SEXUAL INTIMACY IN MARRIAGE

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 7: 1-9 (MSG); Proverbs 5:15-19
Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations? 2-6 Certainly— but only within a certain context. It’s good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to “stand up for your rights.” Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it’s for the purposes of prayer and fasting—but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. I’m not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence—only providing my best counsel if you should choose them.
7 Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.
8-9 I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can’t manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.
• What is Intimacy? It means, fostering a warm, friendly, informal atmosphere that makes it easy to share mutual interests, habits or affections.

• Why sex in marriage? It is a physical, emotional, spiritual and relational need especially to the man. To the woman it is a way of expressing emotions and relationship

• Is it about have sex or about make love - What is the difference between sex and lovemaking?

• How frequent should couple engage in sex? As often as each partner desires it.

• How does sex foster intimacy? It involves emotional, physical, mental and sexual connections; it is about giving and sharing; It is best when done selflessly.

• Are there no go areas for Christian couples in sex? Intercourse through anus; couple watching pornography

• Besides sex, what other ways should couple enjoy intimacy in marriage? – Communication, Honour, Know your spouse’s love language and speak them:

 Physical touch
 Affirmation
 Service
 Quality time
 Giving
• What constitute sin in marital sexual relations? – Adultery, Constant refusal (denial), Pornography – discuss the dangers of pornography