Preface to the 2021 Edition

Chapter 1: What Did You Expect?
Chapter 2: Reason to Continue
Chapter 3: Whose Kingdom?
Chapter 4: Day by Day

Commitment 1: We will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness.

Chapter 5: Coming Clean: Confession
Chapter 6: Canceling Debts

Commitment 2: We will make growth and change our daily agenda.

Chapter 7: Pulling Weeds
Chapter 8: Planting Seeds

Commitment 3: We will work together to build a sturdy bond of trust.

Chapter 9: Sticking Out Your Neck
Chapter 10: Someone to Be Trusted 

Commitment 4: We will commit to building a relationship of love.

Chapter 11: All You Need Is Love
Chapter 12: Ready, Willing, and Waiting

Commitment 5: We will deal with our differences with appreciation and grace.

Chapter 13: Amazing Grace
Chapter 14: Before Dark

Commitment 6: We will work to protect our marriage.

Chapter 15: Eyes Wide Open
Chapter 16: On Your Knees
Chapter 17:Worship, Work, and Grace

Special to the 2021 Edition

Chapter 18: The Gospel, Your Marriage, and Sex (Bonus Chapter)
Chapter 19: Ask Paul Tripp about Your Marriage (Bonus Chapter)

Study Guide

“Noël and I listened to most of this book driving in the car! Wise words. Authentic experience. Provocative application. Turned a long trip into a fruitful two-person marriage seminar.”
John Piper, Founder and Teacher, desiringGod.org; Chancellor, Bethlehem College & Seminary; author, Desiring God

“At once deeply theological and practically relevant, this is one of the top books on marriage I have ever read. Paul Tripp allows readers to examine marriage through a biblical lens so that we understand how God can graciously heal our hurting homes. As a pastor, I will implore our people to read this book as soon as it is available.”
Chris Brauns, Pastor, The Red Brick Church, Stillman Valley, Illinois; author, Unpacking Forgiveness; Bound Together; and When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search

“What I’ve come to expect from Paul Tripp is consistently deep, transparent, biblical, wise, practical, gospel-driven counsel. Rather than muddying the water with self-focused strategies designed to meet our ever-multiplying needs, Paul, as the seasoned soul-physician he is, correctly diagnoses our problems and provides the cure—humble faith in Jesus Christ. I wasn’t disappointed. You won’t be either.”
Elyse Fitzpatrick, coauthor, Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women

“Paul Tripp brings many years of counseling, growth as a husband, and deepening discovery of the liberating power of grace to this realistic and challenging guide to God’s engagement in redeeming marriages that are threatened by complacency, misunderstanding, and selfishness. The Bible’s message of the humbling and healing power of Christ’s mercy and the powerful presence of his Spirit in our homes comes through loud and clear. The daily practicality of gospel doctrine is made crystal clear by Tripp’s transparency about his personal missteps in becoming a Christ-reflecting husband and the many examples of couples who have discovered that they are sinners married to sinners. But that the third, divine Party in marriage gives hope and change when unrealistic expectations are shattered and when we confront our sin. But be warned: Tripp’s diagnostic questions are downright uncomfortable. Even those with strong marriages by God’s grace will find their deep tendencies toward self-coronation challenged!”
Dennis E. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California; author, Him We Proclaim; Walking with Jesus through His Word; and Journeys with Jesus

“Paul Tripp issues a challenge for couples to roll up their sleeves, get to work, and do what it takes to build a God-honoring relationship. He presents six commitments for couples to make, and contained within each is insightful, practical, and effective advice on how to construct a loving, growing, grace-soaked marriage.”
Mary A. Kassian, author, Growing Grateful