With so many marriage books saturating the market, it’s hard to know which ones will make an impact on your marriage. There are books to read together as a couple, books for him and her, and so much more. Investing in Christian marriage books doesn’t always mean there’s something wrong in your marriage, sometimes it’s just a supplement! 

 

We’ve outlined some Christian marriage books that we believe can help you at any stage of your marriage. These books will help you dive deeper into your relationship with your spouse and God, creating a stronger bond within your marriage and promoting healthier relational habits. 

The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller 

Timothy Keller is a well-known author and the former pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Keller is a renowned theologian who has written many prominent books about Christianity. 

 

The Meaning of Marriage was written by Timothy and his wife Kathy. Together they dive into the lies that we believe about marriage, what Scripture teaches about a healthy marriage and where our humanity fits into it all. The Keller’s show you that the only way to fully understand what marriage is, is to see what God tells us about it in the Bible. Society has created a culture around marriage that makes us believe that instead of “till death do us part”, it’s “until I stop getting what I want”. Timothy and Kathy break down this belief and show what a marriage should really look like according to Christ’s perfect will. 

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman

The love languages are often a topic of conversation in many marriages, but few people really understand how much they can play a role in a relationship. Chapman gives you a way to understand how to express love to yourself, your partner, and how you want to feel loved. This is a huge help in any relationship! 

 

The way we are loved vs. the way we want to be loved can be drastically different. That’s not anyone’s fault, it’s just a lack of understanding and communication. Chapman gives you and your spouse a way to find out the best practices to show your feelings and express love. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts will help you dive deeper into your relationship and build an even better bond. 

 

The Love Dare by Alex and Stephen Kendrick 

This book was written by brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick. A cornerstone for the movie Fireproof, The Love Dare was written to show how service to your spouse can change your marriage for the better. It teaches your mind to begin looking for ways to serve your spouse, rather than be served. 

 

Full of daily challenges, this book is a great way to practically apply lessons from a Christian marriage book throughout your everyday life. This 40 day challenge will help you and your spouse further understand unconditional love and create a deeper intimacy within your marriage. 

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs

A book full of practical direction and steps to take, Love & Respect outlines the basic needs of each spouse. The women want to feel loved, the men want to feel respected. Eggerichs believes that without love, the wife reacts to situations without respect; without respect, the husband reacts to situations without love. 

 

This creates a vicious cycle that entraps most of its victims, usually until the marriage ends in unhappiness and ultimately, divorce. Learn how you can stop that cycle before it begins, and promote a healthier marriage and intimacy between you and your spouse. 

Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas 

Another bestseller from author Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage helps uncover how your marriage can help you grow closer to Christ. Thomas explores the idea that God didn’t give us marriage to make ourselves happy, but rather to grow our relationship with Christ. 

 

Thomas urges readers to see how God can use your marriage as a discipline and motivation to love God more and reflect more of His perfect character. Thomas dives into the scriptures and church history to show how your marriage can be happier and healthier than ever before by becoming holier and closer to God individually. 

 

You and Me Forever; Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis and Lisa Chan

 

God’s glory and His mission are primary.  A Christ-centered and eternity-minded marriage is not the same thing as a “fun” marriage. Francis Chan and his wife Lisa explain that tough decisions made for God’s glory produce a good and right pain, a pain believers are meant to endure in this fallen world. A happy family is not the goal of Christianity–you can have a happy family and be miserable for all eternity.  Don’t exchange immediate happiness for ultimate happiness. This book is about loving each other forever.  

 

The Chans ask you to let go of your plans for marriage. Let go of your plans for your spouse, the hurt you’ve been harboring, the dream you’ve been pursuing. Let go of all of it and ask God to simply do what He wants done. Through this book, they urge you to offer yourself to Christ as a servant. 

 

If you view marriage in light of eternity, then letting go only makes sense. Your marriage isn’t yours. Your life isn’t your own. It’s all about God. It’all about eternity.

 

These are all great book options for any point in your marriage. If you’ve been looking for a way to dive deeper into your relationship with your spouse and with Jesus, try one of these books. However, remember that Christian marriage books are a supplement to your marriage, not a catch-all or a fix.  

 

If you want to pursue other options to help heal your marriage to create a closer intimacy with your spouse, consider coming for a stay at our Genesis House or attending one of our marriage retreat weekends. We would love to help you take the next step in your marriage.