When marriages are loving and faithful, they point people to Jesus’ unending love for us (see Ephesians 5:25-33). When marriages fall, they propel debris and destruction like a crumbling tower into the community around them. It’s worth it to have strong marriages.
In this post, we want to point you to RENEW.org content that can encourage you and those you lead toward strong, faithful marriages that well-represent the love relationship between Christ and the Church.
Bible Verses about Marriage
Why this matters: If marriage is something God thought up, then it makes sense to bring one’s own marriage into the light of God’s Word.
- Nicole Stine, “10 Bible Verses About Marriage”
Marriage in the Bible: God’s Design and Purpose
Why this matters: Not every type of marriage accepted within society coheres with God’s design and purpose for marriage. This section’s resources explore God’s purposes for marriage and examine polyamory and same-sex marriage in light of those purposes.
- Carol M. Swain, Counter Cultural Living: What Jesus Has to Say About Life, Marriage, Race, Gender, and Materialism (book)
- Carol M. Swain, “How Should We View Marriage” (video)
- Guy Hammond, Following Jesus in an LGBTQ+ World: A Guide for Embracing Hard Teachings & Embracing Hurt People (book)
- Renée Sproles, “On Gender and the Bible: What Does It Mean to Be a Man or Woman?”
- Curtis Erskine, “The Rise of Polyamory”
- John Whittaker, “Review of ‘Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?’ by Preston Sprinkle”
Communication, Conflict, and Forgiveness
Why this matters: Marriage isn’t easy. For marriages to make it for the long haul, there will need to be intentionality in areas such as forgiveness, communication, and reconciliation.
- Chris Lake, “3 R’s of Reconciliation”
- Damien & Christina Charley, “7 Rules Healthy Couples Set for Themselves”
- Damien & Christina Charley, “6 Hidden Signs of an Unhealthy Marriage”
- Damien & Christina Charley, “6 Lies That Sink Marriages”
- Kimberly Beam Holmes and Joe Beam, “How to Save the Marriage: A Q&A with MarriageHelper’s Kimberly Holmes and Joe Beam, PhD”
- Joe Beam, “How to Learn How to Love Well – Q&A with Marriage Expert Dr. Joe Beam”
- Taffeta Chime, “What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?”
- Carly Califf, “10 Bible Verses About Forgiveness”
Sex, Intimacy, and Purity in Marriage
Why this matters: Sexual immorality, whether before or outside of marriage, misuses God’s purposes for sex and presents significant obstacles for lifelong, sustainable marriage.
- Aaron Brockett, “What Makes Premarital Sex So Bad (Part 1)”
- Aaron Brockett, “What Makes Premarital Sex So Bad (Part 2)”
- Daniel McCoy, “What I Said to the Preteens About Marriage, Sexuality, and Boundaries”
- Bobby Harrington, “David and Bathsheba and Affairs in Your Church”
Divorce and Remarriage
Why this matters: In an era of easy divorce, it’s good to be reminded of Scripture’s teachings on divorce, the devastating, far-reaching effects divorce can have, and the power of God to forgive and restore.
- Bobby Harrington, “What Does the Bible Say about Divorce? 10 Truths About Marriage and Divorce” (article)
- Bobby Harrington, What Does the Bible Say About Divorce? 10 Truths About Marriage and Divorce (eBook)
- Megan Rawlings, “Dear Divorced Christian”
Marriage Roles, Leadership, and Mutual Submission
Why this matters: Are gender roles in marriage merely a social construct—or did God have in mind particular functions for husbands and wives within marriage? These resources explore answers to these questions.
- Renée Sproles & Rick Oster, “On Gender and the Bible: What about Husbands and Wives?”
- Bobby Harrington, Renee Sproles, and Daniel McCoy, Complementarian Versus Egalitarian: 10 Questions for Egalitarian Church Leaders (eBook)
- Daniel McCoy, “Why Is Teaching on Gender in Church & Family Important Today?”
