Customer Reviews

Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? [SACRED MARRIAGE]

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4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Next to the Bible itself, Sacred Marriage has been more helpful to me than any other book I've ever read -- and I've read a lot! I've read way too many of what my sister calls "Suck it up, Sweetie" books -- you know, the ones that tell you that if you make menu plans, get the laundry done regularly and have sex at your husband's every whim you will have a wonderful marriage. Those books are more discouraging than anything else, and I believe they cause more harm than good.

Gary's book isn't like that. It hleps you to focus on the true goal - not how to have a wonderful marriage, but how to how to have a wonderful relationship with God, no matter what your marriage is like. Of course, I've found that following the biblical principals in this book, my marriage is much more satisfying -- even though nothing much has changed other than my own heart and my own focus.

Thank you, Gary, for writing a no-nonsense book that simply gives us the message of the Bible in relevant ways. The principals in this book not only apply to marriage, but to every aspect of life. I highly recommend it! (I've already worn out 5 copies and have given out at least that many to others.)

"Sacred Marriage" continues to be my go-to book on marriage (which by definition for me could be restated as "Christian marriage"). This is my third reading, and I still find myself underlining passages, "hmm"-ing out loud, and learning. Thomas treats marriage as a vehicle for relating ourselves toward God and sanctification rather than an end unto itself. That along makes the book unique and profound.

The subtitle explains the premise of the book: "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" This question is one that is explored on every page of every chapter. Thomas' concept is simply stated, albeit hard to live: is the end of marriage personal happiness, or sanctification? It's obvious that Thomas believes the end of marriage is indeed personal sanctification, and Scripture would bear out his conclusions.

Because of this unusual premise, the chapters in the book are not what you might expect. Each chapter deals with one area of personal holiness that marriage deals with: truth about God, good prayer, building character, serving, and so forth. In other words, you won't find the typical chapters on "finances," "in-laws," "sex," and so forth. That sort of inward focus--how can this or that area of marriage be improved--goes against the very nature of what Thomas writes: God is most glorified not when a marriage is pleasing to those involved, but when those involved are focused on Christ, rather than themselves or even each other.

As much as the book is excellent, though, it needs some complementing. Because of the Godward-focus, there are areas that married coupled should investigate, in light of a God-glorifying lens. Sexuality must be examined, probably in greater light than does Thomas. The same is certainly true for gender roles and headship. This is not an end-all resource, but it doesn't seem to attempt that goal. It does purport to be a central guide and correction for marriages that are focused on satisfaction in self and each other, though, and that is much needed.

If you believe Scripture to be true, you really have no good excuse for not purchasing this book. It bears repeated readings, and will challenge your ideas about marriage many times over.

I found this book to be a unique view on marriage. So many books out there are all about what can marriage do for me and instead this book is about how God intended marriage to be and how that works for your spouse and yourself. It also is not a to do list of the things to do to improve your marriage. This book is more about the basis for a good marriage designed by God.

I really like the book Scared Marriage by Gary Thomas. When I ordered the book, I thought I had ordered the book. I was surprised when what I received was a Discussion Guide based on the book. I did not return it because after scanning the Discussion Guide, I expect to use it in a future group discussion. What could have been a disappointment and a return was so good I decided to keep it and use it in the future.

The books I ordered arrived on schedule and in excellent condition. Amazon does good business.

This product is really good if you use it along side the book. My husband and I are working through the book and using this guide to help our conversations about each chapter.

Gary Thomas challenges the reader to consider "how the goal of marriage is meant to strengthen our relationship with God much more than to make us happy." His book is based on God's design for marriage. Therefore, if you read and apply the wisdom in the pages, your marriage and more importantly, YOU will be changed in positive, lasting ways. I highly recommend this book for counselors and for those invested in rebuilding a broken marriage or making a current marriage better.

I originally read this book in a girls' small group that coincidentally turned into a engaged girls' small group. The truths in here are so electric that I had to carry a highlighter and basically highlight entire pages at a time!

Comparing the message of this book to the world's opinions and to my own parents' marriage was so eye-opening to me. One of the points that I remember most, speaking of people in the area of ministry, and I paraphrase: "If you can't love your spouse, whom you have chosen specifically to love, then how will you love a stranger that God commands you to love?" How simply and yet profoundly deep is that?

As an unwed girl then, and a happy newlywed now, I am so thankful for the timeless advice it offers and the beautiful picture it paints of a sacrificial marriage that clings to Christ for salvation. I can't wait to read it again and again as I enter new stages of relationship with my husband.

The book, Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas challenges your perspective about marriage and the role that God intended. The view point of the traditional marriage where the husband is the head and the wife is submissive or the partnership where we are to love one another as we love Christ is strengthen by Gary's question of the test. Marriage allows us to see our weaknesses and test our faith to only make us closer to God. I would strongly recommend this book for any young couple to help them navigate their marriage.

My passion is a good strong marriage. I have many books on this subject. Scared Marriage is probably one of the best books I have read on marriage and holiness.

My church's small group is using this series with the DVD and this participates guide. It's a different look on marriage and has been a good source for discussion amongst our group members.