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Christopher Ash examines the Bible's teaching on marriage, while remaining firmly in the twenty-first-century world.
It seems rather obvious to look to our Maker for marriage instructions; after all, God invented marriage. Yet by nature we prefer to work it out for ourselves, starting with our own needs, hopes and desires.
This book turns our thinking upside down. Christopher Ash examines the Bible's teaching on marriage, while remaining firmly earthed in the twenty-first-century world where messing up, heartbreak, divorce and sexual chaos are distressingly common. Starting with God's grace applied to our pain and failure, the author centres on God's plan for sex and marriage, one of service.
Introduction: God at the centre
1. A word about baggage and grace
2. Married for a purpose
3. What is the point of having children?
4. What is the point of sex and intimacy?
5. God's pattern for the marriage relationship
6. What is the point of the marriage institution?
7. Is it better to stay single?
8. What is the heart of marriage?
Conclusion: The greatest invitation
| Contributors | Christopher Ash |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781844741892 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | August 2007 |
| Dimensions | 138mm x 216mm x 13mm |
| Weight | 0.24 kg |
| Print size | 9.0pt |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 168 |
| Publisher | IVP |
'Refreshing, rigorous and readable. This book acts as a corrective to exaggerated claims and self-indulgent attitudes concerning marriage endemic in our culture, and becomes a call to joyful biblical simplicity and true God-centred liberty in marriage.'
- John and Ann Benton
'An invaluable challenge to deepen and strengthen relationships, through a fresh understanding of God's purpose for marriage.'
- Jason and Rachel Gardner
'An excellent challenging and helpful book.'
- Martin and Elizabeth Goldsmith
Christopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust as Director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is author of Marriage and Out of the Storm. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and a daughter.
Many marriage books focus on the how questions. How can we have better communication? How can we grow in our ability to resolve conflict? How can we have better sex? Others focus on the what questions. What is marriage? What are its boundaries? What kind of people may participate in it? Ash, though, chooses to focus first and primarily on the why questions, for “If we get our aims clear, then we shall see why marriage has to be what it is, and we will be well placed to see how to build a strong marriage.” He grounds his book on this foundational statement: “We ought to want what God wants in marriage. Or, to put it another way, God’s why matters more than my why.” If this is the case, “You and I need to ask God what he wants and then line up our goals behind his, rather than expecting him to line up his goals behind ours.” Marriage at its best is marriage that is aligned with God’s purposes.... continue reading
I thoroughly recommend this book. I particularly liked the biblical interpretation that marriage is a "team" not merely that Adam was alone and needed company. We work (husband and wife) looking after the garden. It is packed with rich teaching like this which is easily accessible. I wish l had bought it before I had got married! It looks at various angles of marriage. Buy it! You've been a great blessing to many Mr Ash.
