Going All the Way: Preparing for a Marriage That Goes the Distance

by Craig Groeschel

“Going all the way” used to mean getting what you want from the opposite sex now…and paying for it later.It’s time to redefine. Smart advice for a new generation about love, sex, and happily ever after.You’ve seen marriages fail time and again. Even relationships you thought were bullet proof don’t last. Once promising couples dissolve in the acid of selfishness, conflict, or unfaithfulness… or fade away to a cold, gray lovelessness. No wonder that for our generation, “getting what you want” is often a substitute for love, and disillusionment about marriage is the new normal. So what do you do if you want a marriage that doesn’t just survive, but thrives? That doesn’t just begin romantically but ends magnificently? You do something different.Whether you’re thinking ahead to marriage, are about to be wed, or have been married for a while and want to make changes, this book can help. Going All the Way will guide you through the choices and commitments you need to make now in order to build a strong and vibrant relationship that will go the distance. In a world where going all the way means putting yourself first, author Craig Groeschel will show you how, by putting God first, you can build a soul-enriching, lifelong relationship.With practical, candid discussions about sex, first dates, integrity, forgiveness, and communication, Craig will help you prepare for and experience a relationship that gives fresh, hope-filled meaning to “going all the way” with the one you love.From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Marriage, Relationships, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Christian Living

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2007

About the author

Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, a multisite church with locations throughout the United States and globally at Life.Church Online.

Craig and his wife Amy started Life.Church in a two-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma in January 1996. While Life.Church has grown over the years, its mission remains the same: to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Today, the church is known for its innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel, launching the first fully digital church experience in 2006 and the most downloaded Bible app in history, YouVersion, in 2008.

As a widely respected leader in the Church, Craig speaks frequently at leadership events and conferences worldwide. He is a New York Times best-selling author with books about topics like dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more. He also hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, a practical tool to spark new ideas and prompt innovative thinking in leaders at every level within any organization.

Craig and Amy married in 1991 and have six children. They live in Oklahoma where Life.Church began.

Visit www.craiggroeschel.com to be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, books, leadership events, and more.

Reviews

[Rachel Klingbeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boyfriend and I read this book together and talked about each chapter! Our relationship and focus on God grew substantially. Some people may say he takes relationships too seriously (ex: don't even lay in the same bed with your partner until your married.) But for people that want a relationship focused on God this is a must read!

[Riley Etter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for people who are single, dating, engaged or married! Craig goes over all of the topics that you may be wondering about when in a relationship. This book lays out how to be in a healthy, Christ centered relationship, that will last and that goes all the way!

[Danny Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book to help prepare me to counsel the couples that are coming to see me before their marriage. Remarkable Quote: A religious leader once asked Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:36-39) Jesus' reply forever reminds us of the priority most of us forget. And He confronts and turns upside down the world's accepted sense of order. Loving the Lord is our first priority. Before anything else, Jesus wants to be first. Without Jesus in first place, what comes next will never quite work, including our love relationships. So, if you're looking for the one, desiring more than anything else to one day meet your one, ebrace this: Jesus is the One.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book as a wedding present two years ago and just now got around to reading it. Although Groeschel has some good advice(towards the end), I was so turned off by some of what he said in the beginning of the book that I didn't really care what he had to say. Personally, I found phrases like "If you want to be in a happy, blessed marriage, then only marry a Christian" more than a little offensive; I think it's pretty presumptuous of the author to assume that what he feels his idea of what God wants for everybody is set in stone. Groeschel does seem at times to try and present his advice with a good sense of humor; occasionally, I would find myself chuckling a bit while at other times, I felt that his attempts fell a little flat. Overall, I feel as though the author presented marriage as something more like a business arrangement than the union of two people that love each other for who they are, and that any good advice that was included is more or less common sense.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing really new here in this book - just be careful who you date, and try your best to make sure they have the same God belief system as you...and then God will take care of it...blah, blah. Not that it's not worth reading, but i certainly does have a particular audience.

However, the interesting thing about this book, for me, was finding out about www.lifechurch.tv, which this author (a former United Methodist minster) founded. They have several campuses, and if you're not close by, internet church.

Internet church? Now there's an idea folks have been talking about for a while, and finally, with streaming video, the time has come.
We should do this at St. Mark!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig Groeschel was my pastor growing up -- so when I saw this book, I had to read it! And let me tell you, it was by far the best Christian relationship book I have ever read. Craig states in the beginning that God is your One, and your spouse or future spouse is your number Two. Throughout the book he uses passages and verses from the Bible to teach us how to prepare ourselves for a marriage that goes all the way.

I strongly recommend this book to singles out there, dating couples and to married couples as well. This book will change your perspective and help you grow to becoming someone else's best number Two.

[Ezzzmeralda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical, information everyone should have single/married or in a relationship.

Seriously if you think someday you might want to have a relationship with another human being you should read this book :)

[Shannon Smith]

The first half of this book seems to be better served for people not in a relationship that want to get married someday. The second half seems suited for those people and people that are already in a relationship headed towards marriage or that are married.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

a must read for any single person

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great book for all people in a relationship or wanting to be in one!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and great book. I really liked it! I had to read it for a college course I took.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good for any single person. Nice reminders for an almost eight year veteran of marriage. :D

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I read seemed very solid - but really written for evangelical couples getting ready to be married. Looks like a good resource but not compelling enough for me to finish.

[Kevin Riggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great marriage prep and finding your number one--God

[Barrie Bliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

great! simple read but good read. practical. I would recommend this to anyone who is going to date is dating or going to get married.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. He does a good job of opening up his life to explain his points.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It definitely affirmed the principles my parents taught me growing up. There were a couple of "nuggets" I will hold on to, that I think are good to keep mindful going forwardl.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid advice in an easy-to-read manner.