Singleness, Marriage, and the Will of God : A Comprehensive Biblical Guide

by Maxson, J. Robin; Friesen, Garry

• ISBN13: 9780736945493
• ISBN10: 0736945490
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-08-01
• Publisher: Harvest House Pub

Summary

Not everyone will marry or should, but virtually all single adults think about marriage. And all make decisions that either maintain their singleness or attempt to change it. This book, by the authors of the groundbreaking Decision Making and the Will of God, offers an in-depth tutorial to help singles apply biblical principles to the critical choices they confront: Do I want to get married? Are there good reasons to remain single? What sort of person should I consider as a potential spouse? How do I look for a mate? What should I do if no spouse shows up? What is God#146;s role in the decision-making process? This comprehensive volume will equip readers to make wise choices about marriage according to the will of God. It#146;s also an invaluable resource for parents, counselors, and pastors.

Author Biography

Dr. J. Robin Maxson is senior pastor of United Evangelical Free Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he has served since 1976. Robin is married to Louise, and they have two adult children, Rachel Maxson and Michael Evans-Maxson. Dr. Garry Friesen is professor of Bible at Multnomah University, where he has taught since 1976. He also serves as an elder at Image Dei Community in Portland, Oregon. Garry is a lifelong single.

Table of Contents

Prologue	p. 7
Introduction	p. 13
God's Design for Decision Making: Modern Myth 1: As a Christian, you can expect God to tell you whether to marry and whom to marry.
Introduction to Part 1	p. 27
Obeying God's Moral Will	p. 33
Trusting God's Sovereign Will	p. 47
God's Design for Marriage: Modern Myth 2: Marriage is fundamentally a "couples relationship" designed to meet the sexual and emotional needs of the spouses. Therefore, the key to a successful marriage is to find and marry one's soul mate.
Introduction to Part 2	p. 65
Marriage in a Perfect World	p. 75
The Marring and Makeover of Marriage	p. 89
Balancing Marriage	p. 103
The Ultimate Marriage	p. 115
God's Design for Singleness: Modern Myth 3: Singleness shoulds be regarded as a transitional state en route to the ultimate destination of marriage. Problems stemming from the incompleteness of singleness are resolved by marriage.
Introduction to Part 3	p. 127
Eunuchs for Yeshua	p. 135
Singleness and the Will of God	p. 143
Single Choices	p. 161
God's Design for Sex: Modern Myth 4: The best way to determine compatibility with a prospective mate and reduce the likelihood of martial failure is to live together prior to marriage.
Introduction to Part 4	p. 181
God's Purposes for Sex(uality)	p. 187
Sex and the Moral Will of God	p. 203
Sex and the Single Christian	p. 211
Cohabitation: A Dangerous Liaison	p. 229
Looking for a Mate: Modern Myth 5: The most important criterion for a good martial match is chemistry.
Introduction to Part 5	p. 251
Top Ten Missteps to a Miserable Marriage	p. 257
Profile of a Keeper	p. 275
Calculating Compatibility	p. 285
Courtship: Getting Our Bearings	p. 303
Courtship: Devising the Plan	p. 317
Afterword	p. 333
Appendix: Divorce, Remarriage, and the Moral Will of God	p. 337
Acknowledgments	p. 345
Endnotes	p. 349
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