Sacred Marriage Participant's Guide: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? [Paperback]

Gary Thomas (Author), Kevin G. Harney (Author), Sherry Harney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2009

Your marriage is much more than a union between you and your spouse. It is a spiritual discipline ideally suited to help you know God more fully and intimately. Sacred Marriage shifts the focus from marital enrichment to spiritual enrichment in ways that can help you love your mate more. Whether it is delightful or difficult, your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God. Everything about your marriage---everything from the history you and your spouse create, to the love you share, to the forgiveness you both offer and seek by turn---is filled with the capacity to help you grow in Christ's character. This six-session, small group DVD curriculum will equip you to love God more passionately, reflect the nature of his Son more precisely, and fulfill God's overarching purpose for your marriage.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gary Thomas is a writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of several books, including Sacred Marriage, Sacred Pathways, Pure Pleasure, Sacred Parenting, and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith. SPANISH BIO: Gary Thomas es escritor residente en la iglesia Second Baptist de Houston y Profesor asociado en el Seminario Western en Portland, Oregon. Es autor de mas de una docena de libros, incluyendo Matrimonio sagrado, Placer puro y el ganador del Golden Medallion, Fe Autentica.

Kevin G. Harney serves at Shoreline Community Church in Monterey, California. Harney is the author of Organic Outreach for Ordinary People, Leadership from the Inside Out; Seismic Shifts; Finding a Church You Can Love and Loving the Church You've Found; and more than sixty small-group Bible studies. SPANISH BIO: Kevin G. Harney es pastor de ensenanza en Faith Church en Dyer, Indiana. Es autor de Seismic Shifts: the Little Changes that make a BIG difference in your life y coautor de varios libros.

Sherry Harney (B.A., Calvin College; M.A. in Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary) has worked on church staff ministries for over two decades in the area of children's ministry and staff leadership. She has also worked as a school teacher and she is presently a free lance writer and editor for Zondervan. . She also does speaking for women's conferences as well as teaching on topics such as home-based evangelism, leadership, small group ministry and marriage.andnbsp; Visit Sherry's website: http://sherryharney.com/index2.php#/home/

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310291461
• ISBN-13: 978-0310291466
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > Marriage & Family
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > General
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > General

More About the Author

Gary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. He unites the study of Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics to foster spiritual growth and deeper relationships. Gary's unique message will help you:

* Embrace the unique way that you interact with God.
* Partner in the spiritual growth and character formation of your spouse.
* Build a closer, grace-based family.
* Enjoy God with a new sense of freedom and delight.

Find out more at: www.GaryThomas.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EVERYONE Should Read This Book!, January 21, 2010

By 

Nana Shutters (Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Marriage Participant's Guide: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? (Paperback)

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.)

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound and bears repeat reading, without question, January 24, 2010

By 

Brett D. McLaughlin (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

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

"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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sacred Marriage, July 14, 2009

By 

R. Whitaker (Newnan, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sacred Marriage Participant's Guide: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? (Paperback)

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.