Love Is: How Messy Stories Can Meet in the Heart of God

Written by Jefferson Bethke and Alyssa Bethke

Narrated by Jefferson Bethke and Alyssa Bethke

Read by the authors.

Retitled, repackaged, and including new content, Love Is delivers a compelling message that urges Christians to reject the distorted views of love that have damaged our hearts, minds, and souls and to embrace God’s biblical definition of what love truly is.

Many young people enter adulthood with expectations of blissful dating followed by a romantic marriage but then discover they’ve been duped. They have no idea what healthy, lifelong love is supposed to be like. The results are often disastrous, with this generation becoming one of the most relationally sick, sexually addicted, and divorce ridden in history.

Looking to God’s design while drawing lessons from their own successes and failures, the Bethkes explode the fictions and falsehoods that have led to broken relationships. One by one, they peel back lies that include

• the belief that every person has only one soul mate,
• that marriage will complete you,
• and that pornography and hook-ups are harmless.

Drawing from Jeff’s “prodigal son” personal history and from Alyssa’s “True Love Waits” experience, the Bethkes blend personal storytelling with biblical teaching to offer an inspiring, realistic vision of love, dating, marriage, and sex. With a new chapter that sheds light on the  Bethkes’ relationship today, this updated edition of their previously titled book Love That Lasts expands the original message with new insights into love through God’s eyes.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jan 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781400231935

Jefferson Bethke

Jefferson Bethke is the New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion and It's Not What You Think. He and his wife, Alyssa, host The Real Life Podcast and run FamilyTeams.com, an online initiative equipping families to live as a multi-generational team on mission. They live in Maui with their daughters, Kinsley and Lucy, and son, Kannon. To say hi or to learn more, go to jeffandalyssa.com.

Reviews for Love Is

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke recount the lessons they've learned about God's intentions for romantic relationships through the tales of their very different dating experiences and their ultimate marriage to each other. I found both authors had some very interesting things to say about a Christian dating and marriage relationship and found some takeaways that were very helpful for me. While the Bethkes are married, this book isn't targeted specifically at the married portion of the population and the book is likely to be of interest to Christians who are single, dating, engaged, or married and want to think a little bit more critically of what a Christ-focused relationship should be.