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Summary: Think differently, and grow spiritually through marriage!
Review: 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!
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Summary: Refreshingly Different
Review: I did this as a study with 2 other women and we all agreed it changed our marriage and outlook-- it is refreshingly different because it comes from a totally different perspective (the subtitle is "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?"). I don't know if we are allowed to quote, but am going to anyway "I hope it is not heretical for me to claim that in his dealings with us, God acts in many ways like a woman. Women are capable of and sometimes commit magnificent acts that manifest incredible power and awaken in us men a profound awe, if not fear and trembling. Yet when they love, they love quietly; they speak, as it were, in whispers and we have to listen carefully, attentively, to hear their words of love and to know them. Isn't God also this way?" Having said that-- (this REALLY comes from a male perspective, obviously, being written by a man), it isn't all "women are awesome and men are heels". Less I sound like I'm related to the author (I'm not), I'll admit the first chapter was pretty clinical, but hang in there, it is awesome! Lots of case examples, scripture references and meaty food for thought and application. This is a MUST READ for anyone in or leading a premarital counseling, marriage enrichment or marriage rebuilding seminar-- and especially those struggling through the tough years of their marriage. BUY IT! What more can I say?!
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Summary: A Radical and Rare Paradigm Shifter
Review: I have read multiple books on marriage, attended multiple seminars, taught on the subject, even got radical and went out and got married myself 15 years ago(still am!), but this is the most thought provoking and deep material I have ever been exposed to about marriage. What would happen if you considered God's main purpose of marriage was to draw you closer to Him, maybe even seeing marriage as God's primary tool to bring you to Him in this life? Read this book & prepare to see marriage in a radically new way. Highly recommended for people preparing for marriage and in all stages of married life.
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Summary: An Awesome Book to begin the journey
Review: I usually avoid marriage books on every occasion, and this one was no different. However, I did pick it up a number of months ago, and after reading the first few chapters, I put it down, realizing that I needed to read it with my wife. This didn't happen, of course, until about six weeks ago, when we needed some counsel on some trying areas of our marriage. I mentioned that I had this book at work, and when I brought it home, I read it together with my wife, and I'll tell you this...it has changed my thinking.Gary Thomas doesn't pussy-foot around, and if you're looking for the quick fix, this isn't it, but he brings it down to earth with his own personal stories and reflections, as well as research from many of the classic Christian traditions, as well as folks he's counseled with. Being a marriage counselor himself, he looks at himself first before taking on a challenge, and this book was a tremendous challenge. It is provocative and admirable, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to change and begin the journey. Maybe I should give it ten stars instead of five!!!
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Summary: A Life-changing Perspective
Review: More than any other book so far, this one has changed me within the context of my marriage. This is not a book about how to have a better marriage - it is about how to build a better you using your marriage. Gary Thomas talks about all of the different ways God forms our character in our marriage, even when it is a one-sided act and how this process draws us closer to him. Everyone that is married knows that marriage does not always makes us happy. After going through this, I am finding more and more about how God is changing me though my wife. I have learned to serve better, listen better, etc and to do so expecting holiness as a result and a closer walk with God. If my wife reciprocates, that is secondary - the main focus is to draw closer to God. This book will transform your perspective on marriage. I recommend it highly!
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Summary: Finally a great book about Christian Marriage
Review: Most Christian books about marriage I have read mention the aspect of Holiness and then go on to focus on any number of other aspects of marriage. For the most part they are full of fluff. Nice thoughts, but fluff none the less. As Christians we are called to a life with greater content. This book focuses on the greater content.
Marriage is first and foremost a Holy picture of the relationship of Jesus Christ and His people, the Church. This being true, then there are very serious implictions and applications of the truth within our married lives. This book deals with such. It contains very thought provoking material. The book is one of those special life changing reads.
As married Christians we are priviledged by God to picture, to demonstrate the love of Christ for the Church. May we all better understand this truth and may we make more powerful application of it to our lives.
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Summary: Buy one for each newly wed couple you know
Review: 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.
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Summary: Best Christian marriage book I've ever read
Review: My wife and I can't say enough good things about this book. Reading it together dramatically changed the tone of our entire relationship. The whole thing is based on one simple premise, revealed in the subtitle: "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" Thomas backs up his premise not only with scripture, but with ample research from classic, historical Christian authors. As believers, we are not our own; we are bought with a price. Our purpose in this life is to serve God with our whole heart, to love Him. Seeking pleasure and fulfillment in relationships apart from him is not just selfish, it's futile. This book is the most balanced marriage book I've ever seen. It's not a "his fault/her fault" type of book. Although some chapters tend to favor working with one spouse over the other, both sides come out even. We've handed out these books like candy, and seen God move in people's lives and marriages as they use its wisdom to hold themselves accountable to what God requires of each of us individually. We worked through Sacred Marriage with a small Christian study group over the course of a few months, and saw great strides in everyone's lives. You have to focus yourself as you read, and acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is trying to speak to YOU, and not give you ammunition to throw at your spouse. If you read it with your spouse in mind, you could easily miss the point. Even if your marriage is already strong, this book is still simply awesome. Wonderful.
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Summary: Wonderful!!!
Review: Sacred Marriage is the best marriage book I have ever read, and I have read at least a dozen. Gary Thomas covers all the topics of marriage in a challenging way. He helps you consider God's plan for marriage, and how our marriages are training grounds for our marriage to the Lord, and vice-versa. Due to the depth of the book, the reader must be of at least normal intelligence, but other than that,...this book is superb!! Read it and be challenged! Thank you Gary!
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Summary: Need peace in a challenging marriage? Considering marriage?
Review: Sometimes the only way to find peace amid the challenges of the downs in life is to breathe through them. To stop and look around and ask yourself if maybe you're missing the point. This book is an excellent tool to help you step back from a seemingly unhappy situation or marriage and consider the challenges you face to be opportunities for amazing growth as a person, as a spouse, and as a Christian. I highly recommend it - Also, it's particularly good for those considering marriage, as it can help prepare you for the reality of life after the honeymoon.
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