5 Christian Books to Read if You are Single or Dating

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April 26, 2021

Navigating the world of singleness and dating can be tricky. In an ever-changing world, singleness can become disheartening, and dating can be difficult. But what does God say about these seasons of our lives? How can we see seasons of singleness as a gift? And how can we date with intention, end relationships well, and prepare ourselves for marriage if that is what God has for us?

We asked a handful of our Woodside Staff Members their top book recommendations on Christian books about relationships, dating, and singleness. We hope these books will encourage you and help you to maximize your seasons of singleness and dating for God’s glory!

We’ve given a brief description of each and linked them. Be sure to comment on your favorites as you read them and let us know some of your favorite chapters, quotes, and more!

Outdated: Finding Love That Lasts When Dating Has Changed — by Jonathan “JP” Pokluda

Everyone wants to be loved — to find someone who will stick with them through all of life’s ups and downs, someone who is in it for the long haul. But in a world where dating is increasingly based on split-second decisions and geared toward casual relationships rather than marriage, it’s easy for single people to feel discouraged, used, or unworthy of true love and lasting affection

Now, JP wants to dispel the myths, misconceptions, and fairy tales you’ve believed about dating and replace them with the truth from the One who invented marriage, created you to crave relationship, and is the very embodiment of true love. With plenty of true stories about relationships healed and love found, this practical book explains God’s purposes for singleness, dating, and marriage and covers why you should date, who you should date, and how you should date.

To purchase, click here. 

7 Myths about Singleness — by Sam Allbery

Much of what we commonly assume about singleness―that it is primarily about the absence of good things like intimacy, family, or meaningful ministry―is either flat-out untrue or, at the very least, shouldn’t be true. To be single, we often think, is to be alone and spiritually hindered.

But the Bible paints a very different picture of singleness: it is a positive gift and blessing from God. This book seeks to help Christians―married and unmarried alike―value singleness as a gift from God so that we can all encourage singles to take hold of the unique opportunities their singleness affords and see their role in the flourishing of the church as a whole.

To purchase, click here.

The Meaning of Marriage — by Tim Keller

Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. But these modern-day assumptions are wrong. Timothy Keller, with insights from Kathy, his wife of thirty-seven years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. The Meaning of Marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life.

To purchase, click here. 

LOVE-OLOGY — by John Mark Comer

In the beginning, God created Adam. Then he made Eve. And ever since we’ve been picking up the pieces. With an autobiographical thread that turns a book into a story, pastor and speaker John Mark Comer shares about what is right in male/female relationships — what God intended in the Garden. And about what is wrong — the fallout in a post-Eden world.

Loveology starts with marriage and works backward. Comer deals with sexuality, romance, singleness, and what it means to be male and female; ending with a raw, uncut, anything goes Q and A dealing with the most asked questions about sexuality and relationships.

This is a book for singles, engaged couples, and the newly married — both inside and outside the church — who want to learn what the Scriptures have to say about sexuality and relationships. For those who are tired of Hollywood’s propaganda, and the church’s silence. And for people who want to ask the why questions and get intelligent, nuanced, grace-and-truth answers, rooted in the Scriptures.

To purchase, click here. 

Necessary Endings — by Henry Cloud

Henry Cloud, the bestselling author of Boundaries, offers this mindset-altering method for proactively correcting the bad and the broken in our, relationships, businesses, and our lives. Cloud challenges readers to achieve the personal and professional growth they both desire and deserve — and gives crucial insight on how to make those tough decisions that are standing in the way of a more successful relationships, business and, ultimately, a better life.

To purchase, click here.