Intimacy in Marriage

Marriage is the most rewarding of human relationships and yet the most challenging. The goal of marriage is intimacy.

We discuss three kinds of intimacy and how they relate to each other. We explore some road blocks and how to overcome them in order that our marriages become God honoring and soul satisfying.

Find the PDF worksheet here: Intimacy in Marriage

1. Intimacy

A. What is marriage?

The union of one woman and one man.
Created and sustained by God.
Equality of spiritual essence and difference of spiritual purpose.

B. The three intimacies

Spiritual
Emotional
Physical

2. Spiritual Intimacy (spirit oneness)

A. Your spouse is first and foremost your brother or sister in Christ.

Your marital relationship will end. “In the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage (Matthew 22:30)

B. The essentials of spiritual intimacy are given in Acts chapter 2.

Sharing the word
Worshipping together
Praying together
Serving together

C. Reasons why we avoid spiritual intimacy

Lack of spiritual life
Fear
Ignorance
Hardened hearts
Carelessness

D. Reasons why we should practice spiritual intimacy

It is foundational to intimacy in all areas of life
It is a requisite of spiritual care
It is a means of spiritual power
It is a spiritual checkpoint
It expresses spiritual equality

3. Soul Intimacy (soul oneness)

A. Mind

Nourish each other in mind
Communicate clearly
- Three exercises to improve communication
  - Set a time for talking
  - A tangible object denotes the speaker
  - Paraphrase your spouse’s thought before replying
Avoid negative communication

B. Will