Summary: Marriage failure almost always begins with the loss of intimacy, i.e. closeness in the marriage. This episode examines what Scripture says married couples need to understand and do to experience both the emotional and sexual intimacy, which God designed marriage for. 

Couples Study to Overcoming the Intimacy Misconnect in Marriage

She spells intimacy TALK. He spells intimacy SEX. This booklet is designed to be used by husband and wife during 3 dates to rediscover greater emotional and sexual intimacy in their marriage.

For Further Prayerful Thought:

1. What stood out to you about the purposes for which God’s designed marriage?
2. What is the significance to you of remembering that marriage is both the joining of two lives (mind, will, and emotions) exhibited by leaving home, and the joining of two bodies in sex?
3. When it comes to emotional intimacy, do you have more trouble opening up to your wife about what is going on inside or in helping her open up about what is going on inside her?
4. If you are married, is there another woman in your spheres of life with whom you need to be more vigilant—not to allow yourselves to get too emotionally close?

VALENTINE’S DAY QUESTIONS FOR COUPLES

For Fun

1. What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
2. If you could be any cartoon character for a day, who would you be and why?
3. What’s the funniest movie you’ve ever seen?
4. If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
5. If you could have any animal as a pet, no matter how wild, what would you choose?

Warm Up

1. What do you remember most about your first date?
2. Share two things you most appreciate about your mate.

Emotional Intimacy

Husband to Wife

1. What regular tasks in taking care of the family do you dislike the most or find most difficult?
2. How can I help you shoulder your load at home?
3. How can I better help you share your heart with me?
4. What family problems do you feel need to be addressed?
5. What are the worries and concerns that are weighing heavily on your heart?
6. How can I best help you feel cherished by me?
7. How can I support your use of your gifts that go beyond the home?

Wife to Husband

1. How best can I help you when your emotional tank is on empty?
2. What gets you down most at work? When there is something weighing heavily on you at work how can I best help you share it?
3. How can I support your spiritual leadership in our home.
4. Do I tell you often enough what I admire and respect about you?

Sexual Intimacy

1. How do you feel about discussing sexual intimacy on this date?
2. Why do you think God invented sex?
3. What are two things you appreciate about each other as lovers?
4. What sexual activities do you find most exciting?
5. Is there anything else about our love-making that you want to tell me?

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