{"product_id":"marriage-sex-in-the-service-of-god-9781573833394","title":"Marriage: Sex in the Service of God","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMarriage: Sex in the Service of God by Christopher Ash\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChristopher Ash presents a comprehensive biblical examination of marriage that challenges contemporary assumptions about sexual relationships and their purpose. This scholarly work addresses the crisis in modern marriage, where four out of ten marriages end in divorce and cohabitation rates continue to rise while commitment levels decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBiblical Foundation for Marriage\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAsh argues that Western society's idolization of sexual intimacy contains the seeds of its own destruction. Through rigorous biblical scholarship, he demonstrates that the primary blessing and purpose of marriage is not sexual intimacy itself, but rather serving God in partnership. This foundational understanding leads to the secondary blessings of love, friendship, children, and societal order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAddressing Modern Marriage Crisis\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book confronts difficult questions facing contemporary society: If faithfulness is no longer valued, why marry at all? What did God intend when he instituted marriage? Ash provides answers rooted in Scripture, offering pastors, counselors, and married couples practical wisdom for rebuilding biblical confidence in marriage. The work acknowledges the depth of pain behind divorce statistics while pointing toward restoration through proper understanding of God's design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eScholarly Yet Accessible\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Field describes this as \"one of those precious rarities - a major piece of biblical scholarship which addresses an issue in today's headlines directly and warmly.\" David Wright praises it as \"deeply scholarly, extraordinarily thorough and biblically faithful, as well as courageously fresh in rethinking the role of marriage in God's intention for human life.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChristopher Ash studied at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and served on staff at St. Andrew the Great, Cambridge, before leading a church plant. He is Rector of All Saints, Little Shelford, and is married to Carolyn with four children. His pastoral experience combined with academic training provides both theological depth and practical application throughout this work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Themes Explored\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book examines the mystery of romantic love that has inspired countless songs, films, and fairy tales, yet so often fails to deliver lasting happiness. Ash traces the historical paradigm shift in Western attitudes toward sexual relationships and commitment, offering a counter-cultural vision of marriage centered on faithfulness and partnership in God's service rather than personal fulfillment alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by Regent College Publishing in paperback format, this essential resource equips readers to understand and embrace God's original design for marriage in an age of relational fragmentation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Regent College Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681203589394,"sku":"9781573833394","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_ac67593a-6377-4af9-a5db-96c2dc191c4e.jpg?v=1733950345","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/marriage-sex-in-the-service-of-god-9781573833394","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}