In this episode of More Than Roommates, Gabrielle & Scott talk with Dr. Juli Slattery from Authentic Intimacy about how past sexual abuse impacts individuals and their marriages. With biblical truth, personal insight, and expert care, Dr. Slattery shares how healing can happen in safe relationships marked by trust, patience, and grace. We hope this episode provides hope and healing for those affected by sexual abuse.

Scriptures Referenced (in context):

Rom 12:15

John 10:10

PS 34:18

Rom 8:28

Resources:

Juli’s Ministry – Authentic Intimacy

Juli’s Podcast – Java with Juli

Books: Surprised by the Healer, by Linda Dillow and Juli Slattery; God, Sex, and Your Marriage, by Juli Slattery

Questions to Discuss:

1. What stood out to you most from this conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery?

2. What does it look like to be a “safe place” for your spouse?

3. How can we invite—not demand—intimacy in our marriage?

4. Are there past wounds (sexual or otherwise) we need to process personally or as a couple?

5. Who are safe people or resources we could pursue if we need help?

In this episode, the More Than Roommates team tackles the tension between work and marriage, offering practical and biblical wisdom on balancing career, family, and faith. They unpack how motives, identity, communication, and expectations shape how couples navigate work's impact on their marriage and family.

Scriptures:

Gen 2:7-9

Eph 2:10

Col 3:23

1 Cor 10:31

1 Peter 3:7

Resources:

Podcast - More Than Roommates, Episode 82 - How Does Work Affect Your Marriage? (feat. Jordan Raynor)

Book – When Work and Family Collide, by Andy Stanley

Book - The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing the Gospel), by Jordan Raynor

Questions to Discuss:

1. What was your first job growing up and as an adult?

2. What’s your motive in how hard or how much you work?

3. How would you describe your attitude toward work right now—grateful, resentful, anxious, driven?

4. Do you view each other's work—whether inside or outside the home—as equally valuable? How can you better honor one another’s contributions?

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Scott, Derek, and Gabrielle explore what it looks like for married couples to value, support, and engage their single friends in meaningful ways. They reflect on how Scripture elevates singleness, how the church sometimes unintentionally devalues it, and how we can better reflect the love of Jesus—whether single or married.

Scriptures:

1 Cor 7:7-8

MT 19:12

PS 16:11

MT 19:6

Luke 8:21

Resources:

Book – Single, Dating, Engaged, Married, by Ben Stuart

Book – Single Today, by Ryan Wekenman

Book – Table for One, by Ben Pukas

Questions to Discuss:

1. How do we talk about marriage around our single friends? Are we encouraging or accidentally discouraging?

2. What can we do to make single people feel more included in our family life?

3. In what ways might we be placing too much pressure on our kids (or others) to get married? 

In the episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss our tendency and desire to win and be right in marriage, when the goal is to “lose”, become more like Jesus, pursue oneness, and walk in humility.

Scriptures:

Gen 2:18-25

John 10:10

Phil 2:3-4

1 Tim 1:15

1 Cor 13:6

Resources:

Removed Series from Harris Creek

Watermark Marriage Conference – Lance Sisco - Keeping Score in Your Marriage

Book – The Meaning of Marriage, by Timothy & Kathy Keller

More Than Roommates Episode 94 – How to Be a Better Listener in Marriage

Questions to Discuss:

1. Who has the harder time saying “You’re right” in your relationship?

2. Why is hard to say to your spouse, “You are right”?

3. How can you pursue a team mentality instead of fighting to be right?

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Jonathan “JP’ Pokluda shares about the necessity of tension (dissonance) in marriage and 5 ways we need to S.H.I.F.T. in our marriages. This talk was recorded live at the 2025 More Than Roommates Marriage Conference at Harris Creek Baptist Church.

Scriptures:

PR 15:18, 17:14, 17:19, 20:3

PR 18:2, PR 18:13, James 1:19-20

PR 10:2, 19:11, 28:13

PR 19:11, 12:1, 19:20, 25:28

Resources:

This is an edited version of the talk. If you want to watch the video of the Dissonance talk, you can watch it through this link – Dissonance Video.

To hear more about WENI, check out MTR Episode 12 – Identifying Negative Communication Patterns

Questions to Discuss:

1. What’s the benefit of dissonance/conflict/tension in marriage?

2. How can you make hearing and understanding the goal in your marriage (and not winning)?

3. What are some practical ways you need to S.H.I.F.T. in your marriage?

In this live recording of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott respond to John Elmore’s talk from the 2025 More Than Roommates Marriage Conference. We discuss some of the practical implications of the fact that Jesus is the composer, conductor, and canon of the melody of our marriages. If you haven’t listened to it yet, go ahead and listen to John’s message.

Questions to Discuss:

1. How can you make Jesus ultimate in your marriage?

2. How can you and your spouse become more dependent on the Lord in your life and in your marriage?

3. Because Jesus is the center of our lives and marriages, how can you be on mission together in your marriage?

Scriptures:

MT 6:33

2 Tim 2:4

Eph 4:2-3

John 15:5

Genesis 2:18

PR 27:6, 17

Acts 20:24

Resources:

MTR Episode 121 - Christ is the Melody of Your Marriage (feat. John Elmore)

In this episode of More Than Roommates, John Elmore shares an incredibly powerful message about how Jesus is to be the composer, the conductor, and the canon of the melody of our marriage. This talk was recorded live at the 2025 More Than Roommates Marriage Conference at Harris Creek Baptist Church.

Scriptures:

Genesis 2:20b-25

Matthew 19:4-6

Colossians 3:18-19

John 17:17

Ephesians 5:22-33

Questions to Discuss:

1. Do you act like you’re the composer of your marriage, or do you acknowledge that Jesus is the composer of marriage?

2. How can you let Christ be the conductor of your marriage?

3. Take time to listen to Canon in D and pray for and reflect upon your marriage as John guides in the message.

Resources

This is an edited version of the talk. If you want to watch the video of the Melody talk, you can watch it through this link – Melody Video.

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Scott & Kristen Kedersha discuss how to be in Harmony with one another in marriage. This talk was recorded live at the 2025 More Than Roommates Marriage Conference at Harris Creek Baptist Church.

Scriptures:

John 15:5

Matthew 19:3-6

Ecc 9:9

Gen 2:18

Heb 10:24-25

Matthew 7:3-5

1 Corinthians 10:12

Questions to Discuss:

1. Of the 7 aspects of Harmony shared by Scott & Kristen, where are you doing well?

2. Of these 7 aspects of Harmony shared by Scott & Kristen, where are you struggling?

3. Ask each other the 7 tune-up questions shared throughout this talk.

Resources:

This is an edited/condensed version of the talk. If you want to watch the entirety of the Harmony message, you can watch it through this link - Harmony Video.

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott talk about the importance of good investments. There are many ways we can invest our time, money, and energy, and in this episode we discuss the importance of regularly investing in your marriage.

Resources:

Book - Surrendered Sexuality: How Knowing Jesus Changes... Everything, by Juli Slattery (release July 1, 2025)

MTR Episode 62 – Your Marriage and the Unhurried Life (feat. Chris Schultz)

MTR Episode 64 – Questions to Ask Your Spouse Every Week

MTR Episode 90 – Our Favorite Marriage Resources

Intentionality In Your Marriage – John & Pam McGee, Uncommon Marriage Conference 2022

Scriptures:

Ephesians 5:25

Matthew 6:21

Questions to Discuss:

What are some areas of your life where you invest your time, money, and energy?

How can you invest more time and energy in your marriage?

How can you invest more money in your marriage?

In Part 2 of their interview with Shaunti Feldhahn and Brian Goins, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss how the little things truly matter in marriage. We discuss the importance of believing the best about our spouse and why we need a combination of quality and quantity time together.

Scriptures:

1 Peter 3:9

Rom 2:4

Phil 4:8

Questions to Discuss:

What are some small changes you can make in your marriage that could make a big difference?

How do you and your spouse do at believing the best about your spouse’s intentions?

How can you create more quality and quantity time together with your spouse?

Resources:

Book - The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference, by Shaunti Feldhahn

Shaunti’s Website – Shaunti.com

Follow Shaunti on Instagram

Follow Brian on Instagram

Married With Benefits Podcast (FamilyLife Network)

Podcast - I Wish You Could Hear This with Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn