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Pastor Brad and Shannon Jackson  8/9/25  3 Primary Pressure Points in Every Marriage:  

Intimacy, Communication, Finances 

1st Corinthians 7:1-5, “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a LIMITED time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 

7 Types of Intimacy  

 i. Physical intimacy: Research shows affectionate touch can powerfully convey positive feelings toward a romantic partner. Yes, sex is important, but physical intimacy isn’t just about what happens between the sheets. It includes all types of nonsexual touch, too, including cuddling, hugging, kissing, and even just snuggling next to each other on the couch. When couples only engage in physical affection immediately before or during sex, they risk turning the experience into one that feels transactional and devoid of pleasure.   

ii. Emotional intimacy: There’s a reason why being a good listener can be a huge turn-on. Sharing your feelings and then listening and responding to those of your partner helps both partners feel safe disclosing important aspects of themselves that don’t get shared with everyone. The power of this effect was even demonstrated in a famous study, where researchers made strangers in a lab develop romantic feelings for each other simply by having them stare into each other’s eyes and ask successively deeper and personal questions. The study showed that romantic attraction blooms when people take turns revealing their inner emotional world and listening to each other.   

iii. Spiritual intimacy: This type of intimacy might include a connection experienced through shared faith, but it by no means depends on being religious. Spiritual intimacy can refer to feeling safe discussing your shared worldview and values. It also includes your sense of closeness to another over similar life goals—like how you plan to raise children or what’s important to you in a career.   

iv. Intellectual intimacy: Engaging in long conversations where opinions get shared and ideas and beliefs are exchanged invites intimacy by building respect and admiration. When partners listen and appreciate each other’s opinions over things like current events, books, or causes they feel strongly about, it creates a sense of feeling valued or special, and with that comes trust. Some people’s romantic feelings for a person are almost solely determined by the quality of these conversations, causing them to identify with a sexual orientation called sapiosexual.   

v. Aesthetic intimacy: If you’ve ever felt more connected to a partner after taking in a beautiful view, savoring an elegant meal, admiring a magnificent painting, or gushing about a mutually enjoyed book, you have experienced aesthetic intimacy. When our partner enjoys and admires what we do, it helps us feel understood and similar. 

 vi. Humor: When someone laughs at our jokes or finds the same thing funny, it makes us feel like we view the world similarly, including all its absurdities. This doesn’t mean you must laugh at every moment to enjoy an intimate relationship. And, obviously, when one partner jokes or uses sarcasm at the other’s expense, that can be highly destructive to the relationship. But when partners find the same things ridiculous or comical, humor is a shared language that brings people together.  

vii. Future-oriented intimacy: When couples talk and dream about their future together, it signals a sense of commitment and shared vision for what’s to come. These conversations can have a wide range. A newly dating couple might connect over their joint excitement for an upcoming party they plan to attend. A longer-term couple might bond over fantasizing about the house or children they someday hope to have. Future-oriented intimacy is so potent that it can even be used as a manipulation tactic, such as when one partner pretends to be more excited about their future than they truly are 

  1. Which of the seven types of intimacy do you find the easiest to engage in with your spouse?  2. Which do you find the most challenging?  3. Why is it important to incorporate each level of intimacy into your marriage? 

My God Can Part 1 - My God Can Save!  October 12, 2025    Pastor Christopher Miller 

1 Corinthians 15:1–11, “[1] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the  gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2]  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I  preached to you—unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our  sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he  was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and  that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared  to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are  still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to  James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born,he appeared also to me. [9] For I am the least of the apostles,  unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of  God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace  toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any  of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11]  Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”  May the Lord add His Blessing to the Reading and the Hearing of  His Word Today, in Jesus Name! Amen! 

1) The Glory of the Gospel is that My God Can Save Me

Our God cannot only save us from our past sins and failures but  also Save us From Our Future as well! Say it with me, “I’m still  being saved!” Saved from bad days. Saved from sickness. Saved  from attacks from the devil. Saved from brokenness and trauma! 

Romans 5:6–11  

In what ways have you experienced the loving grace of The Gospel being applied to your life? How has God saved you from you? 

  2) The Power of the Gospel is that My God Not Only Wields the  Power to Save Me but My God Can Save Himself! 

 We don’t serve a Dead God! We serve a Risen Savior! 

  3) The Beauty of the Gospel is that My God Can Save Me when I was  Unworthy and yet Untimely Born into the Kingdom! 

  The Gospel is not age specific, gender specific, ethnic specific, culturally specific or generationally specific. The Gospel is for ALL PEOPLE! None of us are worthy of His Grace, His Call or His Salvation in and of ourselves. This is the Gospel at its summation! Our salvation depends not upon ourselves but upon Christ! Holiness depends not upon us but upon Christ! Righteousness depends not upon us but upon Christ! The Fruit of the Spirit and His Wonderful Gifts depend upon Christ! 

  Romans 5:9-10 

Do you remember the moment you first realized the magnitude of the sacrifice Christ made to save you? How were you impacted? What immediate changes took place in your heart and your life? 

Does the magnitude of his sacrifice still humble you? Does it still bring you to your knees in adoration and gratitude?