Ron Zappia - The Marriage Knot: 7 Choices that Keep Couples Together

The Marriage Knot is a must-read from my good friends Ron and Jody Zappia. They put it all out there for you to learn, grow, and receive healing from your pain. Through their life experiences, they have given us seven choices that we all need to practice to make sure that our marriages do not unravel. The sharing from Jodys heart at the end of each chapter is such an added bonus. These words will encourage and provoke you. Love it!

WILFREDO DE JESS

Senior Pastor of New Life Covenant Church, Chicago, IL

With so many marriages coming apart these days, its hard to find people who believe they should stay together at all, let alone someone with fresh practical insights on how that can happen for you. Pastor Ron Zappia and his wife, Jody, know how to tie and retie a life of love that lasts. Ron and Jody are students of Gods Word and the marriage lessons here are proven first in their own marriage then in the lives of many others. For you or someone you know whose marriage is unraveling, Ron Zappia has the right message at the right moment. Learn how to hold it together and love marriage more than you ever havein The Marriage Knot.

JAMES AND KATHY MACDONALD

James is Senior Pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, teacher for Walk in the Word, and author of many books, including Act Like Men

With authenticity and transparency, my friends Ron and Jody Zappia show a path to a better marriage. Ive seen them live this up close, and Donna and I have learned from them on our own marriage journey. Now, in The Marriage Knot: 7 Choices That Keep Couples Together, you can get the wisdom you need to build a marriage that lasts.

ED STETZER

Billy Graham Distinguished Chair, Wheaton College

If authenticity and hope is a hit, this book is a grand slam. Ron reveals the pain of broken lives and the power of redemption. He and Jody share their story as proof that Jesus can heal, tie two peoples hearts together, and change liveseven yours. Grab their coattails of faith and run the race!

KARL CLAUSON

Host of Moody Radios Karl and Crew Mornings, WMBI 90.1 FM, Chicago, IL; Lead Pastor of 180 Chicago

There is no doubt in my mind that this book will help many marriages. The reason is simple: it explains and illustrates the foundational issues that bring harmony and understanding to our marital relationships. Every marriage has room for growth, and this book is destined to accelerate our learning curve.

ERWIN W. LUTZER

Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, IL; bestselling author

There arent many books about marriage that I would read and recommend, but this one, The Marriage Knot, grabbed my attention from the very beginning and surprised me throughout. Rons genuineness and authenticity shine throughout the book, and his biblical insight gives authority to the stories he tells. There is no marriage, whether youre engaged to wed or married fifty years, that wont benefit from this well-written book. This book is great because its written by a wonderful fellow that is dedicated to our Lord, to his wife, and to the institution of marriage. Thanks, Ron youve outdone yourself on this book!

MARK GREGSTON

Host of Parenting Todays Teens Radio

2019 by RON ZAPPIA and JODY ZAPPIA

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Edited by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse
Interior design: Puckett Smartt
Author photo: Molly Grace Photography
Cover design: Stephen Vosloo
Cover photo of knot copyright 2018 by dbphotos/Adobe Stock (75986199). All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1845-6
eBook ISBN: 978-0-8024-9732-1

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To my best friend and amazing wife, Jody. Thank you for your unwavering and unrelenting commitment to build our life and marriage on the Rock with me.

Friend,

Thank you for choosing to read this Moody Publishers title. It is our hope and prayer that this book will help you to know Jesus Christ more personally and love Him more deeply.

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I f I asked you to tie a knot, what kind of knot would it be? If youre a boater, it would probably be a reef knot. If youre a fisherman, it would most likely be a blood knot. If a rock climber, it would certainly be a figure eight or a bowline. Or if youre inexperienced like I am, with no scouting background at all, you would probably tie the knot like you tie your shoes every day.

Either way, it wouldnt matterbecause, as everyone knows, no matter the type, all knots loosen over time. Eventually, left unattended and unchecked, the knot comes undone. That same principle is true of the bond of marriage. The marriage covenant begins as a strong, tightly tied knot of commitment, love, devotion, and affection. Over time, however, left to itself the knot loosens; if left too long, it can completely unravel.