Closer

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! | 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.” | 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.” | 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. | I am glad that a book like this was written and I am delighted that I read it. I wonder why we don’t have more of such practical books. I really appreciate the authors for their wise treatment of this delicate subject. They are also bold in touching topics that we don’t often talk about in church or fellowship settings. | The authors helpfully go through five important and oft-asked questions about sex, applying five Biblical principles found in 1 Corinthians 7 to each of these questions. This is a really useful way to go about it, as it teaches readers to apply the Bible themselves, rather than just to take someone else's interpretation. | Ultimately, their goal is to make sex more meaningful to a husband and wife because it’s a proclamation of a deeper truth, reflecting the union between Christ and his church. With this in mind, they provide five principles from 1 Corinthians 7 for Christian couples to help answer questions about sexual intimacy and pursue the “putting on” aspect of sexual sanctification: | This is the only book I have read of its kind, there are others like it and they are quoted in this book, but personally I’ve never read a book that deals with sex in marriage at any length. I think that this book is helpful because it’s timeless, the authors don’t take their cues from current trends or culture, but they base their findings and their thinking on the Bible. | Adrian is one of the leaders of Christchurch Harborough and also serves as Head of National Ministries for the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches in the UK. He previously served as one of the Directors of the Proclamation Trust. He is married to Celia and has three adult daughters and two grandchildren.