​Chapter 3: Love and Intimacy

​It should be no surprise we cover the topic of love. The Bible makes it clear that our lives should be about how much we love one another. Love, in a biblical sense, is about how much we sacrifice and give to one another. We all fell in love with our spouse at one time, which was probably more of an infatuation. We all need that first-love emotional experience to resurface after those first feelings of love slowly fade from the busyness of our lives. Love is a willful choice and the emotion of love comes from committing to being in love with your spouse.

Click on the links below to watch videos for each chapter of this study.

Discussion Questions

1. What areas in your life has your spouse received only second best from you?
   
2. What effect does it have on a person when they are disrespected?
   
3. What relationship do love and respect have with each other?
   
4. Why are men told to love their wives as they do themselves?
   
5. Why do you think the reason is that women are told to respect their husbands?

Discussion Questions

1. How have harsh words from your spouse affected your marriage?
   
2. Women, if your husband makes a mistake, how do you react?
   
3. Men, when you’ve made a mistake, how does your spouse react?
   
4. How did you feel when your spouse spoke harshly to you?
   
5. How would you resolve a serious conflict in your relationship?

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Discussion Questions

1. How can one tell the difference between love and infatuation?
   
2. What are some ways a spouse can help the other partner feel complete and whole?
   
3. What does unconditional love look like?
   
4. What do you think are ways to draw your mate closer to you?

Discussion Questions:

1. What strategies would you suggest an unmarried couple use to assure the purity of their physical relationship before God?
   
2. How do you think sexual intimacy affects your spiritual life?
   
3. How do you think sexual intimacy affects the Holy Spirit?
   
4. Why do you think the Bible says not to refuse each other’s intimacy or it will hinder your prayers?

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Discussion Questions

1. How have you assured that your mate can be open about their life?
   
2. What things keep you from being open about your life?
   
3. What strategies have you used to help your mate overcome a shameful situation?
   
4. How does Jesus help us to overcome our shame?

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to you to be a friend?
   
2. Do you think being married means your spouse is your friend? Why?
   
3. How can you incorporate being a friend into your marriage?
   
4. Why do you think some marriages last decades and some end in just a few years?
   
5. What sacrifices have you each made in and for your marriage?
   
6. What activities do you do with a friend, and what activities do you do with your mate?
   
7. Discuss what qualities make a best friend?