failure; willingness to change; and embodying christ's love, will equip couples to develop a thriving, grace-based marriage in all circumstances and seasons of their relationship.

Marriage on the rock 25th anniversarythe comprehensive guide to a solid, healthy and lasting marriagewhile many people desperately want a marriage that works, fewer of them really believe they can experience success. in this book, leading marriage expert jimmy evans discusses practical real-life challenges and offers solutions on how to have a healthy and thriving marriage. whether you've been married for years or are just preparing for the journey, marriage on the rock is the essential resource that will transform your relationship.

Are faulty beliefs damaging your marriage? if you are experiencing conflict, anger, or hurt in your marriage, you don't need positive thinking or an escape clause–you need to replace the lies you believe with god's transforming truths for your relationship to become all that it was meant to be. according to dr. chris thurman, everyone enters marriage with misguided attitudes and expectations such as: "my spouse is a bigger mess than me."" the purpose of marriage is to be happy."" my spouse should meet all my needs." this practical book dismantles the ten most common lies couples believe and helps you renew your mind with god's truths for a more caring, close, and connected marriage.

52 weeks of newlywed devotionals for navigating a god-centered marriage marriage is a journey of both hills and valleys, and newlyweds are just beginning this great adventure. by following god's way and making him the center of their marriage from the start, couples can avoid rockier paths and create stronger foundations. in this spiritual and practical devotional, marriage coaches chris and jamie bailey speak to the particular challenges that every newlywed couple faces and provide both inspiration and guidance. newlywed couple's devotional features: – 52 weekly devotionals that explore common issues and themes every couple experiences, such as intimacy, love, commitment, household duties, finances, and more – everyday scripture and reflective bible studies that provide practical solutions to bringing marriages closer to god – action-oriented discussion prompts that hold couples accountable for maintaining their god-anchored vows – weekly prayers that are specific and relevant to the topics discussed whether couples are just getting back from their honeymoons or renewing their vows, this timeless devotional offers essential navigation tools for finding god's purpose in marriage.

Just as masters and johnson were pioneers in the study of human sexuality, so dr. john gottman has revolutionized the study of marriage. as a professor of psychology at the university of washington and the founder and director of the seattle marital and family institute, he has studied the habits of married couples in unprecedented detail over the course of many years. his findings, and his heavily attended workshops, have already turned around thousands of faltering marriages. – this book is the culmination of his life's work: the seven principles that guide couples on the path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. straightforward in their approach, yet profound in their effect, these principles teach partners new and startling strategies for making their marriage work. gottman helps couples focus on each other, on paying attention to the small day-to-day moments that, strung together, make up the heart and soul of any relationship. being thoughtful about ordinary matters provides spouses with a solid foundation for resolving conflict when it does occur and finding strategies for living with those issues that cannot be resolved. – packed with questionnaires and exercises whose effectiveness has been proven in dr. gottman's workshops,the seven principles for making marriage work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential. john gottman's many years of closely observing thousands of marriages. this kind of longitudinal research has never been done before. based on his findings, he has culled seven principles essential to the success of any marriage. – maintain a love map. foster fondness and admiration. turn toward instead of away. accept influence. solve solvable conflicts. cope with conflicts you can't resolve. create shared meaning. – dr. gottman's unique questionnaires and exercises will guide couples on the road to revitalizing their marriage, or making a strong one even better.

Strengthen your marriage and reconnect with god with this simple guided system without spending thousands of dollars on a marital counselor… are you struggling to prioritize your marriage in a world that demands more than ever from your time and attention? do you feel like life's daily demands and interruptions are too much to handle as a couple? you're not alone. marriage can feel like a rollercoaster, with ups and downs that you and your partner navigate together. with someone beside you in the passenger seat, the uncertainties that lie ahead are made more manageable. yet individual obligations, worries, and fears can make finding time to open up and reconnect with one another and god feel impossible. in the busy modern world, it's easier than ever to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and disconnected from your spouse. but it doesn't have to be this way. many couples have been where you are and learned how to embrace one another more tightly, love more intensely, and trust more implicitly than ever before. in fact, just by landing where you are right now, you've already taken the first step down the path to creating a more open and devoted connection. setting aside just one hour each week to work through each topic will ensure real progress, as you make the conscious decision to dedicate time and energy to build a christ-centered marriage with your spouse as your family grows. in christian marriage devotional for couples, here is just a fraction of what you will discover: 52 weekly studies that provide spiritual insights and practical applications to use in your day-to-day life unique scripture selections for topics such as handling conflict, discussing finances, and accepting help from one another the secret to maintaining physical intimacy — and how you can incorporate it naturally into your routine how to find god in the everyday and embrace his decisions, even when they seem impossible to understand thought provoking discussion questions that will help you assess your own relationship with god and family as you progress through the year weekly prayers designed to keep you and your spouse actively engaged in your spiritual practices how to overcome unfaithfulness without breaking, even when it feels like it's the last thing you can possibly manage simple, practical action steps that will guide you on your journey to rediscovering love and joy in your marriage while raising your children with the word of god and much more. no matter what season of life you and your partner find yourselves in, it's never too early or too late to experience more love and fulfillment in your relationship. from adjusting to life as newlyweds to refocusing on a growing family, you'll find practical guidance and inspiration useful at any stage of marriage. if you're ready to build a stronger, more intimate christ-centered marriage, then start reading this book today.

In the beginning, marriage doesn't seem as though it should be all that difficult. but it doesn't take long for trouble to seep in and for bad habits to become entrenched. before long, many married couples may be wondering when the "worse" part ends and the "better" part starts.pastor and author kevin a. thompson has good news for couples: the "better" part is always within reach when they practice eight specific commitments to each other. these commitments have the power to solve almost any problem a marriage faces, and to prevent new ones from occurring. with biblical insights and engaging personal stories, thompson shows couples how to see their marriage as bigger than themselves, avoid both apathy and aggression, release the desire for power, make and maintain peace, endure difficult times, and more. perfect for newlyweds and for married couples at any stage of life, happily is the gateway to a more loving, more joy-filled marriage.

With prayers to share: 100 notes of love to affirm your marriage, you can let your spouse know that you're praying for them, that you're in their corner, and that you truly care about how their day went. each loving note includes a prayer, along with a corresponding scripture and inspirational quote.

The modern dating system is bankrupt. it does not train young people to form a relationship but rather to form a series of relationships, hardening themselves to all but the current one. recreational dating encourages emotional attachments without covenantal fences and makes a joke of a father's authority. the disrespect children have for their fathers in this area is an echo of the disrespect fathers have for their own office. biblical courtship provides a wonderful freedom. it involves familial wisdom and godly protection. grounded upon the involved authority of the father, courtship delights in its public connection to the lives of families. sexual purity is a great inheritance for a marriage, and part of a father's job is to guarantee and protect that heritage. biblical courtship is a humble affront to the sterility of modern relationships. and as a new generation rejoices in this ancient wisdom, the current waves of broken relationships will begin to recede.

“incredibly rich with wisdom and insight that will leave the reader, whether single or married, feeling uplifted.” —the washington timesbased on the acclaimed sermon series by new york times bestselling author timothy keller, this book shows everyone—christians, skeptics, singles, longtime married couples, and those about to be engaged—the vision of what marriage should be according to the bible.modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. but these modern-day assumptions are wrong. timothy keller, with insights from kathy, his wife of thirty-seven years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. the meaning of marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know god and love more deeply in this life.

“incredibly rich with wisdom and insight that will leave the reader, whether single or married, feeling uplifted.” —the washington timesbased on the acclaimed sermon series by new york times bestselling author timothy keller, this book shows everyone—christians, skeptics, singles, longtime married couples, and those about to be engaged—the vision of what marriage should be according to the bible.modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. but these modern-day assumptions are wrong. timothy keller, with insights from kathy, his wife of thirty-seven years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. the meaning of marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know god and love more deeply in this life.

Improve your marriageand have some fun along the waywith christian psychologist david clarke's latest book, the top 10 most outrageous couples of the bible. drawing on the stories of adam and eve, abraham and sarah, jacob and rachel and leah (yeah, one guy with two wives), and several others, clarke provides both biblical teaching and real-life counseling expertise to help you see what will workand not workin your marriage today. written with plenty of humor, the top 10 most outrageous couples of the bible proves that outrageous” isn't a bad thingas clarke says, it's not always pretty. but it's always powerful.”

Building foundations for a godly marriage can be used as an eight-week small group study on marriage, a pre-marital or marital counseling curriculum, or simply to help one have a deeper understanding of marriage. "expositional, theological, and candidly practical! i highly recommend the bible teacher's guide for anyone seeking to better understand or teach god's word." -dr. young-gil kim, founding president of handong global university "greg brown's the bible teacher's guide is thorough, scholarly enough to explain the text, clear, and practical. he treats difficult verses fairly and with helpful explanations (unlike many commentaries that skip the explanation right where you want it!). this study could be used by pastors as an aid for sermon preparation, by small group leaders, or by any believer who wants to understand and apply god's word personally. i can't imagine any student of scripture not benefiting by this work." -steven j. cole, pastor, flagstaff christian fellowship, author of the riches from the word series

From the bestselling author of marriage on the rock, four laws of love represents the culmination of jimmy evans' influential career. in this deeply personal book, jimmy evans outlines the foundational pillars upon which god designed marriage. without holding back, he tells the story of his own marriage, which was hurtling toward divorce until this self-proclaimed "bad husband" came to recognize and put into practice these four laws. this book sounds a wake-up call for every kind of marriage, including those that are barely surviving and those that seem to operate on autopilot. couples who follow these simple guidelines — recognizing the original intent and purpose of marriage–will inject new life into their unions. they'll see hurting marriages find healing and watch good marriages become great. each revitalized relationship will play a part in restoring marriage to its sacred role at the center of human civilization.

Do you want practical biblical advice for your marriage? "i'm afraid this book may put a lot of divorce lawyers out of business. from page 1 till the end it's packed with practical advice for all married people. i've been happily married for over 50 years to the same wonderful woman, and i still learned a lot from it. this is down to earth practical advice for all married or engaged couples." frank sousa my my my… you have definitely hit the target with this book. it is awesome how you dig into the depths of the bible and provide great revelations. then take those revelations and address current issues in today's world. this book will be used as required reading at the daughterz of thunder school of ministry. some really good insight into the word regarding marriage that i'd never heard or thought of before". – colleen gifford "i love the fact that it separates man and woman and their duties, roles, and responsibilities. i love how it is aligned directly with the word and shows you exactly where to reference. i love how they both are called by god to carry out his purpose by following their role. i love how their role complements each other and shows how they are one and not separate. it's not man vs. woman its man and woman as a team. dr. arvella this christian marriage help workbook will take you on a journey to show god's blueprint for christian marriages between man and woman and teach you the things the preacher didn't say at the altar. when reading this book, you will also discover a better: knowledge of god's love for you. love for god. love for yourself. love for your spouse. love for your marriage. as a result of reading this god-centered christian help workbook for couples, you will see and experience the awesome heart of god and a transformation in your marriage. you will discover his purpose and intentions for you and your marriage. you will learn, feel and experience a great revelation of god reciprocating his love for you as an individual and reuniting the two of you together as one. as you carry it in your hearts, it will help you have a sledgehammer proof marriage. when this happens, you will, walk bold and proudly together as a couple, representing christ and the church to the entire world! about the authors: bruce kelley and rachale kelley are the owners of empowered to be present llc. and passionate about developing christ-like marriages after being married for 26 years, giving birth to three children, one with special needs. they are leading a marriage ministry at their home church where they love encouraging and praying for other couples. bruce is the author of "90 days with god," a licensed social worker, counselor, and ordained minister. he obtained his bachelor in liberal studies degree with a concentration in social work and his master's in divinity degree. rachale is a sahm of 18 years. she has served in many capacities in the church including, administration and teaching. she is a certified professional life, marriage, and business coach and a mentor who helps women discover hope and healing in their everyday lives.

The puritans believed that godly marriages were foundational for the future life of families, churches, and nations. therefore, they wrote prolifically on the subject of marriage, seeking to bring biblical reformation to this subject in a comprehensive way. martin luther, john calvin, and other previous reformers had begun this task, but the puritans took it much further, writing a number of detailed treatises on how to live as godly spouses. out of the wealth of material available to us from the seventeenth century, joel r. la belle have gathered together insights from the past and summarized them in a contemporary form in order to encourage modern day coupled to glorify god in marriage. table of contents: 1. the institution and honor of marriage 2. the purposes and benefits of marriage 3. securing a good entrance into marriage 4. preserving the honor of marriage 5. the mutual duties of love and chastity 6. the mutual duties of help and peace 7. the wife's duties in marriage 8. the husband's duty of love 9. the husband's duty of authority 10. concluding counsel appendix: george swinnock's prayers for husbands and wives

The bestselling gold medallion winner love for a lifetime has brought hope, harmony, and healing to millions of homes worldwide, giving men and women powerful and biblical insights for building lasting marital harmony. encouraging and practical, this proven classic is perfect for every husband and wife who want to strengthen and celebrate their marriage relationship. the joining of husband and wife in marriage is the most fulfilling human relationship possible. there is nothing like being loved unconditionally and intimately, decade after decade, by someone who promises to be there for better or for worse for the remaining days of your lives. for this reason, nurturing and celebrating each other is the most important investment of time and energy you can make as a couple. and millions around the world can testify, the surest way to preserving a marriage is by applying the principles outlined in god's word. with bible-based insights shared by today's foremost family advocate, love for a lifetime is a modern classic. this newly updated edition delivers the wisdom that will bring success to your marriage… for as long as you both shall live. story behind the book for every ten marriages in america today, five will end in bitter conflict and divorce. and only one or two couples in ten will achieve what might be called "intimacy" in their marriages. this book helps keep readers from being passive victims in the unfolding drama of their lives together. they can build a stable, satisfying, intimate relationship that will withstand the storms of life. all they need is a little wise counsel…and a burning desire to succeed. based on information from a panel of successfully married couples, on the research of respected experts in the field, and on the principles endorsed by the creator of families himself, love for a lifetime is designed to help couples do just that.

God's prescription for a great marriage everyone wants to experience a great marriage that lasts. the most effective and satisfying way to achieve that worthy goal is by consulting the one who created marriage in the first place. with compassion, transparency, and engaging storytelling, author and pastor chip ingram unpacks what marriage really is, why god created marriage, and the unique roles both a man and a woman play in their marriage. a marriage that works, says ingram, is more wonderful than you thought possible and harder than you imagined–but it's worth the work. you'll learn the power of making a covenant with your spouse and fulfilling your design in an atmosphere of respect. the result? the spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical oneness you were designed to have with one another.

The bestselling gold medallion winner love for a lifetime has brought hope, harmony, and healing to millions of homes worldwide, giving men and women powerful and biblical insights for building lasting marital harmony. encouraging and practical, this proven classic is perfect for every husband and wife who want to strengthen and celebrate their marriage relationship. the joining of husband and wife in marriage is the most fulfilling human relationship possible. there is nothing like being loved unconditionally and intimately, decade after decade, by someone who promises to be there for better or for worse for the remaining days of your lives. for this reason, nurturing and celebrating each other is the most important investment of time and energy you can make as a couple. and millions around the world can testify, the surest way to preserving a marriage is by applying the principles outlined in god's word. with bible-based insights shared by today's foremost family advocate, love for a lifetime is a modern classic. this newly updated edition delivers the wisdom that will bring success to your marriage… for as long as you both shall live. story behind the book for every ten marriages in america today, five will end in bitter conflict and divorce. and only one or two couples in ten will achieve what might be called "intimacy" in their marriages. this book helps keep readers from being passive victims in the unfolding drama of their lives together. they can build a stable, satisfying, intimate relationship that will withstand the storms of life. all they need is a little wise counsel…and a burning desire to succeed. based on information from a panel of successfully married couples, on the research of respected experts in the field, and on the principles endorsed by the creator of families himself, love for a lifetime is designed to help couples do just that.