John Mark Comer - Loveology: God. Love. Marriage. Sex. And the Never-Ending Story of Male and Female.

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ZONDERVAN

Loveology

Copyright 2013 by John Mark Comer

ePub Edition December 2013: ISBN 978-0-310-33727-0

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Comer, John Mark, 1980

Loveology : God, love, sex, marriage, and the never-ending story of male and female / John Mark Comer. First [edition].

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-310-33726-3 (hardcover)

1. Man-woman relationships Religious aspects Christianity. 2. Marriage Religious aspects Christianity. I. Title.

BT705.8.C66 2014

261.835 dc23 2013032615

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Cover design: Ryan Wesley Peterson

Interior design: Ryan Wesley Peterson

Printed in the United States of America

14 15 16 17 18 19 /DCI/ 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

With refreshing honesty, wit, and compassion, John Mark Comer delivers a compelling dare to claim (or reclaim) purpose and freedom on the lifelong journey of love, marriage, and sex. Authored in the tension of biblical depth and personal vulnerability, Loveology offers clarity and hope to a generation in desperate need of it. I recommend this book to anyone seeking truth and direction as they navigate the murky waters of postmodern relationships and sexuality.

Todd Proctor, lead pastor of Rock Harbor Church, Costa Mesa, California

In a time when people are drowning in a sea of definitions, my friend John Mark Comer has brilliantly defined love, marriage, and sexuality in ways that find rescue in the ways of the kingdom and teachings of Jesus. This is a much-needed tool in a culture where so many lack clarity.

Chuck Bomar, pastor of Colossae Church and author of Better Off without Jesus

John Mark Comer is a friend of mine who doesnt just talk about love; hes been living it. This is the kind of book youll want to pick up to read, but then youll want to put it down and go do things. Big things. Things that point you and others toward a big God who has in mind big love for the world.

Bob Goff, author of Love Does and honorary consul for the Republic of Uganda

My concept of sexuality has been greatly renewed through John Marks thorough explanation of Gods heart for it. I cannot begin to express the impeccable timing of Loveology for my generation.

Michael, 25

Finally. Someone who will talk about love, marriage, and sexuality in a way that doesnt sound like a textbook or an awkward conversation with your parents or a just say no campaign. Loveology wakes up a conversation I didnt know I needed to have, and it will leave a lasting impression for years to come.

Allison Vesterfelt, author of Packing Light

I greatly respect John Mark Comer. He is a close friend and solid teacher. He clearly understands the obstacles facing this generation and powerfully speaks into the pain and frustration so many people are facing. Everyone would benefit from the truth laid out so plainly in Loveology.

Kevin Palau, president of the Luis Palau Association

It is so refreshing to have a real and honest study about love, sexuality, and relationships for what they are. Gifts from the Lord.

Tim, 25

John Mark has written a great book on the theology of love that is right in all the right ways. Right tone, right truth, right timing. We need this book to navigate the confusing waters of modern sexuality. I highly recommend this read.

Dave Lomas, lead pastor of Reality San Francisco

Loveology is a compassionate and courageous manifesto for the most sexually confused generation in human history. With grace and truth, John Mark shows how the revolutionary good news of Jesus intersects with our sexuality and relationships. Highly recommended.

Mike Erre, senior pastor of First Evangelical Free Church, Fullerton, California, and author of The Jesus of Suburbia

John Marks lifelong propensity to question everything has led him to flip upside down the current Christian cultural thinking about dating and marriage. My brother has shaped the way I approach love.

John Marks little brother, Matthew, 21

In a culture where marriage is optional and sex is cheap, people need to know how to navigate the deep issues of love, marriage, and sex, all while following Jesus. Loveology is a great resource to do just that.

Rick McKinley, lead pastor of Imago Dei Community, Portland, Oregon, and author of This Beautiful Mess

My husband and I heard loveology at the beginning of our relationship, and it changed our entire view on love and dating. It exposed and shattered all the Hollywood movie lies that were embedded in our minds and replaced them with Gods original design. Following the Loveology principles gave our relationship a sense of direction, saved us from making a lot of painful mistakes many couples make, and answered a ton of questions.

Naomi and Isaiah, 22 and 24, married for seven months

Love is at the forefront of the experience of what it means to be human. We can choose to try to figure it out on our own, or we can choose to see how the designer of love intended us to experience all this. Loveology guides us straight into the heart of God, who created this wondrous, powerful experience of love, romance, sex, marriage, masculinity, and femininity.

Dan Kimball, teaching pastor at Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz, California

John Marks Loveology material provided my wife and me a generationally relevant framework from which to discuss (during our long-distance relationship) the complex topics of romance, dating, sex, and family. His teachings unashamedly address the awkward and messy world of romance in a biblical and countercultural way. Read this book if you are single, dating, engaged, or married. And then read it again.

Benjamin, 22

John Mark Comer offers a fresh, biblical perspective on love, relationships, and sexuality in a world that has almost forgotten what these words really mean. A great read on Gods original intent and how it should look in our lives today.

Phil Wickham, singer/songwriter and worship leader