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Today’s post will be a little different. One of my seven goals for 2017 is growing intellectually. I set a goal to finish six books during 2017, roughly one every two months. I will write a post dedicated to my thoughts on each book to see if you should read or not!
Last year, Scott reached out to me about reviewing his book, Marriage God’s Way: A Biblical Recipe for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Relationships. I agreed to receive a free copy from him in exchange for an honest review. Even though I received the book for free, all of the opinions in this review are my own.
Front Cover art of Scott’s book, Marriage God’s Way.
I met Scott in a Facebook group that we both frequent. He reached out to me after leaving a comment on his blog, ScottLaPierre.org, about going through 1 Peter. His post was very close to what we were working through in my Wednesday night men’s church group.
After receiving the book, I was excited to check out a new book from an author’s recommendation. That day I flipped through the book and noticed a number of interesting things he wrote.
Marriage God’s Way is split into 8 thought provoking sections.
I found this helpful and segmented my reading through the first few sections. It read easily, although chocked full of scripture. Marriage God’s Way flowed easily from scripture to scripture with plenty of explanation of verses to back up his claims as well as transparency on his part with his personal experiences.
He starts out explaining why there are so many failing marriages and how we need to address the problems, not blame the symptoms. He gives a great backdrop of why God created marriage and why we suffer from so many problems due to the fallen world we live in. In part 3 Understanding Love, he explains the four types of love and how to use each one.
Scott builds on each section going through topics like:
- Love
- Respect
- Submission
- Inward and outward beauty
- Intimacy
He finishes with a strong call for believers to make sure we are setting a strong foundation on Jesus in the end. Without Him, we’ll be going through marriage with wrong motives and end up with more problems than we care to deal with.
A very strong moment in Marriage God’s Way that I completely related to…
I remember being so struck by Chapter 11 and his example of how he was not leading well due to his addiction to World of Warcraft, an online game. The way that he described the feelings that he had and how he had to run from it in order to get out from under it.
Words like:
- slave
- condemnation
- shame
I was like, man, this guy had the same experience as me. I mean, I fought an online addiction to the game for over 5 years. Finally quitting at one point, I ended up getting back into it a year later, even deeper. However, I’m happy to report that I’ve moved on from the game. I’ve moved on to more profitable things like this site and doing preschool at home with my 2 girls.
He gives great hope here on the bottom of page 92:
“Gentlemen, let me address you directly. I share this in the hope and prayer that, if you are reading these words and have something in your life that you cannot imagine getting rid of, you too might be given confidence to humble yourself before the Lord. Repent this very minute. Don’t put it off. If you do this, you can experience the same freedom I experienced from bondage, shame, and losing your wife’s respect.”
Marriage God’s Way emboldens the very important role of leading the household.
Scott explains why husbands should be the spiritual leader in the household. He puts pressure on men to step up and start taking their God-given responsibility more seriously. I feel more convicted after having read his stance and learning more about what God has to say on the subject.
After finishing chapter 6, I remember feeling so moved that I ended up having a good conversation with my wife about how I could become a better household leader. It was these couple chapters of Marriage God’s Way that were stirring my heart, making me want to become a better husband. Looking at our marriage in a new way, I can see our family better off because of the conversations this book is prompting.
Marriage God’s Way is a marriage book for men and women together
This book could easily be a couple’s marriage book to do together. He goes back and forth, blending both the husband’s and wife’s roles into the chapters. I found this interesting and different. Other books I’ve read, like Love and Respect, separate the man’s and the woman’s sections. That makes it more convenient to skip over the other gender’s section. Working through Marriage God’s Way, I see how it all fits together clearer, seeing both sides simultaneously.
Back Cover of Scott’s Book, Marriage God’s Way.
My final recommendation for Marriage God’s Way
Marriage God’s Way: A Biblical Recipe for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Relationships by Scott LaPierre is an excellent read. I am strongly recommending it to married couples wanting to learn more about God’s gift of marriage.
Marriage God’s Way is :
- thoughtful
- well laid out
- concise while being easy to read
- challenging to your spiritual walk.
I’m walking away stronger for reading this book. Going through Marriage God’s Way, I have grown in understanding God’s call about how men are to treat their wives and their marriage. Additionally, I’m having great conversations with my wife about our marriage that have been brought up in Marriage God’s Way.
2017 Books I’m Reading
What kinds of books are you planning on reading this year? I’ve selected 6 7 and am working through them in 2017. I think they will do a good job helping me grow in my 2017 goals in the 7 areas I’m targeting. Check them out below:
-
Marriage God’s Way by Scott LaPierre – You just read the review for this one above! - It Is Only Money and It Grows on Trees! by Cara MacMillan – Another book I got in exchange for a review. Looking forward to this one as well though, as it talks about money from many different religions.
- EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey – I read this one a while back but think it’s time for a refresher. I remember being so motivated after reading this, I’m hoping it will spark more interest and ideas this time around as well.
- Learning Journeys: Top Management Experts Share Hard-Earned Lessons on Becoming Great Mentors and Leaders – this one is debatable, as I might substitute it for a different book, but I would love to work towards more leadership skills.
- Being a Dad Who Leads by John MacArthur – I started reading this when I first became a stay at home dad, but fell off as other things became more pressing.
- The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel – We watched God’s Not Dead 2 and there was also a skit done at our church that was very interesting and had drawn me to read this one.
- Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker – I read this when my oldest was first born and it was eye opening. I would love to go through it again and soak in more of the content.
Steven Goodwin
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Amazing post Steve and good review. Looks like you are great partner, who tries to keep relationship healthy. I’m adding that book to my “must -read” list:)
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Kat, thanks for the wonderful compliment! My wife and I have learned in our almost 10 years of being together that we both need to be continually investing in our relationship and how to be a better partner. We both come from divorced households, so we are very entrenched on making our marriage thrive! I hope you do read it, I would strongly encourage it!
That sounds like a great read. I am definitely adding this to my reading list.
It really was! I hope you do find the time to check it out as well! Thanks for stopping by!
Steven,
I reviewed Scott’s book too. It’s interesting to read a review from a husband’s perspective. I was struck by the importance of our relationship with God to our marriage…and that I can’t please God without being a godly wife. For some reason, I’d been able to compartmentalize those two things for too long. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Beka :).
Glad you were transformed as well! I was impressed by the amount that he talked about the pressure on the man to be the leader and how it all falls on us men in the end no matter what. That’s a pretty big calling and I want to heed it well! Glad you found my perspective helpful and interesting!
Steven,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Marriage God’s Way and provide a review on your site. I appreciate your kind words, friendship, and support!
If anyone reads this review and wants a signed copy, please let me know!
https://scottlapierre.org/contact/
In Christ,
Scott LaPierre
Scott LaPierre recently posted…Why are wives commanded to submit to their husbands?
Thanks Scott! I’ll make sure to pass the word along in the future too! I will be recommending the book wherever I go!
Thank you for sharing this 🙂 Marriage is something that needs to be constantly improved, strengthened, and maintained. I will check this out!
It sure is Katrina! If you aren’t investing in your marriage on a continual basis, you can run into trouble quickly. I hope you do check it out!
Amazing post 🙂 love it so much 🙂 keep going 🙂
I enjoyed this post a great deal and it is a great topic. Marriage can never be discussed enough. Though I’m a single women I’m at the point where I’m praying and really seeking God concerning my future. I want to read this book and some of the others you left on your list! Great post!
I agree with you completely that you can’t overtalk marriage! Good for you for seeking the Lord first in how you find your mate! I hope you get a chance to check this book out as it really does come from both men’s and women’s point of view! Also, maybe check out Love and Respect!
Okay, even though I’m incredibly single right now, I’ve had two failed marriages already so I have been trying to read as much as I can and pray fervently about how to be prepared to enter a covenant again if it’s His will. This seems like excellent reading for that.
p.s. Case for Christ is awesome. I read it a couple years ago.
Hi Sarah, sorry to hear about your past. That can be tough for sure. I hope that you are able to find a mate that God wants for you. This would be right up your alley for sure!
I can’t wait to read Case for Christ… probably won’t be until later this year though.
I’m sure this works for those who are religious. I am not, but I still respect what others believe. There’s no head of the house in our household, we’re both equal. Honestly, the final decision probably lands on me most of the time, since I know what’s best for the kids.
But bottom line, it’s always a wonderful thing to work on marriage, religious or not.
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Hi Amber, thanks for taking the time to read and comment here, I really appreciate it. I’m happy that you have seemed to find a happy balance for your situation. I take it you are there more with the kids since you said you know what’s best for the kids. I stay at home with mine and feel that it’s 50/50 for us, we like to discuss and plan together. Working on marriage is a constant for sure, no matter what! Have a wonderful day.
I read Scott’s book recently too and really enjoyed it. 🙂
I love that your working on growing intellectually this year and that you’ll be reviewing the books you read. I love to read but have way more desire than I have time. It’s great to be able to read reviews so I can more easily pick what I want to read. Keep doing your book reviews and I’ll keep checking them out. 🙂
Thanks Jessica :).
Like Steven, you’ve been a good friend to me and supporter of my ministry. I appreciate you both!
Scott LaPierre recently posted…Why are wives commanded to submit to their husbands?
Thanks Scott! It’s honorable to be called a good friend!
Yay, another fellow reader that loved the book! My goal for reviewing the books is to allow myself to digest them a bit better since I will be doing a write up for each of them. Makes you internalize it more when you have to do that, doesn’t it? I hear you about the time vs desire issue! A couple of years ago, I was trying to do 12 books in a year and only made it through 4-6 (can’t remember!). Plus, with all the other stuff I’m doing (Bible in 1 year plan), I’m learning my limitations and what I can actually take in! Hope you come back to check out my other reviews as I post them! Thanks!
This was an interesting book to hear about
Thanks Crystal, do you have any books on your list this year?
Interesting book. I will put it on my reading list
Thanks Leau, what books are on your reading list?
Very thought proving read. I loved how you began using what you learned immediately in your home.
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It really is an easy book to take action on since it is very thought provoking. I can’t recommend it enough!
Interesting book, I will look for it in French language, thank you for sharing .
Hi Mira, I would contact Scott directly on his website at https://scottlapierre.org/contact/ to see what he can do for you! Hope he can help you out as this book was great!
This is a well reviewed book, Steve! I’m interested to check out Scott’s book. Thanks for doing this review.
Thanks Sharonoox! I hope you do check it out, it is a great read for anyone wanting to follow God and improve their marriage!
Love ur thoughts on marriage and taking up a challenge to read 6 books.
Thanks Brijesh, I hope they have helped you. I can’t recommend this book enough to couples wanting to improve their marriage and follow the Lord’s calling on their life as well! Have a great day!
Wow really interesting book on marriage. Thank you for your review, I definitely want to check it out now.
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Hi Jennifer, I hope that you do, it really is a fantastic book! Scott does a great job at explaining many high profile topics and going deep on them! Definitely worth anyone’s time that wants to improve their marriage!
Great post with great advice. Thanks for your honesty.
Side note, Dave Ramsey’s budgeting style has totally changed our lives and marriage. We’re actually going to be posting budgeting tips as well on our blog http://www.followyourdetour.com . Will try to link to your pages in our post! You’ve got good stuff!
Lindsay, thanks! I’m glad you like the post! Dave Ramsey’s zero based budgeting is awesome! Thanks for linking! I will be on the lookout for your stuff too! Your post about going from a dead end to detour was great! It’s tough going through those kinds of situations, but I’m glad that you shared your story! We nee more people sharing hard things like that to help others!
I love that you two collaborated and find this interesting ad my husband and I areally working on a Couples’ Worship and Workout Series. You had some great takeaways sounds like I should add thus book in my research.
It was great getting to go through Scott’s book. That’s great that you are working on more marriage materials! You really can’t have enough considering we should always be trying to do something to improve our marriages! Thanks for stopping by. The book really does go through some great topics that you might find helpful!
Congrats on marking 1 of your books from the list. Regarding the book. it sounds like a good read. My hubs and I are all about cultivating our marriage relationship God’s way!
Thanks for the encouragement Natasha! It was great to get through this one and mark through it on my list for 2017! It really is a great book and any couple would take away quite a bit from it while pursuing to follow and obey God in the process! I hope you will take the time to go through it with your husband as well and then come back and let us know your thoughts!
so so so awesome! I would love to read this book
It was a fantastic book on marriage and obeying God, Caroline! Highly recommend it to others! Grab it and let us know what you think about it!
Sounds like a great book! I especially like what you said about how he blends the information together instead of separating it into different sections so that both husband and wife read it and can discuss the issues together.
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Yes, Kristi, the way that he blends it all together so that husband and wife can read it together is really nice! Thanks for reading my review and I hope you will take some time to go through it as well!
Lovely post about Marriage 🙂 God can bring people together in the greatest of ways!
Hi Jenna, thanks for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed my review. God sure can do some amazing things when we obey His commands. Have a great day!
Really good article. I also feel that God’s way has been lost in most of our lives. I am going to need to find some time to look into all your references and thank you for taking so much time to give us a lead to look further down this rabbit hole. 🙂
Hello! Thank you for reading this review of Marriage God’s Way. If you’d like to check out the book before buying it, I’m giving away a few chapters and a coupon for 10% off any purchases (book, workbook, or bundle). I pray the book will strengthen your marriage and relationship Christ! The entire accompanying workbook is also available for download!
Here you go: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/ZexfA
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