Gary Thomas is pastor, speaker, and award-winning author who has written over 20 books including Pure Pleasure, Sacred Pathways, Sacred Marriage and Sacred Parenting. He has also authored numerous articles for several prominent national magazines. Gary and his wife, Lisa, live in Colorado and have three grown children. You can learn more about Gary by visiting his website, www.garythomas.com.
Is it wrong to experience pleasure? Many Christians assume “pleasure” and “sin” are synonymous. Others define godly pleasure so narrowly that they drastically minimize the powerful and Holy role that pleasure can play in their lives. Still others feel guilty even thinking about how to build a life of pleasure. Pastor Gary Thomas invites Christians to embrace a life of true pleasure as a pathway to obedience, worship, and service. Gary provides a theological and inspirational framework to help us cultivate the kind of life that pleases God.
Gary Thomas explains the meaning of Advent, “God with us,” by using a true story about a visit to a ranch where he saw a great word picture: a lone horse and a lone sheep who wouldn’t leave each other’s sides. The rancher explained that there used to be an entire flock of sheep, but they were all picked off by coyote. This one sheep figured out that as long as he stayed near that big horse, he was safe. And he remains there to this day. And we, like that sheep, are safe because of Advent – “God with us.”
Gary Thomas, author of A Lifelong Love, discusses how to worship God to bring you into unity as a couple, how to allow God to rub away your own selfishness and how couples can intentionally pursue oneness in marriage. He explores how to reduce expectations for your spouse, how to find your confidence in God, and how to seek first the Kingdom of God as a couple. (Part 2 of 2)
Gary Thomas, author of A Lifelong Love, discusses how to worship God to bring you into unity as a couple, how to allow God to rub away your own selfishness and how couples can intentionally pursue oneness in marriage. He explores how to reduce expectations for your spouse, how to find your confidence in God, and how to seek first the Kingdom of God as a couple. (Part 1 of 2)
Don’t get swept away with the exciting notion that your soulmate has arrived. Check what the Bible has to say about soulmates first.
Many options are open to couples whose kids have moved out. Here are some tips on how to use time wisely during the empty-nest years.
Prioritizing your marriage during the parenting years is a balancing act
Wives and mothers desire expressed and demonstrated respect rather than the mere avoidance of disrespect.
Author Gary Thomas describes what it means to truly cherish your spouse, offering practical advice to help you build a more satisfying and fulfilling marriage. (Part 2 of 2)
Author Gary Thomas describes what it means to truly cherish your spouse, offering practical advice to help you build a more satisfying and fulfilling marriage. (Part 1 of 2)
Gary Thomas and Debra Fileta help couples understand and experience mutually fulfilling sexual intimacy in marriage. Our guests describe God’s design for sex and how many couples don’t recognize its great value within marriage. (Part 2 of 2)
When your oldest child is 30, and you ask him or her, “What’s your most treasured Christmas memory?” what do you want to hear?
Gary Thomas and Debra Fileta help couples understand and experience mutually fulfilling sexual intimacy in marriage. Our guests describe God’s design for sex and how many couples don’t recognize its great value within marriage. (Part 1 of 2)
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Gary Thomas offers practical help for couples about dealing with fear, overcoming anger in conflict, staying connected with your spouse, the importance of community for your marriage, and taking your marital concerns to the Holy Spirit first instead of complaining to your spouse. (Part 2 of 2)
Gary Thomas offers practical help for couples about dealing with fear, overcoming anger in conflict, staying connected with your spouse, the importance of community for your marriage, and taking your marital concerns to the Holy Spirit first instead of complaining to your spouse. (Part 1 of 2)
Author Gary Thomas explains how parenting can lead to spiritual transformation in a discussion based on his book, Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls. (Part 2 of 2)
Author Gary Thomas explains how parenting can lead to spiritual transformation in a discussion based on his book,Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls. (Part 1 of 2)
In this inspiring conversation, Gary Thomas describes the joy-filled pursuit of growing in the virtues and becoming more like Christ. Tune in to hear how foundational virtues like humility, surrender, and detachment can shape your family and relationships.
Gary Thomas and Debra Fileta help couples understand and experience mutually fulfilling sexual intimacy in marriage. Our guests describe God’s design for sex and how many couples don’t recognize its great value within marriage. (Part 2 of 2)
Gary Thomas and Debra Fileta help couples understand and experience mutually fulfilling sexual intimacy in marriage. Our guests describe God’s design for sex and how many couples don’t recognize its great value within marriage. (Part 1 of 2)
It’s not unusual for spouses to have different levels of sexual desire. Learn how to manage your mismatched libidos and make your sex life a blessing.
Do you love your spouse, or do you truly cherish them? Gary Thomas encourages couples to make a daily effort to go beyond the ‘duty’ of love, and combat the natural inclination to drift apart by choosing to see the best in their spouse.
Gary Thomas encourages married couples to seek selflessness and spiritual purpose for their relationship in a discussion based on his book A Lifelong Love: Discovering How Intimacy With God Breathes Passion Into Your Marriage. (Part 2 of 2)
Gary Thomas encourages married couples to seek selflessness and spiritual purpose for their relationship in a discussion based on his book A Lifelong Love: Discovering How Intimacy With God Breathes Passion Into Your Marriage. (Part 1 of 2)
Do you want to have better sex with your spouse? Then try becoming a better person.
Appreciating your spouse will strengthen your marriage — and change you
Author Gary Thomas discusses several issues within the modern dating scene – character vs. romantic attraction, the neurological impact of infatuation, the idea of soulmates – while encouraging singles to be intentional in their pursuit of a godly spouse. (Part 2 of 2)
Author Gary Thomas discusses several issues within the modern dating scene – character vs. romantic attraction, the neurological impact of infatuation, the idea of soulmates – while encouraging singles to be intentional in their pursuit of a godly spouse. (Part 1 of 2)
Give the best gift you’ll ever give, which is what your spouse really wants, and you want to give . . . whether you know it or not.
Learning how to bless your spouse is a wonderful thing. But what if you served him or her without expecting anything in return? John and the Smalleys discuss how to maintain a servant’s heart through the changing seasons of marriage.
What if your marriage is only a step or two away from going to the next level? Erin, Greg and John talk about simple things you can do to keep the passion strong in your relationship.
In a discussion based on his book Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas describes how God uses marriage to make us holy, not just happy. (Part 2 of 2)
In a discussion based on his book Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas describes how God uses marriage to make us holy, not just happy. (Part 1 of 2)
The personal benefits of marriage are enormous. Marriage can benefit couples in three important areas: personal healing, happiness and growth in holiness.
Author Gary Thomas outlines some important, biblically-based character attributes which singles should look for in a future spouse.
Every marriage walks through flourishing times, and times where it feels cold. No matter what season your marriage is in, you and your spouse need a healthy foundation. John, Greg and Erin share how you can build true intimacy with your spouse, regardless of the season you’re in.
Your spouse may be amazing, but he or she still falls short from time to time. John, Greg and Erin share some practical ways to encourage your spouse, even when he or she disappoints you.
In a discussion based on his book When to Walk Away, Gary Thomas explains why it’s okay to disengage from people who relish negativity, control, and hatred, and he offers practical, biblically-based advice for doing so. (Part 2 of 2)
In a discussion based on his book When to Walk Away, Gary Thomas explains why it’s okay to disengage from people who relish negativity, control, and hatred, and he offers practical, biblically-based advice for doing so. (Part 1 of 2)
Can you be such a good parent that your children won’t ever stray?
Keeping even little secrets from your spouse can create issues. Greg and John talk about how to remain transparent in your marriage. Featuring Gary Thomas. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY
Keeping even little secrets from your spouse can create issues. Greg and John talk about how to remain transparent in your marriage. Featuring Gary Thomas. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY
Loving your spouse starts with knowing that God already loves you more than anyone ever will. Featuring Gary Thomas. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.
Loving your spouse starts with knowing that God already loves you more than anyone ever will. Featuring Gary Thomas. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.
In a discussion based on his book Loving Him Well, Gary Thomas offers wives practical advice for influencing their husband when he seems unwilling to change. (Part 2 of 2)
In a discussion based on his book Loving Him Well, Gary Thomas offers wives practical advice for influencing their husband when he seems unwilling to change. (Part 1 of 2)
For 20 years, I had loved my wife — serving, sacrificing, persevering. But I had conveniently forgotten to consider what it meant to cherish her. To do that, I had to figure out what cherishing meant.
Gary Thomas emphasizes physical health and fitness as important spiritual values for Christians to steward appropriately for God’s service. (Part 2)
Gary Thomas emphasizes physical health and fitness as important spiritual values for Christians to steward appropriately for God’s service. (Part 1)
There are at least nine distinct spiritual temperaments that determine how a person worships and relates to God. See if you can recognize yourself (and your spouse) in these descriptions.
How do you relate to God? Take this quiz and find out which of the nine spiritual temperaments best describes you.
Scripture and Christian tradition present a wide variety of worship approaches, all equally acceptable because God makes us with different dispositions and personal preferences.
I could do better, and I make mistakes. But does that make me a bad parent?
Every husband has inside information on his wife — a health issue, something from her past, a secret fear. We must hold that vulnerability as a sacred trust.
When we remember that God is always present, all the Scripture verses about how to treat each other take on an added importance. With His presence at the center of our homes, we can transform our marriages.
A couple can build such a satisfying sexual relationship, getting to know each other so well, growing in such intimacy, that the thought of an affair holds little appeal.
If you want to grow together beyond your natural limitations, consider adopting spiritual practices that can lift your marriage above its natural limitations.
Building a marriage “worthy of our calling” means that we recognize our enlistment in the most glorious work ever known: the advancement of God’s kingdom.
The Proverbs 31 woman and her husband exemplify godliness and earnest commitment to God and to each other.
When couples read and study the Bible together, they increase spiritual intimacy and a general sense of togetherness.
Family is important, but have you ever wondered how you reflect its importance as you live out your life day to day?
To love anyway is to love like God – and to learn about God’s love for us.
Our culture has embraced the absurd notion that there is just one person who can ‘complete us.’
