Marry Wisely, Marry Well: A Blueprint for Personal Preparation (Baker)

Does marriage matter anymore? If so, is it even possible to have a stable marriage? How do you choose the right one? Is there anything to work on now, even before being in a relationship?

Marry Wisely, Marry Well teaches you how to start building your future marriage house even before you begin a relationship. Learn to make a wise choice of a spouse, and how to start preparing yourself for a future relationship that is truly built on Christ.

Table of Contents:

Part One: Laying the Good Foundation

1. Building on Wisdom

2. Christ, The Foundation of Wisdom

3. Growing Wiser about Attractions

4. God’s Wise Design for Marriage

Part Two: The First Floor

5. Wise Living During Your Single Years

6. The Ingredients of Wise Relationships (Relationship Skills and Character Traits)

7. Knowing When You’re Ready for Marriage (What Wisdom Says)

8. Wisdom and God’s Will

9. Wisdom and Methodologies (Choosing the Right Tool for Building)

Part Three: The Roof

10. The Result of Building Wisely (A Marriage That Glorifies God)

Appendix 1: Study of Psalm 18

Appendix 2: Marriage Preparation Project 

Author

Ernie Baker(M.Div., D.Min.) is Professor of Biblical Counseling at the Master's College and Seminary in Southern California. He served as a pastor for 25 years, is a certified conciliator with Peacemaker Ministries and a Fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors(ACBC). Ernie and Rose have six children(five married) and seven grandchildren.

Endorsements

"A superbly practical, biblically-based handbook for young people and students who are seeking the wisdom of God’s Word in order to make sure their expectations, their affections, and their hearts are right before God as they contemplate the most important and far-reaching human relationship they will ever enter into." — John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA

"I don’t know of another dating book that is so rigorously biblical in its approach to dating. If you want to adopt gorilla-dating tactics as you sort through the dangers of the jungle we call Christian dating, go anywhere else. But if you want to think wisely and be Christ-centered in your approach to dating, Marry Wisely, Marry Well is an invaluable resource for singles who genuinely want to honor God in their pursuit of a spouse." — Deepak Reju, Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministry, President, The Biblical Counseling Coalition, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (Washington, DC); Author of On Guard and The Pastor and Counseling

"Commentators from all sorts of places are alarmed at the hookup culture among our youth. They largely agree on at least one thing about the present relational landscape: it’s ugly out there. But in this book we get a portrait capturing the beauty of wisdom. Don’t expect a rulebook here. Rulebooks can’t change a young person’s vision to discern true from false beauty. A portrait, rather, invites you to gaze upon what is good and want it for yourself. Come, gaze at Jesus Christ as the wisdom of God, who promises to help his followers to walk safely in any relational landscape." — Jeremy Pierre, Ph.D., Dean of Students, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Ernie is a wise man, and he has written a book that is filled with wisdom. It is for those who are thinking about marriage, though it can function as a fine guide for those who are married too. If you know someone in your family or church who is thinking about marriage, this is the perfect gift." — Ed Welch, PhD, Faculty and Counselor, CCEF