Sexual intimacy in marriage is a great gift from a good God that cements couples together and brings unity and happiness.
Nevertheless, in our broken and messed-up world we often need help and direction to understand and enjoy what it means to give ourselves to one another, and to overcome some of the difficulties and questions that every Christian husband and wife faces.
Adrian and Celia Reynolds are straightforward and compassionate as they look at Scripture to guide couples in this area. They give five clear biblical principles relating to sex and apply them to the common questions Christian couples ask about intimacy.
Introduction
1. The Beginning
2. The Talk
3. The Principles
4. The Questions
5. Afterword
Appendix 1: Sexual Abuse in the Past
Appendix 2: Sexual Sin in the Past
We loved reading this book and found it hopeful, optimistic, even liberating! It's written in a disarming and fun style that both challenges and speaks to every marriage, whether newlyweds or old-times like us who are looking forward to applying all this wonderful wisdom about one of our favorite shared activities! We are experiencing a deeper level of communication, resulting in greater holiness, joy and intimacy towards one another. Thank you for this book!
Adrian and Celia Reynolds have written a little book on a big subject. Over the last two decades as we have invested in our marriage and in Christian ministry we have faced many situations ourselves and many couples around us struggling with the intimacy. We believe that to have this honest, very personal and yet deeply biblical treatment on this much needed topic at hand will help many and will bring blessing and joy to the couples who want to glorify God in every area of their life.
This refreshingly frank book is cleverly written so as to be informative without being embarrassing. Thoroughly Biblical, highly accessible, with principles that will be relevant for couples whatever stage they are at. Fantastic as a resource for marriage prep—or for any marriages looking to explore God’s design for intimacy.”
As a Christian sexologist, I would recommend this book to all marrieds and to be marrieds. It places the erotic joy of sex within the creation, fall, redemption new creation narrative and expresses physical sexual intimacy in the context of holiness and sanctification. In a culture where sexual intimacy is commodified and cheapened it is an encouragement to couples to ground their sex life in the intimacy, selfless love and oneness that Christ and his bride enjoy.”
Adrian and Celia, with modesty, wisdom and humour, ask and answer some of the taboo questions that surround sexual intimacy in Christian marriage. They establish five principles that are biblical and (therefore) practical, and which any couple at any stage of their married life would find helpful to review regularly. This is a book that is enjoyable to read and enjoyable to put into practice.”
Adrian and Celia have done a great job with Closer. A brave and realistic book, refreshingly honest and open about the issue of sex within Marriage. Giving clear gospel foundations and principles they encourage and help couples to communicate and navigate through the big questions. We found the emphasis on communication and the reminder that the pursuit of a godly sex life is part of our pursuit of holiness especially helpful. Having counselled countless numbers of couples over the past 20 years, we know that this is a much needed book that we will be encouraging every married couple in our church to read.”