More than Roommates Scott Kedersha, Derek Davidson, Gabrielle McCullough

We don’t often talk about emotional intimacy in marriage—we get to be fully known and fully loved in marriage. In part 1 of this 2-part series on emotional intimacy, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss what it means to be emotionally intimate in marriage.

Scriptures:
Genesis 2:25
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Resources:
Book – The Voice of the Heart, by Chip Dodd
Book - The Naked Marriage, by Dave and Ashley Willis

3 Questions to Ask Your Spouse:
1. Is there anything that I’m holding back from or not confessing to my spouse?
2. How can we be more emotionally intimate with each other (i.e., clear out time and space for emotionally intimacy)?
3. Am I providing a safe space for my spouse?

Are you and your spouse thoughtful about your views and practices about drinking/alcohol? In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss how to be more thoughtful about decisions you make about drinking and alcohol.

Scriptures:
John 2
1 Corinthians 6:12
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5:18
Isaiah 5:22-23

Questions to Discuss:
1. When did you have your first alcoholic drink (if ever)?
2. How can you and your spouse be more thoughtful about alcohol and your marriage?
3. Have a conversation with your spouse and an age-appropriate conversation with your kids about alcohol.

Resources:
Christ-Centered Recovery - Regeneration Recovery & Celebrate Recovery
Substance Abuse Resources

Many of us struggle with anger in small and big ways. How does your anger impact your spouse and your marriage? In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss how anger impacts our own marriages and how anger can affect your marriage as well.
 
Scriptures:
Proverbs 15:1
Ephesians 4:26-27
Proverbs 21:19
James 1:19-20, 4:1
 
Questions to Discuss:
1. What are the small day-to-day things that get you frustrated?
2. Do you find yourself quick to anger or slow to anger? What would your spouse say about you?
3. What are the triggers that you’ve identified that make you quick to anger both in life in general and in your marriage?

Resources:
Book – Unoffendable, by Brant Hansen

Like it or not, our struggles affect our marriages more than we realize. In this episode of More Than Roommates, Gabrielle and Scott talk with Ann Daly about struggles, recovery, and your marriage. Because of Jesus, life change is possible for everyone and for every marriage.

Scriptures:
James 5:16
Proverbs 28:13
Genesis 2:24
Galatians 1:10
Romans 5:3-5
1 Peter 4:19
Galatians 6:9
Hebrews 3:13

Resources:
Regeneration recovery – change is possible!
Regeneration Struggle Finder – What are you struggling with?
Celebrate Recovery

Questions to Discuss:
1. Do you tend to identify yourself by your sin or by your relationship with Jesus Christ?
2. How do your issues/challenges affect your marriage?
3. What lies do you tend to believe? Who does God say you are? (Replace the lies with Truth).

In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss things we do that may seem weird to the world but allow us to be different in our marriages than the struggling marriages we all see around us. These are decisions we’ve each made that may seem unique but allow us to strengthen our marriages.

Scriptures:
Romans 12:2
1 Peter 2:11
Philippians 3:20-21
2 Timothy 2:4

Resources:
Podcast & Blog Post - 5 Weird Decisions that Make My Marriage Awesome

Questions to Discuss:
1. What are the things you do in your marriage that make you different than the marriages of the world? (Romans 12:2)
2. Where do you see your marriage blending in with the marriages of the world/non-Christian marriages?
3. Would your non-Christian friends look at your marriage and see something unique or different?

Do you and your spouse have inside jokes, traditions, or rituals that make your marriage unique and build a culture of exclusivity in your marriage? In this episode of More Than Roommates, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss the importance of building a strong culture in your marriage that makes it different than any other marriage on the planet.

Scriptures:
Genesis 2:24-25
Revelation 2:4
Proverbs 5:18

Resources:
Blog Post - How Inside Jokes And Rituals Can Strengthen Your Marriage

Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of your inside jokes or rituals in your marriage?
2. How can you build the culture of your marriage? What are the things that are like glue that bond your marriage together?