Book Review: Real Marriage

*So I've been a blogging slacker recently. :( Sorry...Things have been a little busy. I'll try to be better.*

"Real Marriage" by Mark Driscoll is a great read and continues in the tradition of the sermons he has preached on marriage (available through marshill.com). With a straightforward, Biblical approach, Mark and his wife, Grace, deal with real-life issues of marriage and friendship. Whether you're married, single, dating, ministering to marrieds or singles, this book has some good insights for everyone.

Make sure to not skip the introduction to the book, since it gives you a framework for how NOT to read it. The Driscolls are also specific in mentioning their intended audience and reiterating it in other parts of the book. Without this information, you really don't have a framework for reading this book. They also provide context by telling you their own stories. It's also important to note that this book is not primarily about sexuality or sex within marriage, though the topic is addressed (it gets its own section). This is primarily a book about marriage in general and friendship with marriage.

The discussion on friendship within marriage is a concept that might be novel to some people. While at first thought it seems like being friends with your spouse would be a given, the Driscolls point out that not many people talk about what that looks like or how to be friends with your spouse. They use a great acrostic to walk through what marital friendship looks like (I'll let you read the book to find out how they apply):

F- Fruitful
R- Reciprocal
I- Intimate
E- Enjoyable
N- Needed
D- Devoted
S- Sanctifying


While I've heard some of the information in the book before by listening to Mark's sermons, there was enough new material that kept me learning and thinking. They talk about the concept of making sure that the last day of your marriage is the most important and then give you a practical way to do that at the end. The last chapter was definitely worth the read as it puts forward many questions to consider to consider for the future of your marriage and family. Reading over all the questions at once was a little overwhelming but they were a great framework to start thinking and planning about the future, even further out than just a couple months or a year.

Overall, the book was a great read and good food for thought. I definitely recommend it for married couples and those who plan on being married. :) The straightforward tone is refreshing and the advice relevant. I look forward to chatting about this book, especially the questions at the end, with my husband when he finishes reading it. :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”