Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be

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A Good Marriage Begins with God.

It is our natural tendency to seek personal happiness and satisfaction in marriage. We often give our own needs, wants, and goals first priority. But what is God’s design for our marriages? With clarity and conviction, Christopher Ash turns us away from marriage for ourselves and toward marriage in the service of God. With practical applications for everyday life, Ash shows us God’s purposes and patterns for every part of the marriage relationship.

By realigning our hopes, expectations, and goals for marriage according to the Bible, we will discover the deep joy and lasting fulfillment that comes from a God-centered marriage.

176 pages

“Ash’s book is one I use for premarital counseling. Concise, thoughtful, intelligent, biblical, and full of that increasingly rare commodity—common sense. I heartily recommend it as a book to read and also as a basis for framing and informing pastoral discussions with Christian couples who are looking toward marriage and want a realistic but encouraging picture of what to expect. A great book.”

—Carl R. Trueman, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Grove City College

“In a world debating the value and purpose of marriage comes this little book called Married for God. It is a wonderful introduction to the purpose and function of marriage and intimacy. This book is perfect for couples contemplating marriage, and it is a good reminder to those already committed to marriage of why God designed it for our flourishing.”
—Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director of Cultural Engagement, The Hendricks Center, Dallas Theological Seminary

“Engaged couples would benefit from carefully reading this book. The way Ash applies the Bible is pithy, practical, and wise.”
—Andrew David Naselli, Assistant Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

“When I first married, I wanted to read all the ‘how-to’ books on marriage. And there are plenty out there. If you’re thinking about getting married, just married, or need to remember the ‘why’ of marriage, pick up this excellent resource.”
—Christina Fox, Women’s Ministry Advisor, Presbyterian Churches of America; retreat speaker; author, A Heart Set Free; Closer Than a Sister; and Idols of a Mother’s Heart

“In Married for God, Christopher Ash provides a biblical foundation for a God-centered understanding of marriage that will help to correct weak and idolatrous perspectives and lead to honoring God and edifying his people. He offers biblical commentary and theological conclusions with real-life vignettes for seamless application. Among the many books on marriage, this one gets to the point with clarity and robust theological insight.”
—Erik and Donna Thoennes, Professor of Theology, Biola University; Pastor at Grace Evangelical Free Church, La Mirada, California; and his wife, Adjunct Professor, Biola University

“These days, stated goals concerning the essence of marriage are endless—and endlessly contradictory. Where to begin? With God, says Christopher Ash. Without this focus, things like good communication skills and agreement over finances—however important they may be—are not strong enough goods in themselves to overcome the void of not having God at the center. Just as we exist for him individually, so too do our marriages. I’m very thankful for this little book. I have consumed it deeply and will disseminate it widely.”
—Rob Lister, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology

“Christopher Ash elevates marriage to a level far beyond what a husband and a wife bring to and receive from each other. Above all, marriage is a partnership in the service of the Lord. Such a Christward focus causes husbands and wives to soar together for God’s glory and for their own enormous satisfaction. Married for God is a profound and practical book, an important read for everyone whose life is blessed to be touched by marriage.”
—Tim Savage, Former Senior Pastor, Camelback Bible Church; author, No Ordinary Marriage

“Christopher Ash’s Married for God commends an inviting, practical, and pastoral vision of biblical marriage. His clarity on the beauty and purpose of God’s design for marriage is both crucial for our day and deeply refreshing. He offers inspiration for newly married couples and a recalibration for those who have been married longer. His sensitivity to those who are single and long to be married and to those struggling with infertility makes the breadth of this book a resource of kindhearted care for most Christian adults. We gladly recommend this wise and winsome book and pray that many will be helped in catching the vision God has designed marriage to be.”
—Bruce and Jodi Ware, Professor of Christian Theology; and his wife, Instructor in the Seminary Wives Institute, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky