I’ll be honest. Most marriage books do not hold my interest, unless they point me back to Christ in some form or fashion. So, I’m happy to say that the book I want to review and giveaway today does exactly that!
It anchors the reader in the truths of Scripture—challenging us to live out the gospel in our marriages and lives.
In my opinion, no higher calling exists, nor is there a better healing agent for a sin-sick marriage!
The authors of the book—The Marriage Knot—are husband and wife, Ron and Jody Zappia. Ron is currently the founding pastor of Highpoint Church in the suburbs of Chicago. And because of that, you might think they would not really know how to relate to the average couple with marriage struggles.
If you think that … you would be so very wrong!
Just one year into their marriage, Jody walked in on Ron in bed with another woman! How’s that for an attention-grabber and deal-breaker?
Jody could have quickly ended her marriage to Ron and even had biblical grounds to do so. But instead they found themselves seeking counsel from a pastor who threw down the gospel gauntlet.
As they met with him in his office, he said …
“So, we can talk about how messed up your marriage is, or I can talk to you about God’s plan, the forgiveness that is available in Jesus, and the relationship you can have with Him.”
Mic drop! 😉
Ron and Jody would go on to give their lives to Jesus during that meeting. In so doing, they laid down their own preferences and plans for their marriage, in order to follow Christ who laid down His life for them.
Self-preservation was replaced with Jesus’ salvation—not just of their souls, but of their marriage as well.
The Marriage Knot is based off of …
7 Choices that Keep Couples Together
Choice 1: Choose to Grow Spiritually
The primary focus in this chapter is spiritual growth for the Christ-following couple. Ron and Jody illustrate this choice by offering a look at the spiritual growth marriage triangle.
They explain this triangle paradigm in greater and more insightful detail than I’ve heard before. It really puts into perspective the power Christ has in our marriages.
Choice 2: Choose to Love Unconditionally
This chapter focuses on what love looks like and how it should be expressed by primarily keying into 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The authors also provide a brief questionnaire that I found to be very convicting and revealing of my own attitude in marriage.
Choice 3: Choose to Serve Sacrificially
In this chapter, the authors take a look at the implications of Ephesians 5:22-33 on a marriage. They hone in on the command for husbands to love their wives like Christ loved the church. And give equal time to the command for wives to respect their husbands, including how husbands and wives can leave these commands out!
Choice 4: Choose to Please Regularly
This is chapter focuses on 1 Corinthians 7:1-6 and offers some inspiring and practical insights about sex in marriage. I bet you’ll be surprised by some of what they say here as well. At least, I was! 😉
Choice 5: Choose to Persevere Persistently
Trials and suffering are the subject matter at hand in this chapter. And even though suffering does not always come in the form of an affair—like it did for Ron and Jody—they use this as a jumping off point for an encouraging message to all couples.
After all, suffering comes to every person and couple on earth at some point or another!
[bctt tweet=”I’m grateful for this couple’s vulnerability, as well as insight into suffering, as they trusted Christ to save their marriage. #marriagesaver #marriageSavior #themarriageknot @RonZappia” username=”BethSteffaniak”]
Choice 6: Choose to Communicate Respectfully
This chapter probably was my favorite, since it deals mostly with one of my favorite subjects—forgiveness. The Zappias explain how to communicate respectfully, as well as guiding the reader on how to biblically confront a spouse caught in sin.
[bctt tweet=”This is a very important read for any couple whose marriage has been rocked by an affair! If your spouse has not been faithful, then check out The Marriage Knot! @RonZappia” username=”BethSteffaniak”]
Choice 7: Choose to Bless Abundantly
Ron and Jody offer seven ways to bless our mates abundantly.
They encourage us to bless our mates …
- Practically
- Prayerfully
- Verbally
- Romantically
- Financially
- Spiritually
- Faithfully
Each avenue of “blessing” provides practical and meaningful ways to show love and devotion to our spouses. I also really appreciated that they anchored and defined each blessing with Scripture.
[bctt tweet=”We must never forget that there is great power in God’s word to bring healing to our marriages! #Godhealsmarriages #gospeldrivenmarriage” username=”BethSteffaniak”]
If your marriage has …
- Grown a bit dull and lifeless, then this book will give you tools and insights to encourage and enrich it.
- Gone off the rails into a time of suffering and/or even betrayal, then this book will give you hope for healing through Christ’s power.
- Running smoothly and doing fine, then this book will deepen your resolve to rely on Christ’s power do what is right for your marriage.
You cannot go wrong with this book! It’s a great read!
And, I’m certain, you’ll relate to this couple in, perhaps, surprising and powerful ways.
I hope you’ll check out “The Marriage Knot” on Amazon today!
Which of the seven choices is weakest in your life & marriage? Which is strongest?
What interests you the most about this book?
To be eligible to enter the giveaway, you must comment on this post before Sunday, March 10th at 12 p.m. (CST) and live within the continental U.S. Then be sure to come back to read my next post in “The Spouse I Want to Be Series,” where I’ll be sharing about how to become a humble spouse in marriage. This is an area I surely need to stretch and grow in! How about you?
Update! The randomly chosen winner of my giveaway for The Marriage Knot is Danell! Woot! Woot! I’m so excited for her because this is an incredible marriage book that I just know will bless her socks off! Thanks to everyone who commented and supports MM! Have a great week, my friends!
Here are some other lovely linkups I join – Inspire Me Monday, Literary Musing Mondays, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith, Tell His Story, Recharge Wednesday, Porch Stories Linkup, Welcome Heart, Worth Beyond Rubies Wednesday, Encouraging Word Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Destination Inspiration, Tune in Thursday, Heart Encouragement, Moments of Hope, Grace and Truth, Faith and Friends, Faith on Fire Friday, Fresh Market Friday, and DanceWithJesusFriday
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