The Sacred Search

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 get married more than on who to marry? What if being "in love" isn't a good enough reason to get married? And most of all, what if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?

The Sacred Search casts a vision for building a relationship around shared spiritual mission-and making marriage with eternity at its heart.

Bestselling author Gary Thomas helps singles understand what leads to long-term fulfillment in marriage so that they can make supremely wise marital decisions based on spiritual purpose and worship.

Gary Thomas is writer-in-residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, a frequent guest on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today radio, and a popular speaker around the world. His award-winning books have been translated into fifteen languages and have sold two million copies. Thomas and his wife have three children.

Contents

Acknowledgments 13

1. A Tale of Two Tears 15

2. The Great Exception 23

3. Infatuated with Infatuation 30

4. You May Not Want What You Think You Want 43

5. Soul Mate or Sole Mate? 53

6. A Match Made in Heaven? 67

7. Walk toward the Music 73

8. Better to Marry Than Burn 81

9. What's Your Style? 88

10. Can You Climb a Mountain Together? 107

11. Making a Marriage 121

12. Is Anybody in Charge? 134

13. You're Looking for a Complement, Not a Clone 142

14. Dating with Intention 155

15. Your Brain on Sex 163

16. Problem People 184

17. How Would Jesus Date? 194

18. Knowing When It's No 202

Epilogue: A New Vision 217

Notes 221.