The best Christian books on marriage and sexuality

Why are we passionate about this?

We are sisters and the co-founders of Girl Defined Ministries, where our goal is to help modern girls understand and live out God’s timeless truth for womanhood. Through Girl Defined we talk about such topics as biblical womanhood, relationships, love, marriage, sexuality, identity, and much more.


We wrote...

Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart: Discovering the Beauty and Freedom of God-Defined Sexuality

By Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal,

Book cover of Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart: Discovering the Beauty and Freedom of God-Defined Sexuality

What is our book about?

Discover God’s good design for sex and purity. As the culture around us seeks to normalize things such as pornography, erotica, and casual sex, you may be feeling immense pressure to conform. In this relatable and encouraging book, Kristen and Bethany share honestly about their own struggles and victories and dig into topics such as: how your longings for intimacy point to a deeper need; why God’s original design for love, sex, and purity is good; how to deal with secret sexual struggles; and much more.

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The books we picked & why

Book cover of The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal Why did I love this book?

What honestly is the meaning and purpose of marriage? This amazing book answers those questions and much more! Tim Keller gives a Biblical foundation and understanding of marriage as a whole and explains what true Biblical commitment looks like. He gently dismantles some common misconceptions of marriage and shows us a better way—God’s way. God has a perfect design for marriage that we can embrace and enjoy!

By Timothy Keller, Kathy Keller,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Meaning of Marriage as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Incredibly rich with wisdom and insight that will leave the reader, whether single or married, feeling uplifted." -The Washington Times

Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, this book shows everyone-Christians, skeptics, singles, longtime married couples, and those about to be engaged-the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible.

Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but…


Book cover of The Sacred Search: What If It's Not about Who You Marry, But Why?

Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal Why did I love this book?

One of the best books on marriage we’ve ever read! Full of thought-provoking questions and practical advice, as well as hard truths straight from Scripture. Gary Thomas does an excellent job of reiterating what marriage and sex are truly about: Christ. He walks the reader through many different points and scenarios to help them see dating, marriage, and sexuality through the proper lens. We’ll never stop recommending this book; it’s just that good!

By Gary Thomas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Sacred Search as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bestselling author Gary Thomas transforms the way you look at romantic relationships. His unique perspective on dating will prepare you for a satisfying, spiritually enriching marriage.
 
In the revised edition of his hit book The Sacred Search,  Gary Thomas helps single people of all ages make wise marital choices by rethinking what basis those choices should be made on.
 
You will be encouraged to think beyond finding your “soul mate” and instead adopt a more biblical search for a “sole mate”—someone who will walk with you on your spiritual journey.
 
Thomas asks, What if we focused on why we should…


Book cover of Let Me Be a Woman

Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal Why did I love this book?

A wonderful must-read about femininity and womanhood as God defines it. Elisabeth Elliot (a woman worth reading about herself) wrote this as a wedding gift to her daughter. Thankfully we can all learn from the wisdom in those pages now! Drawing from the Bible, Elisabeth addresses many different topics related to marriage, masculinity and femininity, and what it means to be a woman. If you want to know more about God’s design for women, definitely give this a read!

By Elisabeth Elliot,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Let Me Be a Woman as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“In order to learn what it means to be a woman, we must start with the One who made her.” Working from Scripture, well-known speaker and author Elisabeth Elliot shares her observations and experiences in a number of essays on what it means to be a Christian woman, whether single, married, or widowed. Available in trade softcover and as a Living Book.


Book cover of Letters to a Romantic: First Years of Marriage

Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal Why did I love this book?

The first few years of marriage can often be the most challenging. Luckily Sean Perron and Spencer Harmon (with some help from their wives) have written this series of “love letters” to newly married couples. In them, they address many common difficulties newlyweds face, from finances to sex. This is a great resource for not only couples, but those in a dating relationship or single as well!

By Sean Perron, Spencer M. Harmon,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Letters to a Romantic as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Dear Romantic,

The first years of marriage are filled with joys, sorrows . . . and surprises. These will set relationship patterns that will determine the course of your marriage. As you begin your life together, you probably have some questions, and you know the stakes are high. We want to help.

If you want to navigate the early years of your marriage in a way that glorifies Christ and honors his Word, this book will be a great resource for getting a conversation going. In a series of warm, short, practical letters, Sean Perron and Spencer Harmon, along with…


Book cover of Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace

Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal Why did I love this book?

In Finally Free, Heath Lambert details a Biblical process for fighting and overcoming pornography and sexual sin. No matter how long or hard the battle, there is so much hope in Christ! Whether you’ve struggled with this, or know someone who has, read this book! It’s transformative! It’s not about porn; it’s about Christ and the hope of the gospel. He can lead you to finally find freedom.

By Heath Lambert,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Finally Free as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Eight gospel-centered strategies for overcoming the lure of pornography and finally breaking free.

This book is not about pornography. You won't find graphic depictions about the porn industry, the catastrophic effects it has on individuals and relationships, or how to think differently about porn. If you're reading this book, you probably have some understanding of those things already-the last thing you need is to be subjected to that kind of detail...again.

Finally Free is about hope. It's about discovering the freeing power available to those who trust in Jesus Christ, who can, will, and does set people free from the…


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Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

By Antonieta Contreras,

Book cover of Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

Antonieta Contreras Author Of Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

As a trauma therapist and dedicated researcher, I love uncovering valuable insights within lesser-known books. There are hidden gems, free from the pressure of commercial success, crafted by authors deeply committed to research, understanding, and the art of writing itself. Their dedication resonates with me, as I believe in the profound value of information and the power of critical thinking. Through my own book, Traumatization and Its Aftermath, I aim to emphasize that psychological concepts often lose their depth in translation and my mission is spreading awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of trauma and its intricate facets. With that idea in mind, I chose these five titles. 

Antonieta's book list on uncovering the human experience and exploring the depths of trauma

What is my book about?

A fresh take on the difference between trauma and hardship in order to help accurately spot the difference and avoid over-generalizations.

The book integrates the latest findings in brain science, child development, psycho-social context, theory, and clinical experiences to make the case that trauma is much more than a cluster of symptoms to be tamed, but instead best understood as development gone off course, away from growth and towards (only) survival.

This book prompts a profound shift in perception, inviting to view trauma as an intricate and diverse experience, a point of view that ultimately leads to sharper treatment and, hopefully, more healing. It encourages a transition from asking, "What happened to you?" to the deeper question, "What is your relationship with what happened to you?"

Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

By Antonieta Contreras,

What is this book about?

The book is comprehensive, bold, and practical-a much-needed resource for the assessment and treatment of trauma. Instead of the traditional focus on the overall importance of healing, Traumatization and its Aftermath decodes why some people don't heal as easily as others, analyzes the various failures of diagnosis, and explains how to make therapeutic interventions truly effective.

This book offers a systemic deep dive into traumatization that clarifies myths and misinformation about the entire spectrum of trauma and provides both clinicians and non-clinicians with the right level of validation, preventive measures, conceptualization methodology, assessment tools, and healing facts that have not…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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