Closer

Steve and Sian Robinson

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.”

A practical guide for thinking biblically about sexual intimacy in marriage

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:... continue reading

“Biblical clarity exhorting couples to make the most of sex”

This is the only book like this that I have read, so I can’t say how it compares. What attracted me to this one was the title: Closer

That idea sets the framework for what follows, including some very intimate details. Some readers may find parts a little explicit for their comfort – but remember it’s between husband and wife and not for public discussion (except with the Lord of course). Others with different background and experience may think, been there, what’s the fuss about?

The authors are very careful not to give stock answers but biblical principles to work through together for your own context.

The basic premise is: sex is good, sex is holy – God invented it! But only in the right context (one man and one woman united in bond of marriage) and is God’s gift to help us grow closer.

This theme is developed in the first third of the book. At the centre of the book are five principles identified from 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (see other reviews) These are then used to help work out a biblical approach to practical questions in the final third of the book. There are a couple of appendices briefly addressing those with a history of abuse or sin.

Who would benefit from reading it? Any married couple or those who are engaged and close to getting married – obviously of greater use to those who still have more years to put the principles into practice!

This quote pretty much summarises what the book teaches:
God’s plan for married couples is to enjoy sexual intimacy together, not simply for what it produces (children) but for what it signifies (union with Christ) and therefore what it brings to us as couples (closeness). The intimacy we enjoy is foundational to marriage—a holy gift from a gracious God. It is for us to serve each other. It is for us to enjoy each other. It is for us to learn about and from each other.