The complete list of the best books for Christian marriage. Read on if you’re preparing for or looking to improve your marriage.
If you know me, then you know I love to learn. I’m always reading and have a list written out of all the books I want to read in the future. Organized lists bring me tons of joy, so the books are separated out into various categories. Some of these categories include: Christianity, marriage, health, cooking and baking, homesteading, pregnancy and birth, and parenting. One of the main reasons I like to organize my to-be-read books like this is because I read with intention. I don’t just grab a random book off my bookshelf and begin reading it. I grab one that involves my current life stage or something I want/need to learn about in that season of life. Having an organized list helps me to keep track of the books that go with each of these seasons so that I can better plan on when to read them.
That may make me sound like a crazy person, but it really does help. I greatly value learning and want to learn as much as I can about the subjects I’m passionate about in an effective way. This is how I go about that.
Since I also find a lot of joy in other people’s book and resource recommendations, I wanted to share mine with you.
My Current Season
Right now, my life stage involves preparing for marriage in May. This is a huge thing that I don’t take lightly. It’s not just me getting to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. It’s us ministering to the world through our relationship and love for each other, and through the family and life we build together. Our world has lost sight of what marriage is in many ways. The Church has even lost sight of what marriage is according to the Bible. Healthy, Biblical marriages are more important than ever right now. We need them to remind people of what marriage is (and what it is not) and to help heal the world generationally. That’s why I plan to take the next seven months to read and learn as much as I can about marriage the way God intended it.
my recommendations
And with that, my first resource recommendation list will include all of the books and resources I have read or listened to or plan to read or listen to in regards to marriage. More specifically, all of my Christian marriage resources. There are a lot of marriage resources out there, but not all of them align with what the Bible says about marriage. I’ve included links so you can get your hands on these things too. I’d love to know if you are also in the engagement season, so comment down below letting me know!
books on Christian marriage
Here is a list of the books I have to read about marriage and Biblical roles for men and women. I know it looks like a lot, and I probably won’t finish all of these by the time I’m married. But I also think it’s important to read books like this during marriage too. It’s never too late to learn and improve. I’ve linked all of these books to Amazon. Some of them are a Kindle Unlimited book which means they are free on the Kindle app if you have Amazon Prime. I put an asterisk before the title of those books. Enjoy and let me know if you decide to read any of them!
on Christian marriage
- The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
- Boundaries in Marriage: Understanding the Choices That Make or Break Loving Relationships by Henry Cloud & John Townsend
- Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas
- Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before- and After- You Marry by Les & Leslie Parrott
- The Wholehearted Marriage: Fully Engaging Your Most Important Relationship by Greg Smalley and Shawn Stoeve
- You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis and Lisa Chan
- What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp
- The Mingling of Souls: God’s Design for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Redemption by Matt Chandler
- Kingdom Marriage: Connecting God’s Purpose with Your Pleasure by Tony Evans
- Before You Say “I Do:” A Marriage Preparation Guide for Couples by H. Norman Wright and Wes Roberts
- *Preparing for Marriage by Dennis Rainey
- Preparing for Marriage God’s Way: A Step-By-Step Guide for Marriage Success Before and After the Wedding by Wayne A Mack
- Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make by Paul David Tripp
- Gospel-Shaped Marriage: Grace for Sinners to Love Like Saints by Chad and Emily Van Dixhoorn
- *Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
- *For a Glory and a Covering: A Practical Theology of Marriage by Douglas Wilson
- *Her Hand in Marriage: Biblical Courtship in the Modern World by Douglas Wilson
- *My Life for Yours: A Walk Through the Christian Home by Douglas Wilson
- *Decluttering Your Marriage by Douglas Wilson
- *No Mere Mortals: Marriage for People Who Will Live Forever by Toby Sumpter
- *The Household and the War for the Cosmos: Recovering a Christian Vision for the Family by C.R. Wiley
for the Christian wife
- The Wholehearted Wife by Erin, Greg, and Gary Smalley
- 10 Things a Husband Needs from His Wife: Everyday Ways to Show Him Love by Erin Smalley
- Love Unending: Rediscovering Your Marriage in the Midst of Motherhood by Becky Thompson
- The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective by Martha Peace and Tamara Adams
- *The Fruit of Her Hands: Respect and the Christian Woman by Nancy Wilson
- *Virtuous: A Study for Ladies of Every Age by Nancy Wilson
- *Building Her House: Commonsensical Wisdom for Christian Women by Nancy Wilson
- The Power of a Transformed Wife by Lori Alexander
- *Eve in Exile and the Restoration of Femininity by Rebekah Merkle
- Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
for the christian husband
- *The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective by Dr. Stuart Scott
- *It’s Good to Be a Man: A Handbook for Godly Masculinity by Michael Foster and Dominic Bnonn Tennant
- The Complete Husband: A Practical Guide for Improved Biblical Husbanding by Lou Priolo
- *Get the Girl: How to Be the Kind of Man the Kind of Woman You Want to Mary Would Want to Marry by Douglas Wilson
- Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead Their Families by Douglas Wilson
- *Federal Husband by Douglas Wilson
- *How to Exasperate Your Wife by Douglas Wilson
- Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
on love & intimacy in a christian marriage
- *In Bed with Adam and Eve: Your Guide to a Healthy Marriage by Dr. Emma Peacock
- The Unveiled Wife: Embracing Intimacy with God and Your Husband by Jennifer Smith
- Now You’re Speaking My Language: Honest Communication and Deeper Intimacy for Stronger Marriage by Gary Chapman
- *The Intimate Connection: Secrets to a Lifelong Romance by Dr. Kevin Leman
- His Needs, Her Needs: Making Romantic Love Last by Willard F. Jr. Harley
- *Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage by Ed Wheat, M.D. and Gaye Wheat
- The Act of Marriage: The Beauty of Sexual Love by Tim and Beverly LaHay
- The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
- How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage by Milan & Kay Yerkovich
- Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti by Bill & Pam Farrel
- Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus by John Gray, Ph.D
- The Four Laws of Love: Guaranteed Success for Every Married Couple by Jimmy Evans
- The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
- Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson
- Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
- *Fidelity by Douglas Wilson