Marriage

Whether you are preparing yourself to be a good spouse, preparing to get married or already married, intentional preparation and investment is key. Here is a list of books, assessments, podcasts, courses, conferences and weekend getaways to help you live the marriage of your dreams! All except one resource (identified below as a secular resource) are Christian-based resources. For additional resources, visit Focus on the Family Canada or Focus on the Family USA.

Feel free to distribute this list of resources, in whole or in part, to anyone (copyright is waived). 

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Books - marriage preparation

  • Should I get Married? (Blaine Smith)
  • Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (Les and Leslie Parrott)
  • Before Saying "I Do" (Norman Wright and Wes Roberts)
  • Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married (Gary Chapman)
  • Ready To Wed (Greg and Erin Smalley) - book, workbook, pre-Marital Counseling Kit (10 video sessions, Leader's Guide, workbook)
  • Before the Ring (William Coleman)
  • 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged (Norman Wright)
  • Boundaries in Dating (Henry Cloud and John Townsend)
  • Too Close Too Soon (Jim Talley and Bobbie Reed)
  • 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Remarried (Norman Wright)
  • The Premarital Counseling Handbook (Norman Wright)
  • Watchfulness - Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline (Brian Hedges)

Books - marriage

  • The Meaning of Marriage (Timothy and Kathy Keller)
  • Sacred Marriage (Gary Thomas)
  • After Saying "I Do" (Norman Wright)
  • The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (John Gottman and Nan Silver) - secular resource
  • Held in Honor (Matthew Haste and Robert Plummer)
  • Love and Respect (Emerson Eggerichs)
  • Strengths Based Marriage (Jimmy Evans and Allan Kelsey)
  • Making Magnificent Marriages (Jared Pingleton)
  • The Power of a Praying Husband (Stormie Omartian)
  • The Power of a Praying Wife (Stormie Omartian)
  • The Power of a Praying Couple (Stormie Omartian)
  • The Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman)
  • When Sorry Isn't Enough (Gary Chapman)
  • Marriage Coaching (Jeff and Jill Williams)
  • The Four Seasons of Marriage (Gary Chapman)
  • Watchfulness - Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline (Brian Hedges)
  • Boundaries in Marriage (Henry Cloud and John Townsend)

Training - marriage preparation

  • Note: "virtual" means live interaction with people; "online" means no live interaction with people. 
  • Life Languages International; 7 Life Languages assessment (communication styles) (also known as Kendall Life Languages™ Profile); online; available in 11 languages
  • Celebrate Recovery Canada; Celebrate Recovery program (for freedom from addictions, hurts and hang-ups); virtual
  • Pure Desire Ministries; Pure desire support groups and counseling (for freedom from sexual brokenness and betrayal trauma); virtual

Training - marriage

  • Les and Leslie Parrott: SYMBIS+ assessment (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) - for married; online
  • Fruitful Journey Coaching: SYMBIS Coaching Program; virtual
  • FamilyLife Canada (Power to Change): Together for Good workshop; eCourse
  • FamilyLife Canada (Power to Change): Weekend Getaway Marriage Conference; in-person
  • Prepare/Enrich: Prepare/Enrich assessment (marital); online + facilitator; available in 11 languages
  • Nothing Hidden Ministries: Love After Marriage; need to be at least engaged to attend in-person; eCourse or in-person
  • Focus on the Family Canada: podcasts
  • Focus on the Family Canada: Journey to Us conference and marriage weekend retreat; unaccompanied spouses welcome; in-person
  • Focus on the Family Canada: Hope Restored weekend; for struggling marriages; in-person
  • Focus on the Family USA: Marriage assessment; online (free)
  • Focus on the Family USA: Resist the Drift Marriage Conference; in-person
  • Focus on the Family USA: Marriage Weekend Getaway; in-person
  • Promised Land Living: Marriage Course; virtual
  • Alpha: The Marriage Course; eCourse (also available in French and Spanish)
  • Psychological Publications Inc.: Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis; online + facilitator; available in 7 languages
  • Life Languages International; 7 Life Languages assessment (communication styles) (also known as Kendall Life Languages™ Profile); online
  • Celebrate Recovery Canada; Celebrate Recovery program (for  freedom from addictions, hurts and hang-ups); virtual
  • Pure Desire Ministries; Pure desire support groups and counseling (for freedom from sexual brokenness and betrayal trauma); virtual