The Meaning of Marriage Study Guide: A Vision for Married and Single People
By Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
Timothy and Kathy Keller will show you a portrait of marriage as it's meant to be according to the Bible...by first throwing out most of what we've been taught about love.
Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that marriage does not mean 'til death do us part, but merely for as long as my needs are being met; and that when serious differences arise, divorce is the best solution. But all of these modern-day assumptions miss what marriage is really about.
In this six-session video-based Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Timothy Keller, along with Kathy, his wife of forty years, draws a profound portrait of marriage from the pages of Scripture that neither idealizes nor rejects the institution but points us back to the relationship between God and man. The result is a vision for marriage that is refreshingly frank and unsentimental, yet hopeful and beautiful.
This study is for anyone from singles to couples considering marriage to those who have been married for any length of time.
Sessions include:
- Service: Marriage Isn't about You
- Covenant: Created to Make Promises
- Roles: Loving through Mutual Submission
- Singleness: Strengthening the Spiritual Family
- Sex: The Act of Covenant Renewal
- Hope: Seeing the Great Horizon
Designed for use with The Meaning of Marriage Video Study (sold separately).
Timothy Keller
Timothy J. Keller (1950–2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, cofounder of Redeemer City to City, and the author of numerous books, including The Reason for God, The Prodigal God, and The Meaning of Marriage. His thirty-one books have sold over six million copies and have been translated into twenty-nine languages.
Read more from Timothy Keller
Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5City Vision: Center Church, Part Four Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Reason for God Discussion Guide: Conversations on Faith and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The New City Catechism Devotional: God's Truth for Our Hearts and Minds Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Prodigal God Discussion Guide: Finding Your Place at the Table Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Gospel in Life Study Guide: Grace Changes Everything Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorship by the Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus the King Study Guide: Exploring the Life and Death of the Son of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coming Home: Essays on the New Heaven and New Earth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Faithful Endurance: The Joy of Shepherding People for a Lifetime Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5His Mission: Jesus in the Gospel of Luke Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Christ Has Set Us Free: Preaching and Teaching Galatians Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5God's Word, Our Story: Learning from the Book of Nehemiah Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Meaning of Marriage Study Guide
Related ebooks
Preparing Your Heart for Marriage: Devotions for Engaged Couples Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Art of Intimate Marriage: A Christian Couple’s Guide to Sexual Intimacy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMarried Sex: A Christian Couple's Guide to Reimagining Your Love Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Starting Out Together: A Devotional for Dating or Engaged Couples Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cherish Bible Study Guide: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lasting Love: How to Avoid Marital Failure Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lasting Marriage: Discovering God's Meaning and Purpose for Your Relationship Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Single, Dating, Engaged, Married Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Navigating Life + Love in the Modern Age Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCreating an Intimate Marriage: Rekindle Romance Through Affection, Warmth and Encouragement Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loveology Bible Study Guide: God. Love. Marriage. Sex. And the Never-Ending Story of Male and Female. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Simple Habits for Marital Happiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCommunication: Key to Your Marriage: The Secret to True Happiness Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Devotions for Dating Couples: Building a Foundation for Spiritual Intimacy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love Like You Mean It: The Heart of a Marriage that Honors God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Total Intimacy: A Guide to Loving by Color Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reason for God Discussion Guide: Conversations on Faith and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Timothy Keller & Kathy Keller's The Meaning of Marriage Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Mingling of Souls: God's Design for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Prodigal God Discussion Guide: Finding Your Place at the Table Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pure Pleasure: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad about Feeling Good? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Lifelong Love: Discovering How Intimacy with God Breathes Passion into Your Marriage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLoving Him Well: Practical Advice on Influencing Your Husband Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Christianity For You
Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories We Tell: Every Piece of Your Story Matters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5NIV, Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Jesus Calling Morning and Evening, with Scripture References Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Meaning of Marriage Study Guide
5 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We are self-centered and selfish. This is the cause of marriage problems. Through the power of God we need to learn to commit (even when we don't feel like it) and love the other (who is in a certain way a stranger).The last part of the book deals with some specific issues: singleness, marriage roles, sex.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a wonderful and useful book. This month marks 19 years married to a wonderful man. And I was encouraged to find that much of the wisdom in this book is something I have already learned. But boy would it have been helpful to have it explained to me instead of having to learn so much of it the hard way.I recommend this to anyone who is currently married (happily or not so happily), and certainly anyone considering getting married (with someone you know or someone you hope to meet), and even anyone who hopes to never marry (because they (men/women pick the one that fits) are impossible).The book is well written, easy to understand, engaging, wise, and gentle while still being convicting.It explains the meaning of marriage and does a good job of showing why the Christian meaning of marriage works well.
1 person found this helpful
Book preview
The Meaning of Marriage Study Guide - Timothy Keller
INTRODUCTION
Love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.
— King Solomon (Song of Songs 8:6 – 7)
We are obsessed with love. Our Billboard charts, movie theaters, and all of our screens pile stories upon stories about our longing to love and be loved. The greatest novels and plays of all cultures in all times are filled with love stories. Some are tragic and some end in happily ever after, but every culture has love stories because love is at the core of the human experience. Simply put, we are always pursuing and longing for love.
Over time and through a variety of big and small moments in marriage, you will encounter many of your life’s greatest joys and sternest tests. That is why most married people will tell you that marriage is hard work — because in marriage you are regularly handling the powerful forces of selfishness and love, and that requires patience, hope, repentance, forgiveness, and great intentionality.
The primary goal of this study is to help all of us, regardless of our marital status, to see the marriage covenant as a reflection of Jesus’ love, grace, and power in our lives. In these sessions you will explore the profound mystery of the love described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesian church. There he shows us that the love of God, given to us in the gospel, is the only inexhaustible source for sacrificial love between spouses — as it is for all human love in general.
After all, the climactic I do
in a wedding ceremony seals more than just a romantic moment. It is a public promise to love our spouse in a way that can only happen through knowing Jesus as our ultimate, true spouse. But that will involve a reconstruction of the way most of us have been taught to think about marriage, singleness, and love.
We hope discussion groups will go through this material together because truth is transformative when processed in community — and we encourage you to include both married and single people in that community as you work through the material.
HOW TO USE THIS STUDY
The Meaning of Marriage is a six-session video study designed for small groups but adaptable for use by couples and individuals, both married and single. The video sessions are facilitated by Jeff White, a pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, and feature Tim and Kathy Keller and participants with a variety of spiritual beliefs and life experiences in both marriage and singleness. All participants read the book and reread certain chapters in preparation for the filmed discussions. We are grateful for each of their voices and thoughtful perspectives in these discussions, and we hope their insights will fuel similar dialogue in your group as well.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
In addition to The Meaning of Marriage DVD (one per group) and this study guide, each person or couple will need the following:
A copy of the book The Meaning of Marriage. While the Group Times are designed so that you can participate without this book, you will need this book for your Home Study. (Page numbers noted throughout this study guide are from the paperback edition, Riverhead Books, 2013.)
A Bible. If you don’t have a copy, there are plenty of free apps you can use to download a free copy of the Bible. You will have the opportunity to read sections of the Bible throughout these next six weeks as a central part of this experience.
EACH SESSION HAS THREE COMPONENTS
1. Home Study
To get the most out of this experience you will interact with concepts before, during, and after your group gathering. Each Home Study is designed to help you reflect on the content from your most recent Group Time, and then prepare for the upcoming session by reading and reflecting on a selected chapter or two from The Meaning of Marriage.
2. Group Time
The Group Time component walks a small group through key concepts from the book The Meaning of Marriage. Each group discussion will include a video (about 20 – 25 minutes long) that covers selected ideas from each chapter. The study guide will then lead your group through a discussion to help you apply the principles from the book, the video, and your Home Study. Most questions are relevant to both married and single people; a few in each session apply only to married people.
3. Marriage Plan
In addition to the Home Study and Group Time, an exercise specifically for married couples is built into each session. These exercises — designed to do at home or on a date — will help married couples apply what they are learning in practical ways.
NOTES FOR LEADERS
If you are leading the discussions, please see the Notes for Leaders section in the back of this guide for helpful commentary on various questions.
GETTING READY FOR SESSION 1
Please