Studying the Bible Together

By Danny Saavedra

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”—Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

My wife and I have been married for 12 years. Today, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that, more often than not, my wife knows exactly what I’m thinking—how I’m feeling, what I want, what I’m going to do, how I’m going to react to things, how I would handle a certain situation. Often, she knows what I’m going to say before I say it, and vice versa.

We’ve spent 12 years studying one another, learning about one another, getting to know everything about each other, and walking through the good times, bad times, and everything in between. We’ve developed deep physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual intimacy; we’ve become one.

More so than any other person, my wife understands me at my very core and knows my heart and my mind because of the intimate bond we share. Friends, this is exactly what your relationship with Jesus is meant to be like, both on an individual level AND as a couple! Day after day, as a couple, you should be growing in intimacy with Him, falling more in love with Him, drawing deeper into relationship with Him, and learning to think, speak, and act like Him. 

So, how do we do that? Through the study of God’s Word! You see, the Bible is the primary way God reveals Himself to us. It’s the chief vehicle He uses to tell us who He is and explain His heart, mind, character, nature, will, and plan of salvation, redemption, and sanctification. 

Over and over, Jesus tells us if we know Him, then we know and have seen God. And the primary way we get to know Jesus is through the Bible. So, what does this look like practically? Well, below you’ll find just a few practices that will help strengthen your personal relationship with the Lord, your relationship to Him as one flesh, and your marriage relationship.

Study the Bible together. This is what David was describing in Psalm 119:15 (NLT) when he said, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.” As a couple, select a book to study. Then, a few verses at a time, really dig into what it’s saying, reading it on your own and as a couple. Then, discuss what the Lord revealed to you and how you can apply it.

The awesome thing about this practice is that there are already a number of solid methods you can put into place to help you get the most out of your study time. Whatever works best for you and your spouse and helps you know the Lord on a deeper level and apply His Word in your life, run with that!

Meditation. I cannot stress enough just how vital meditation is to your spiritual health. It’s the high point of receiving God’s Word, the missing link between Bible intake and prayer. As you study and discuss, you’ll run into passages you’re both going to be moved by. Find some time to sit with those passages, to think deeply on and linger over, to let it roll over your mind and ignite your heart, and then pray together over what the Lord has revealed in the passages you studied. As you do, you will be living out Colossians 3:16, allowing “the Word of Christ to dwell richly in you.”

Memorization: In Psalm 119:11 (NIV), David says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” When we memorize Scripture, we learn the living, active, searching, and sanctifying voice of our Creator and Redeemer. If you want to learn to recognize the voice of Jesus in your life and marriage so you can follow Him closely, then embrace Scripture memorization!

Scripture memorization not only feeds your soul and marriage as your minds are being conformed to His image, but it also gives the Holy Spirit fuel to bring recall and speak truth in moments of need, temptation, and ministry. To engage in it, simply choose a passage together at the beginning of the week and then read it once or twice a day. By the end of the week, you should have it pretty well etched into your mind. At breakfast or over coffee, discuss this memory verse and how God has used it to speak to you.

I pray this will help you prioritize your time together in the Word, breathing in deeply the very breath of God. It truly is useful, profitable, and more valuable than anything else we have on this earth, and it makes us complete as we grow in Christ and are equipped to love one another best and walk in the purposes, plans, and good work He has for us!

Pause: How are you engaging together in the Word right now? 

Practice: Take the challenge and begin incorporating some of these practices into your time together as a couple. Maybe start with studying together or Scripture memorization and build from there!

Pray: Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You that You desire to speak to us, reveal Yourself to us, have a relationship with us, and build us up as one flesh through Your Word. We pray that today would be a day of renewed love, passion, devotion, and commitment to Your Word. Amen.