The Marriage Builder (Paperback)

~ Larry Crabb (Author) "Several months ago I was working on a rough draft of this book during a flight to New York City..." (more)
Key Phrases: secondary emotional response, marital oneness, offending event, Soul Oneness, Body Oneness, Spirit Oneness (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An all-new discussion guide for couples has been added to this classic best-seller to allow readers to dig into it and apply it to their own lives and marriages.

From the Back Cover

Psychologist Larry Crabb cuts to the heart of the biblical view of marriage: the "one-flesh" relationship. He argues convincingly that the deepest needs of human personality -- security and significance -- ultimately cannot be satisfied by a marriage partner. We need to turn to the Lord, rather than our spouse, to satisfy our needs. This frees both partners for "soul oneness," a commitment to minister to our spouse's needs rather than manipulating them to meet our own needs. With "soul oneness" comes renewed "body oneness," where couples enjoy sexual pleasure as an expression and outgrowth of a personal relationship. The Marriage Builder also identifies three building blocks essential to constructing marriage: the grace of God, true marriage commitment, and acceptance of one's mate. Now for the first time, discussion questions have been added to aid couples who want to come to deeper understanding of marriage. Helpful to counselors and laypersons alike, The Marriage Builder is for anyone who longs to transform marriage from trial to triumph.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 13, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310548012
• ISBN-13: 978-0310548010
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,817 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Crabb, Larry
  #17 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Pastoral Counseling
  #82 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Relationships > Marriage

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truthful, and full of the wisdom only God can inspire., June 13, 1998

By A Customer

We have just completed a study with another couple using Dr. Crabb's book, that has spanned more than 5 months, and we will be starting over again in a couple of months. This time however, we will be including several other couples because it is too good to not share it. This is truly a manual for a biblical marriage, whether newly-married, or married for a lifetime. Dr. Crabb describes our self-centerdness so accurately, and gives such realistic examples of the pitfalls we find ourselves trapped in. Fortunately he also gives examples of how to avoid common mistakes. His description of marriage as our chance to minister exclusively to our spouses and provide tangible evidence of God's love to each other is accurate and helpful. On many occassions I wondered if he had written this book especially to me. We have been blessed by this book and find it difficult not to recommed it repeatedly.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The very basic for Christian marriage, October 19, 1999

By A Customer

I read the book before I got married as homework. And I got a lot of answers from it. This book teaches you the basic; the definition of marriage in Christ. In our society, marriage does not sound sincere and serious. But this book fixed my distorted view of marriage. I strongly recommend this book for those engaged. Because you need to know why you marry as a Christian and how you are going to do it.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes it is the Biblical view, April 9, 2004

By	Lily (NYC) - See all my reviews

The "Reader" from Southern California who wrote the "not a Biblical view" needs to learn how to read! When the author talks about security and significance, he makes it quite clear that he is discussing emotional needs. He also shows how we receive that security and significance IN and FROM our salvation in Christ. He also says that you must deal with people's urgent perceived needs before they can hear a larger message - this is straight out of the book of James - if you try to preach the gospel to a starving man, how could or why would he listen to you? Feed him first. Similarly, Dr. Crabb deals with healing emotional pain as a road to spiritual healing.