A Model for Marriage: Covenant, Grace, Empowerment and Intimacy [Paperback]

Jack O. Balswick (Author), Judith K. Balswick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2006

Jack and Judy Balswick offer a vision of marriage that is both profoundly spiritual and thoroughly practical. Drawing insight from Christian theology and from social science research, the Balswicks bring together their years of teaching, writing and being married to each other to produce a book of faith and wisdom for facing the challenge of marriage in the twenty-first century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book on families is saturated with the wisdom gained from more than three decades of writing, teaching and counseling. The Balswicks' understanding of family dynamics is deeply shaped by their relational theological convictions. The writing is accessible; the insights are profound." (Al Dueck, The Evelyn and Frank Freed Chair for the Integration of Psychology and Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology )

"As a couples therapist, I get to see the empowerment of the Balswicks' differentiation-based understanding of marriage up close in the lives of couples. No one has articulated a better Christian model for the growth-producing challenges of contemporary marriage. Their rich practical integration of social science, theology and spirituality makes this book highly unique among the stacks of books on marriage. I am eager to recommend this book to clients, counselors and therapists." (Steven J. Sandage, Ph.D., LP, Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Studies, Bethel University )

"The Balswicks have given us yet another great resource in the quest to understand just how Christian marriage is Christian. This volume is a premier example of how theology should inform our work as marriage counselors. Readers will be enriched as they learn from the authors how the biblical concepts of covenant, grace, empowerment and intimacy should govern our conduct in marriage." (James R. Beck, Ph.D., Senior Professor of Counseling, Denver Seminary, Li2271ttleton, Colorado )

"In these times of confusion about what marriage is and does, or even if it should exist at all, a refreshingly clear and biblically precise reminder of what God intended for marriage is most welcome. Not only do Drs. Jack and Judy Balswick offer a sound theology of marriage, but the trinitarian model on which it is based leads naturally into practical guidance for couples on how to build a godly marriage.

The book is 'state of the art,' yet it takes couples through very practical topics such as differentiation, communication, conflict resolution and also the seasons of marriage. It is a helpful resource for couples at any stage of marriage, and at the same time provides an excellent resource and textbook for colleges and seminaries.

I predict that this book will be around for a long time; it is timeless!" (Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D., FPPR, Senior Professor of Psychology and Dean Emeritus, Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California )

Product Details

• Paperback: 213 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (October 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830827609
• ISBN-13: 978-0830827602
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Pastoral Counseling

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Distinctively Christian Model for Marriage, December 2, 2006

By 

Dan Brennan (Chicago Il) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Model for Marriage: Covenant, Grace, Empowerment and Intimacy (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book for engaged couples, married couples, and pastoral care workers. I also recommend it for textbook reading in colleges and seminaries. Jack and Judith Balswick pour their gifts, experiences, energy, wisdom, knowledge, and hearts into this accessible but rich work on married life. The Balswick's are egalitarian in their view of marriage but that shouldn't stop complementarians from reading this valuable resource. I enthusiastically recommend the book because of the thoughtful integration of social sciences, theology, and their own marital journey. I believe both egalitarians and complementarians will benefit from reading this monograph. Their vision of marriage being grounded in light of trinitarian relationships provides significant relational depth and differentiation from a uniquely Christian perspective.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent Christian approach to marriage, December 3, 2007

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Thomas V. Frederick (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Model for Marriage: Covenant, Grace, Empowerment and Intimacy (Paperback)

I have had the wonderful opportunity to study under both Jack and Judy at Fuller Theological Seminary. This work culminates their entire careers as educators and authors. This work offers their most significant theological work (based on Trinitarian Theology) for marriages. They stand firmly committed to their theological assumptions and interact fully and purposefully with sound and robust marriage and family models (namely Bowen Natural Systems Theory). They construct a model that honors both the theology and Bowen dimensions of their model. I highly recommend this work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review, October 4, 2010

By 

Jennifer - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Model for Marriage: Covenant, Grace, Empowerment and Intimacy (Paperback)

My Fiance and I are using this book with our pre-marital sessions with our Minister. This book has some wonderful concepts and insight! However, the only issue we have found with it is that it is a very "heavy" read. We often can only read a chapter at a time and then need time to "digest" what we've read. The book has a tendency to get into too much detail about various theories, but the summaries at the end of each chapter help to clarify the terminology. It's a wonderful perspective on the newer concept of "two whole individuals coming together as one" instead of the traditional concept of "two halves becoming a whole". A really good read on modern marriage perspectives while still acknowledging the traditional views as well.