Recommended: Marriage & Family

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Marriage and family life are among God’s greatest gifts—and some of our greatest challenges. Scripture describes marriage as a covenant that reflects Christ’s love for His church (Eph. 5:22–33), and calls parents to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Deut. 6:6–7; Eph. 6:4). Yet most of us can testify how hard these callings are in practice. Spouses wound each other, parents grow weary, and families struggle under the weight of sin and brokenness. None of us lives up to the picture of love and faithfulness we see in God’s Word.

And yet, there is hope. Christ is faithful where we are frail. His grace not only forgives our failures but also strengthens us to love, repent, and persevere. The Holy Spirit works in ordinary households, shaping us slowly into the likeness of Christ. These books have been especially helpful to me because they hold those truths together. They avoid both crushing legalism and shallow clichés. Instead, they offer wisdom that is deeply biblical and refreshingly honest, pointing us back to the gospel as the foundation for marriage and family life.

The Meaning of Marriage – Timothy & Kathy Keller
Rooted in Ephesians 5, Keller’s treatment of marriage balances realism and hope. With theological clarity and pastoral warmth, he shows how the gospel reshapes love, commitment, and forgiveness between husband and wife.

What Did You Expect? – Paul David Tripp
Tripp exposes the unrealistic expectations couples often carry into marriage and replaces them with gospel-centered realism. Honest and practical, this book helps spouses move toward grace, repentance, and true unity.

Sacred Marriage – Gary Thomas
Thomas’s well-known book argues that marriage is not primarily about personal happiness but about holiness. It challenges readers to see how God uses marriage as a means of sanctification, shaping us into Christ’s likeness.

Everyday Talk – John A. Younts
Younts emphasizes how everyday conversations shape children’s hearts. With a simple, practical style, he equips parents to weave the gospel naturally into daily life.

This Momentary Marriage – John Piper
Piper roots marriage in God’s covenant-keeping love for His people. He insists that marriage is temporary but points beyond itself to Christ and the church. The book provides both theological depth and practical application, especially in suffering.

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles – Paul David Tripp
Tripp condenses years of counseling and pastoral ministry into fourteen principles. Rather than quick fixes, he offers a vision of parenting shaped by God’s grace, where parents see themselves as instruments of His work in their children’s lives.

Give Them Grace – Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson
This mother-daughter team calls parents to resist the temptation of raising “good kids” through rule-keeping alone. Instead, they show how grace, forgiveness, and gospel hope shape parenting at every stage.

Gospel-Powered Parenting – William Farley
Farley grounds parenting in the gospel, highlighting the father’s role, the necessity of humility, and the importance of grace. He writes with conviction and clarity, offering a solid alternative to both permissive and moralistic approaches.

Discipling Your Grandchildren – Josh Mulvihill
Mulvihill reminds grandparents that they have a vital role in shaping the next generation for Christ. He gives practical guidance on how to intentionally disciple grandchildren, showing that the family is a multi-generational mission field.

We often use clearly-marked affiliate links here for products and services we personally enjoy. This includes Amazon links, as well as other partnerships as clearly noted. If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work in this way.

Disclaimer: The resources listed here have been selected because they offer particular value for Christian growth and understanding. Their inclusion does not imply full agreement with every statement or position taken by the authors. As with any book outside of Scripture, readers should exercise discernment, testing all things by the Word of God (Acts 17:11).