Product Description

Starting with the discovery that the goal of marriage goes beyond personal happiness, writer and speaker Gary Thomas invites readers to see how God can use marriage as a discipline and a motivation to love him more and reflect more of the character of his Son.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #588 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From the Back Cover
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? Sacred Marriage invites you to view your marriage in a new and different light -- as a spiritual discipline, a means whereby you can come to know God more fully and intimately. Gary Thomas writes, "The ultimate purpose of this book is not to make you love your spouse more -- although I think that will happen along the way. It's to equip you to love your God more and to help you reflect the character of his Son more precisely." Historically, the "deeper walk" has been considered the province of the celibate, of saints and ascetics, monks and nuns. But the Bible, in depicting God's passionate, holy relationship with his people, is filled with images of the bridegroom and the bride and of a husband with his wife. 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 love-making; the history you and your mate build with one another -- in these and other facets of your marriage, Sacred Marriage uncovers the mystery of God's overarching purpose. Like no other spiritual discipline, marriage reveals your deep need to draw strength and life from Jesus Christ alone; consequently, it is unsurpassed for releasing his nature and vision in your life. Sacred Marriage 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.

About the Author
Gary Thomas is changing the way Christians look at marriage and parenting.The author of several books including Sacred Marriage, Sacred Parenting, Sacred Pathways and Authentic Faith, he also teaches at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.His books and his ministry focus on spiritual formation: how we can integrate Scripture, church history, and the time-tested wisdom of the Christian classics to transform our modern experience.Gary’s speaking ministry has led him to speak across the United States, in four different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including Focus on the Family and Family Life Today.He lives with his wife and children in Bellingham, Washington.

Customer Reviews

Buy one for each newly wed couple you know
My husband and I read this book for our pre-marital counseling, and it gave us a realistic yet inspired perspective on marriage that has held true every day of our three year marriage. Because of the wisdom we found in this well-written, relevant book, (a wisdom that is firmly founded in God's Word) we have not been suprised by the challenges that marriage has brought us, but were prepared and ready to focus on unconditionally loving each other rather than fretting over getting the other person to meet our needs for us. Even though we graduated college, moved 2000 miles, started new full time jobs for the first time, bought our first house and had two kids and 10 months of house guests all in three years, we were able to grow together through the whirlwind rather than take our stresses out on each other because this book adequately prepared us to consider that ultimately God designed marriage "not to make us happy, but to make us holy." And the joy that comes from true loving holiness is far better than the world's idea of happiness. I have recommended this book to many couples and even older couples whose marriage was on the brink of destruction have found it renewing and full of the deep, living nourishment that men and women need to truly love one another.

Excellent book for those married or considering marriage.
This book is amazing. The book is based on the idea that the Lord designed marriage not to make you happy but to make you holy. It will challenge and inspire you. I have read a lot of books on marriage and all pale compared to this one.

Think differently, and grow spiritually through marriage!
I always thought the "best" Christians were monks and nuns, but this book shows that most of the church has been married through the ages, and was more successful at it than we are now! Gary shows how marriage can be a tool for spiritual growth, and a spiritual discipline. He talks about how Christian marriage has the opportunity to be a witness to the rest of the world - but only if we take it seriously and engage with another person more deeply than we ever will with anyone else. I struggle with some aspects of my marriage, but this book put it in a lifetime perspective, and a Godly perspective. I'm giving it as a present at every wedding I go to from now on!