In pursuit of a strong and fulfilling marriage, these Christian marriage books have become a must-read. They offer biblical wisdom, practical strategies, and personal testimonies to help couples navigate the challenges of their love journey.
Christian Marriage Books You Should Read
1. A Lasting Promise
- Author: Scott Stanley, Daniel Trathen, Savanna McCain, and Milt Bryan
- Subtitle: The Christain Guide to Fighting for Your Marriage
- Publication Date: 1998
This Christian marriage book offers a comprehensive guide for couples seeking to build lasting relationships through biblical exercises that improves communication skills, conflict management, and cultivating deep relationships.
In this book, couples are also encouraged to establish a strong foundation of trust, respect, commitment, and teamwork.
2. Love and Respect
- Author: Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
- Subtitle: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs
- Publication Date: 2004
This transformative Christian book explores the fundamental needs of husbands and wives in marital relationships. Just like the holy book suggest that husbands should love their wives sacrificially as Christ loves the church and in turn, the woman respects and honor her husband, Eggerich also interprets that the woman primarily desires love while respect is more important to the man.
It further explains how affirming love to the wife can help fuel her husband’s sense of worth and significance. In like manner, the husband’s respect nurtures the wife’s sense of security and love.
3. Love and War
- Author: John and Stasi Eldredge
- Subtitle: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed of
- Publication Date: 2011
John and Stasi’s years together as a couple exposed them to the hard and messy part of being married which they have revealed in this book. They’ve also shared the unique differences between men and women and also highlighted the importance of understanding and appreciating these differences.
With the personal insights from their marriage, they have provided tools and exercises to help couples deepen their emotional connection.
4. Boundaries in Marriage
- Author: Henry Cloud and John Townsend
- Subtitle: Understanding the Choices that Make or Break Loving Relationsh
- Publication Date: 1999
No one loves boundaries however, for marriage to thrive it is important. This book reveals the importance of aligning boundaries with God’s design for marriage and also promotes love, grace, and personal responsibilities.
5. Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts
- Author: Les Parrott
- Subtitle: Seven Questions to Ask Before and After You Marry
- Publication Date: 1995
The best way to enjoy a great marriage is to save it before it starts. This book provides practical insights for couples who are preparing for marriage or seeking to strengthen their relationship.
It also exposes couples to exercises and assessments to facilitate open and honest conversations and lay a solid foundation for their marriage.
6. The Love Dare
- Author: Alex and Stephen Kendrick
- Subtitle: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs
- Publication Date: 2008
Would you dare to build a happy marriage if you could? If your response is yes, then this is your treat. This book offers daily dares and reflections designed to encourage individuals to love their spouses without reservations.
The book also explores the importance of faith, prayer personal growth, and self-reflection in the journey of love.
7. Fierce Marriage
- Author: Ryan Frederick and Selena Frederick
- Subtitle: Radically Pursuing Each Other in Light of Christ’s Relentless Love
- Publication Date: 2018
Several aspects of marriage such as communication, conflict resolution, intimacy, and spiritual growth are explored in this book. It also provides practical advice, personal anecdotes, and biblical insights to guide couples in building a thriving marriage.
8. Keep Your Love On
- Author: Danny Silk
- Subtitle: Connection, Communication & Boundaries
- Publication Date: 2013
According to Danny Silk, the best way to keep your love on is through building trust, resolving conflicts, and fostering intimacy. This book also explores the importance of understanding and taking responsibility for one’s own emotions, thoughts, and actions.
9. Sheet Music
- Author: Kelvin Leman
- Subtitle: Uncovering the Secret Intimacy in Marriage
- Publication Date: 2002
There are several misconceptions when it comes to sexual intimacy within the concept of marriage and Kelvin Leman explains this in his book “Sheet Music”. He also noted that there are emotional and psychological aspects to intimacy and highlighted their significance in marriage.
10. Intended for Pleasure
- Author: Ed Wheat
- Subtitle: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage
- Publication Date: 2010
This book by Ed Wheat is a blend of practical advice, medical knowledge, and biblical principle to help couples navigate the complexities of sexual intimacy in a God-honoring way. It also encourages open communication, trust and mutual respect, and sexual relationships.
11. The Act of Marriage
- Author: Tim and Beverly LaHaye
- Subtitle: The Beauty of Sexual Love
- Publication Date: 1976
This is another Christian marriage book that also explains the concept of intimacy in marriage with topics related to communication, anatomy, sexual desire, and pleasure. It also emphasizes the importance of emotional connection, trust, and mutual respect in fostering a satisfying sexual relationship.
12. The Five Love Languages
- Author: Gary Chapman
- Subtitle: The Secret to Love That Lasts
- Publication Date: 1992
When it comes to building a great marriage, then this book by Gary Chapman is a great pick. The book exposes readers to understanding their partner’s demands when it comes to love. The author is convinced that everyone has a love language which could be words of affirmation (compliments), quality time, gifts, acts of service
or even physical touch.
13. And They Were Not Ashamed
- Author: Laura M. Brotherson
- Subtitle: Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfilment
- Publication Date: 2004
Did you know that there’s a biblical way of enhancing intimacy and sexual fulfillment within marriage? Well, in this book, Laura explores sexuality within the context of marriage as God’s gift from a faith-based perspective.
The author’s approach in discussing this sensitive topic of marital intimacy has been well received by several readers who are using this concept to cultivate a healthy sexual relationship that honors God and strengthens their marital bond.
Read Also: Self-Love Books To Read Before Getting Married
14. God, Marriage, and Family
- Author: Andreas Kostenberger
- Subtitle: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation
- Publication Date: 2004
Thinking of the best way to cultivate a healthy and God-honoring marriage then here’s your treat. This book explores the biblical view of marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman and compares it to the relationship between Christ and the church.
It further addresses several marriage-related subjects such as gender roles, sexuality, parenting, and divorce, and gives practical guidance on how to navigate them in the light of God’s word.
15. The Mingling of Souls
- Author: Matt Chandler
- Subtitle: God’s Design for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Redemption
- Publication Date: 2015t
This book explores the beauty of romantic relationships from the biblical perspective with insights into the Songs of Solomon, the poetic book in the bible. It uncovers the timeless wisdom of love, dating, marriage, and intimacy.
With the biblical principles in this book, couples would understand the longing of the human heart and the understanding of God’s design for love and marriage.
16. His Needs, Her Needs
- Author: Willard F. Harley
- Subtitle: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage
- Publication Date: 1986
This Christian marriage book is one of Harley’s most popular books which explores the concept of emotional needs of couples and how these needs can be effectively met. The book explores the concept of the ” Love Bank” where couples can make emotional deposits and withdraw based on their actions.
This book also exposes the reader to strategic ways for couples to enhance their emotional connection through real-life examples and case studies.
17. Messy Beautiful Love
- Author: Darlene Schacht
- Subtitle: Hope and Redemption for Real-life Marriages
- Publication Date: 2014
Over the years, several experts have noted that no marriage is perfect and that these imperfections help couples understand each other better and adjust as well. As you would soon learn, this book addresses common struggles that couples may face including communication breakdown, conflict resolution, and maintaining intimacy.
The author has also shared personal stories and practical strategies for building a great marriage as well as the importance of forgiveness, vulnerability, and selflessness.
18. You and Me Forever
- Authors: Francis and Lisa Chan
- Subtitle: Marriage in the Light of Eternity
- Publication Date: 2014
Get ready to be wowed by this Christian book on marriage which implore couples to view marriage through an external perspective. It also reveals that marriage is not just about personal happiness but also fulfilling God’s purpose and seeking him more than anything else.
19. The Momentary Marriage
- Author: John Piper
- Subtitle: A Parable of Permanence
- Publication Date: 2009
In this book, the author expresses that marriage is a means of displaying God’s covenant-keeping love for his church and not the conventional view that marriage is for personal happiness.
John also emphasizes the significance of sacrificial love, selflessness, and faithfulness in marriage.
20. Sacred Marriage
- Author: Gary L. Thomas
- Subtitle: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than Make Us Happy?
- Publication Date: 2000
This thought provocating Christian book gives a new definition to the concept of marriage. The author Gary argues that marriage isn’t solely for one’s self but a union for spiritual growth and transformation.
The book also reveals that the biblical teachings on selflessness, forgiveness, and perseverance would break the common struggles in marriage such as communication issues, conflicts, and unmet expectations. This would in turn help build a strong and lasting marriage.
