Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy

By Gary L. Thomas

Book Overview

Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person. It is a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust him more fully, and love him more deeply. Scores of books have been written that offer guidance for building the marriage of your dreams. But what if God s primary intent for your marriage isn t to make you happy . . . but holy? And what if your relationship isn t as much about you and your spouse as it is about you and God? Everything about your marriage--everything--is filled with prophetic potential, with the capacity for discovering and revealing Christ s character. The respect you accord your partner; the forgiveness you humbly seek and graciously extend; the ecstasy, awe, and sheer fun of lovemaking; the history you and your spouse build with one another--in these and other facets of your marriage, Sacred Marriage uncovers the mystery of God s overarching purpose. This book may very well alter profoundly the contours of your marriage. It will most certainly change you. Because whether it is delightful or difficult, your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God, and to a spiritual integrity that, like salt, seasons the world around you with the savor of Christ."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310242827
• ISBN13: 9780310242826
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.8" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

I always wanted this book!

A biblical instructional book that I always wanted, I'm so excited to read it.

Marriage is sacred

Love this book and it’s insight in marriage relationships. Great gift

Beat expectations

My wife and I read two books when we went through counseling with our pastor. I particularly found them almost useless. After we got married, I especially wanted some more practical guidance during the tremendous process of change that takes place immediately after marriage. My view of many things concerning marriage was skewed, badly. I searched for a book because it was the most convenient form of advice I'd take. I bought this book and have been most rewarded for doing so. Thomas is evangelical (a scary idea to me) but he cites many theologians from across church history to help convey his ideas and message. His anecdotes are quite absorbing yet short enough to appreciate how they relate to my own situation. My situation was mostly in terms of ideas, i.e., the ideas I had about marriage. Thomas has done much to correct them and put marriage in proper light. He doesn't try to be your friend and sound odd doing so, but he wants his readers to know how marriage is of God and used by God. As he says, marriage is not about making us happy but making us holy. Though at first this sounded way too evangelical for me, Thomas is not pietistic in his approach to marriage. He's quite realistic and grounded. The questions were very helpful as my wife and I used them as part of our reading of the book. We're not even finished with the book but we're already reaping its benefits. If you're looking for a book that will actually help you in your marriage (I'm speaking as a newly wed and this may pertain more to this demographic), then investing in this book will meet your expectations.

Awesome

I can't think of another word to describe this book than - awesome. I am rarely impressed with books these days but this one really moved me deeply. This is only the second review I have written.A great companion book would be The RoMANtic's Guide -- it speaks about finding the "man" or "woman" in romance -- not caving in to the impersonal commercial approach to romance most people do these days. It was very enlightening and helpful.

A refreshing refresher!

I found Sacred Marriage to be one of the most honest and practical reads on marriage in a long time. It doesn't portray a lily-white Christian this-is-how-it's-supposed-to-be picture of man and wife, instead it fosters great acceptance of the way things really are in marriage, with a view on the greater purpose of growing closer to God, both individually and together. A worthy book for any library, and a refreshing book for any marriage that is wearying on the road to holiness.