If you’re single and feeling incomplete or even like a second-class citizen in Christian circles, Dr. Tony Evans wants to encourage you to live fully where you are.
Kingdom Single will encourage you to see yourself as complete in Christ and free to serve Him. It will empower you to live as Kingdom men and women in a corrupt culture.
Tony Evans is a much-loved pastor and known for his sense of knowing when to encourage and when to lovingly admonish, to help people become who God calls them to be. If you are single and reading this book―or if you lead or pastor singles―your identity in Christ will be affirmed. Additionally, you will receive coaching for what to look for in a prospective spouse, and be challenged to live godly lives while pursuing Kingdom causes.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Anthony Tyrone "Tony" Evans Sr. is an American evangelical pastor, speaker, author, and widely syndicated radio and television broadcaster in the United States. Between 1976 and 2024, Evans served as senior pastor at the over-9,500-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.
Books on singlehood intrigue me, as I’ve read my fair share of them in years past. Usually, I read single-women books written by women, so seeing this by Tony Evans doubly intrigued me.
The first half of the book was spot on with things that I could personally apply to my life. A lot of reminders for focusing on God and using single years to minister, not wait (or, worse, mope). It was different than many single books that I’ve read and I liked the difference. Instead of a “how-to-get-a-spouse” manual or assuring the reader that they just had to wait long enough, pray hard enough, or do this or that right enough, they’d get a spouse, Evans drew inspiration from various figures in the Bible. He never assures the single that they’ll marry, but he definitely gives them plenty of food for thought in what to do while unmarried. There is a lot of reference to God's Word and how to get our focus there.
There are portions of this book that are definitely more suited for an older audience—unless the teen is already exposed to a bit of discussion on sex. I think it is beneficial for singles to be educated about it and discuss it, because in our world today, it’s not just reserved for those who are married (which Evans deals with very well—how to be forgiven, how to stay pure, how the Bible teaches about it being right only in the bonds of marriage, how our bodies and minds are affected by casual sex, etc.). At the same time, it would be TMI for a lot of younger singles. I advise parents or counselors to read the book before handing it off to a younger single.
The last couple of chapters weren’t relevant to me, as in Evans discussed the issues of divorced singles and single parents. Again, though, these are subjects that tend to be avoided in the Christian culture. In essence, “Kingdom Single” covered almost every base of those who are single, and I applaud that.
I didn’t quite agree with Evans’ perspective on 100% of everything, but as a whole, I found this to be a beneficial read.
*I received this book from Tyndale Publicity Team and happily provided my honest review*
I owe you an apology, Amanda. You recommended this book to me and I inwardly rolled my eyes. Pretty much all the books for singles that I've read or looked into reading by married people were frankly less than helpful. They focused either on marriage or read more like a rant against the selfishness of singles in today's culture.
This book wasn't like that at all.
Evens starts off the book by explaining why he feels he has something to say to singles and addresses some of the reasons people might not listen to him (like the fact he's been married for many years). I already liked his humility and compassionate tone as he explained. He tore down some of the reasons I was feeling defensive about reading the book.
This book deals head-on with many issues with grace, biblical truths, and common sense. Evens spoke plainly and without sugar-coating anything, yet maintained a humble and conversational tone throughout the books. This wasn't a book of rules, do's and don'ts, or about getting singles to get to work for the church, this book addressed the heart of many struggles singles face.
One of the best things about this book for me? Evens admitted the failure of the church at large toward singles while still encouraging singles to honor God and participate in the local church. He gave a voice to the hurt and pain many singles at church feel, yet still spoke words of encouragement to not allow that pain to deter them. Yes! This is the kind of voice we need in our singleness books!
Overall, I think this is the best general book on singleness for both men and women. I'm glad this is my first book read in 2021.
Just to be clear, I took one star off simply because of several sections (single parents, divorced) that didn't really apply to me and a couple of minor theological differences.
Content notes: Sex is discussed frankly. As someone who has come from a more conservative, less sex-saturated culture than many, I did squirm a little. However, I felt the discussion was appropriate for the targeted audience.
One of my favorite books on singleness. 1. It not just for ladies 2. It is very wholistic. It’s not just about finding a spouse or waiting well. He address those things, but also talked about living life as a single and what God invites us into. 3. He writes with empathy and understanding even though he is married. He has clearly listened well to the singles in his life. He doesn’t give the clique and pat answers.
This is a DNF. I can’t stand the writing style, but more importantly, his theology is a bit name it and claim it, a Joel Osteen vibe, very self-centered, not Christ-centered. I was expecting a book about how to leverage your singleness for the sake of the kingdom, and instead….it’s just really not great. Also, it inspired new worries/fears/sadness rather than giving gospel hope. Not a fan.
Topics to consider: religion, sex, divorce, and homosexuality.
First of all, what is a "Kingdom Single"? According to the author, it is "an unmarried Christian who is committed to fully and freely maximizing his or her completeness under the rule of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ." That long answer simply means "a single Christian." This book teaches you how to be one that is content in Christ. Kingdom Single is for unmarried... women, men, youth, elderly, widowed, divorced, single parents - anyone who is seeking a relationship (or even those who are happy in their singleness.)
So many topics are touched on in this book. Because so many topics are discussed, of course there has to be a section on sex. That could be very awkward for some to read, yet I think Evans did a very thorough and thoughtful job. It definitely applies to today's society.
I didn't really know what to expect when I went into this book, but I thought, "I'm single -- why not read it!" One thing that surprised me (but I love it) is that it doesn't teach you how to wait patiently for your spouse like a lot of other books. Kingdom Single teaches you how to get on with life and enjoy your single time! It teaches you to live in the now. Marriage isn't what should make you whole -- God is.
The funniest part of this book to me was the cover. Maybe it's supposed to be a group of four single friends, but to me it just looks like two couples... on the cover of a book about singleness... Ha!
This book felt like an interesting how-to manual for life. I believe so many people need to read this. I ended up marking a ton of sections to show to my single friends. Kingdom Single teaches that loneliness and wanting to be married are totally normal, but you can find contentment even when you're lacking something. You're part of something bigger.
I recommend Kingdom Single to all single people! It really is a good resource. Here's a look at some of my favorite quotes:
"Living as a satisfied single ... comes in learning how to walk that tightrope of ... longing for more yet still delighting if more simply never arrives." (pg 5)
"...spiritually [address] the issue without being consumed by it." (pg 35)
"...never let your yesterday keep you from your tomorrow." (pg 62)
"While contentment does not cancel the loss that Christian singles experience, it does give them the spiritual capacity to be okay in spite of it." (pg 67)
~I was sent a free copy of this book from Tyndale for an honest review~
If you are a Christian single wanting to know how you can honor the Lord in this season and with your life, then check out this book. While there are points of counsel I would state differently, Dr. Tony Evans provides comprehensive counsel for Christian singles!
“SINGLE CHRISTIAN, GOD HAS A KEY ROLE FOR YOU IN HIS KINGDOM!
Hopes. Fears. Dreams. Frustrations. You’ve likely experienced them all. But this stage of your life can actually be one of the most exciting and productive in your walk with God. The fact is, you’re already complete in Christ, and He has important work for you to do.
In Kingdom Single, Dr. Tony Evans proves that while you’re waiting for some things, God wants you to be about His kingdom work, growing in your relationship with Him and serving His cause today. At the same time, you’ll be increasingly prepared for whatever future plans He has for you.
God has encouragement, inspiration, and lessons for you to learn now. He has an eternal mission for you to join now. And He has amazing plans for your future that begin now. Read Kingdom Single and start your journey to a life of fulfillment, peace, and world-changing purpose.” Kingdom Single, written by Dr. Tony Evans, is a Christian living book targeting the single population of the Church, the term Kingdom Single being defined as, “an unmarried Christian who is committed to fully and freely maximizing his or her completeness under the rule of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ.” Dang.
Dr. Evans seeks to clarify God’s call on the single Christian’s life with a heavy use of Scripture as well as personal experience, and be a voice that calls that same single Christian to become complete in Christ to pursue His mission for the world and revealed purpose for their lives.
ALL THE GOOD THINGS
When I originally approached this book, I had a limited picture of the audience Dr. Evans sought to reach. I pictured men and women who’d never married, and who felt they were past the “easily marriageable” age. I therefore anticipated the book to be over 200 pages of Dr. Evans trying to say the same thing in different ways to the same people. And yet, as I walked through this concept with Dr. Evans, however, I was reminded that Kingdom singles are not limited to this one category. Kingdom singles include men and women who’ve been divorced, widows and widowers, single parents, and beyond. This made me look particularly at the ministry in which Jake and I are involved, and realize that the struggles faced by people who were not yet married were struggles that single moms, widows, etc. also faced, and broadened my compassion and prayers for them.
Another thing that made this book enjoyable for me as a reader was how Dr. Evans tastefully but truthfully handled the issue of divorce without making the book about the issue of divorce. I feel like the Church, and I as part of the Church, can overshoot this issue in extremes, neither of those extremes representing the Gospel of both grace and truth very well. And yet Dr. Evans accomplished communicating both grace and truth as he set up the biblical standards for divorce and remarriage, encouraged people who’ve been divorced, and discussed the Church’s role as the court for believers concerning divorce, etc.
Lastly, Dr. Evans shed light on some struggles that Kingdom Singles have in today’s society that I didn’t even think about, specifically the struggle with same-sex attraction. Not that married Christians don’t face that struggle as well, but…
ALL THE NOT SO GOOD THINGS
The things that made this difficult for me as a reader were few and far between, the main difficulty being simply that I couldn’t completely relate to the struggles Kingdom Singles face, and so I felt some of the analogies and even encouragements were lost on me.
The one smaller thing that made this difficult for me to enjoy as a reader was the ratio between the amount of ideas introduced and the space allowed in the book to discuss them. Most of the time, Dr. Evans did well with the space that he had to work with within his own book, and yet some of the time topics felt glanced over (e.g., the Church as a Courthouse for believers, the call on Kingdom Singles concerning discipleship and the Great Commission, and others), and I was left wanting more discussion on those things. This might simply mean I need to pursue other reading material to supplement these topics.
Overall, I feel like this was a topic that could’ve been handled very poorly, and yet Dr. Evans handled it with tact, compassion, and truth. I would recommend this book to single Christians, yes, but also and especially to the people dedicated to ministering to and discipling single Christians, in order to possibly afford them greater clarity as to what people in this phase of life are experiencing as they seek to follow God.
About the Author:
“Dr. Tony Evans is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles. He is a pastor, best-selling author, and frequent speaker at Bible conferences and seminars throughout the nation.
Dr. Evans has served as the senior pastor Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for more than 40 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now more than 10,000 congregants with 100-plus ministries.
Dr. Evans also serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and application of the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 1,200 radio outlets throughout the United States and in more than 130 countries.
Dr. Evans has authored more than 100 books, booklets, and Bible studies, including Kingdom Man, Oneness Embraced, The Kingdom Agenda, Marriage Matters, and Victory in Spiritual Warfare. He serves as chaplain for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, a ministry he has done for more than 30 years. He is also the former chaplain for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
Dr. Evans is married to Lois, his wife and ministry partner of more than 40 years. They are the proud parents of four, grandparents of twelve, and great-grandparents of two.”
*A complimentary copy of this book was given to me by Tyndale Book Publishers
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Singles Don't Need Marriage to Feel Complete and Whole I recommend this book because it validates what I wrote concerning singleness and marriage in my book: The Christian Olympics-Going For the Gold Crowns. The church is dysfunctional in this area of the married living single and the single living married. But singles are complete,which is what Dr. Evans carefully, with skill and biblical references, meticulously proclaims in his book:Kingdom Single: Complete and Fully Free. For so long the church has not valued or taught the biblical role of the complete single.
Readers of Kingdom Single: Complete and Fully Free will feel the compassionate care of a Pastor's heart, in creating this biblical compilation on the topic of singleness. Dr. Evans shares what God revealed to him through careful study of the scriptures. Along with his multiple years of experience counseling single and married people. And from the input of others who are living the single life. Dr. Evans covers controversial subjects/topics that the church and the Christian community do not address or are afraid to talk about. And every area imaginable about the single life. Kudos to Dr. Evans for producing and impressive spiritual guide on a very intricate topic.
Definitely a book to which I plan to return each year that I remain single. I picked this up on a whim. Usually I avoid Christian books for singles because many are written by married people who push preparing for marriage. Though written by a married man (who has lost his wife since writing this book), this book is more about being the Christian we are supposed to be and understanding the ability to do so freely as a single. He also tackles major struggles singles face with bluntness and grace always pointing back to the Word of God. My only reason for not giving this a five is because there were a few moments of repetition that I thought wasn't necessary and I wished he had a cited reference for the biological information he stated.
This book was really good but also had a lot of extra info that could have been cut, 100 pages less and would have been perfect. I don’t know if it was the Spanish version but this book was hard to read because it didn’t make sense at times. The translation was far off so I had to read sentences again and again. I read this as a discussion for a life group so we were able to take lots of insight and learn together. Since I was the leader I was able to take some pieces and focus on those while disregarding other parts that didn’t make sense. Overall I’m happy we finished the book, we had a great feedback from this, we learned and grew up a lot, and were able to do a full semester of teachings for this week.
This is not the typical Christian book about being single in that it is not just geared towards women. It is geared towards men and women. The focus is not on the story of Ruth and Boaz. Pastor Tony Evans uses Adam, Joseph and other men in the Bible to illustrate God's perspective on being a kingdom single. Good book. There's a lot of food for thought in this book.
This book is excellent to read if you are single. It is gracious but biblically honest. It deals with the struggles singles face and offers biblical solutions. It talks about contentment, repentance, holiness, sex, waiting, and more. I enjoyed reading this book.
I loved this book. This book encourages the single Christian in whatever your choice is; to live as a single person or if you want to get married It even touches on the divorced person, if they want to remarry. Dr. Tony Evans explains sound biblical guidelines for whatever your approach is to being single.
Most helpful book I have read to help live a single focused life. I would recommend this book to Christian single who are struggling and whom self esteem are low
This was a great book to introduce me to Dr. Evans, I liked what was said about using this season to focus on completeness as I am. Loved how focused it was, with simple to follow illustrations of the points made.
This book needs more stars. Singles grab this book immediately. You'll need this tool to fight against the culture who view singlehood as a problem. God designed singles for a greater purpose. And God prepares singles for a greater purpose! Get this book!
Excellent read! I highly recommend this to singles and their families ! Just a warning I did need to skip a few sections in one the last chapters because of details about immortality.
This book was phenomenal! There is so much in this book that Dr. Evans really needed to break this book down into more than two books so that the readers can digest it better. When he broke down what a kingdom single is my heart radiated with joy! I was saying this is what I have been trying to say for years. A kingdom single is more than a person waiting to be found and trying to position themselves to be found. It is imperative that we as single Christians place our value and worth in Christ and understanding Him than trying to get married.
Dr. Evans broke down the story of Ruth and what she was doing while gleaning which was being submissive to her mother in love and wanting to be obedient to her. She did not want to focus on being an obedient daughter and not focused on being seen. When he taught the value of the single woman it liberated me into knowing that my purpose does not resonate in whether I am married or on quickly trying to get married, but on being obedient to my Father and wanting a closer relationship with Him. I am utterly grateful for this book and the lessons learned within its pages. If you have not read this book you need to get it. Pastors the singles in your church are more than horny men and women trying to find a mate. They have a purpose and it is not just to get married.