Why Reading the Bible Together Will Spice Up Your Love Life!
Want to know how to supercharge your marriage? We've got a challenge for you! We’re diving into the awesome benefits of reading the Bible together as a couple. Seriously, it’s like a secret sauce for better communication, deeper spiritual intimacy, and even a boost in your physical connection—who knew, right? So grab your partner, and let's explore how God's word can help you grow closer and strengthen your relationship. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this journey!
Building a strong, Christ-centered marriage is like building a solid foundation: it takes time, effort, and a little bit of teamwork. In this episode, we dive into the magical world of reading the Bible together as a couple. Teresa and Jeff share three key benefits of this practice that can really enhance your relationship. First off, communication gets a serious upgrade. Engaging with the Word opens the door to meaningful conversations about your values, struggles, and aspirations. It's like having a heart-to-heart but with divine wisdom thrown in for good measure! We all know that sometimes communication can be a bit rocky, but reading the Bible together gives couples a chance to practice those essential skills. Second, the Bible offers guidance, and let’s face it, we could all use a little direction sometimes. Teresa and Jeff remind us that societal standards can be as fickle as the latest fashion trends, but God's Word is the ultimate truth that never changes. This foundation helps couples navigate challenges and build a strong, secure bond. Lastly, reading the Bible together doesn’t just deepen your spiritual connection; it can also spark a little physical intimacy too! Who knew that diving into scripture could lead to a little romance? By studying together, couples can foster a deeper understanding and connection that enhances every part of their relationship. So grab your partner, open that Bible, and let's get growing together!
Takeaways:
- Reading the Bible together can seriously boost your communication skills as a couple.
- Studying Scripture provides timeless guidance for navigating marriage challenges effectively.
- Engaging in Bible reading fosters spiritual intimacy, making you feel closer to each other.
- A surprising benefit of reading the Bible together is enhancing physical intimacy in your marriage.
- Building a strong friendship through shared faith is key to a thriving marriage.
- Commit to a Bible reading challenge for three months to deepen your connection and faith.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
Do you want to build a strong, Christ centered marriage, grow spiritually with your partner and step into God's plan for your relationship?
Speaker A:If so, we have a challenge for you.
Speaker B:But first we are going to give you three benefits of reading the Bible with your spouse.
Speaker B:The third one may have a little surprise for you.
Speaker A:Let's grow together and in faith, love and purpose.
Speaker A:Welcome to the Inspiring Marriages Podcast dedicated to helping Christian couples strengthen their bond through deep friendship, emotional connection and spiritual intimacy.
Speaker A:If you're looking to enhance your marriage by building a stronger friendship with your spouse, you're in the right place.
Speaker B:We are Teresa and Jeff Fields and we're thrilled to have you with us.
Speaker B:We've been happily married for 33 years, so we know how important it is to study the Bible Bible together.
Speaker A:Along the way, we've been blessed with three incredible grown children, a fantastic son in love, and the most precious grandbaby you could imagine.
Speaker B:Get ready to be inspired as we open up about our journey.
Speaker B:Our mission is to ignite a spark in couples everywhere.
Speaker A:We're all about nurturing deep friendships and cultivating marriages that thrive in every way spiritually, emotionally, romantically and physically.
Speaker A:Join us on this incredible adventure today.
Speaker A:Be sure to check out our website@inspiringmarriages.net Dive into all of our previous episodes with detailed show notes that will enrich your listening experience.
Speaker B:Plus, scroll down to find our Keep in Touch section where you can sign up and receive our latest offerings absolutely free.
Speaker B:Don't miss out on the inspiration.
Speaker B:Visit us today.
Speaker A:Teresa we know that reading the Bible together as a Christian couple can be a powerful way to strengthen our relationship and deepen our faith.
Speaker A:And today we're going to talk about the three key benefits of reading the Bible together.
Speaker A:Number one, one key benefit of reading the Bible together as a Christian couple it improves communication.
Speaker A:Engaging in Bible study together encourages meaningful conversations about values, struggles and aspirations.
Speaker A:It provides a space for open dialogue, strengthening emotional connection and and understanding.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Evan Lewis Cole in his book Maximize Manhood said effective communication, especially listening, is crucial for a strong marriage.
Speaker A:Teresa how it is for couples to improve their communication?
Speaker B:Oh, it's extremely important because I can say in our early marriage and sure for many people you probably miscommunicating a lot more than you realize and you think you know what your spouse is telling you or not telling you.
Speaker B:But a lot of times we're mistaken because communication is something you have to practice and learn good skills.
Speaker B:I mean, even as children we had to learn what was acceptable and not acceptable as far as communication because, you know, not everything is okay to just blurt out in the open or just to say whatever you feel like society wants to tell you.
Speaker B:Oh, you should just let it all out.
Speaker B:But that's not healthy in any relationship because it can be hurtful to the other person.
Speaker B:So it's always important to keep growing in your communication and your understanding of what each other are saying in your marriage.
Speaker A:That is.
Speaker A:That is so good.
Speaker A:I remember, husbands, your wife has.
Speaker A:Has key needs.
Speaker A:Four key needs.
Speaker A:One is security that she needs to know that you are in the relationship through thick and thin.
Speaker A:Second is open and honest communication.
Speaker A:Isn't that right, Teresa?
Speaker B:Oh, yes.
Speaker B:We love communication as women.
Speaker B:We talk things out.
Speaker A:Husbands, remember, your wife feels connected to you when she's connected to you emotionally.
Speaker A:And open and honest communication is one of the best ways to get connected emotionally.
Speaker B:It really is.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Now, the second great reason for studying the Bible together is you gain guidance for your marriage.
Speaker B:Mm.
Speaker A:The Bible offers wisdom on love, humility, and sacrificial service.
Speaker A:It helps couples navigate challenges with biblical principles.
Speaker A:Now, Teresa, we know we do not get our values from society.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:We don't get a value of what's right or wrong or what's normal in a marriage or how we should run our marriage from society, do we?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Because when there are fads or things that are popular, that changes all the time.
Speaker B:From month to month, week to week, year to year, different decades.
Speaker B:There are things that are popular, and then there are things that replace those.
Speaker B:And it's always changing.
Speaker B:So there's no real standard.
Speaker B:I mean, what's so wonderful about the Word of God is that it is a standard that never shifts.
Speaker B:It never changes.
Speaker B:It never morphs into something else.
Speaker B:It is always the truth, and it stands forever.
Speaker B:You cannot alter the scripture.
Speaker B:You know, you.
Speaker B:You pay a big price if you do.
Speaker B:There's consequences for people who try to turn the scripture into something else.
Speaker B:And that's been tried, but really, the scripture can stand by itself, and God has given his approval.
Speaker B:And what he has said and said, it's going to last forever.
Speaker B:So you want things in your marriage to be stable.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:And secure.
Speaker B:And things that you can count on in your marriage, and you can have agreement together with your spouse.
Speaker B:The word of God is the place to start because it sets the right standards based on truth.
Speaker B:And it does not change.
Speaker A:It does not change.
Speaker B:That is.
Speaker A:That is so good.
Speaker A:And it's.
Speaker A:It's comforting to know that there is a standard, and it's been laid out for us.
Speaker A:And we don't have to wonder, gosh, what's the standard for faithfulness in my marriage?
Speaker A:You know what the standard is?
Speaker A:You know what the instructions are so we can apply those scriptures to our marriage daily so we can live a more Christ centered and fulfilling marriage.
Speaker A:Because God wants your marriage to be fulfilling.
Speaker A:That's right, God wants, God is a champion of making winners in life.
Speaker A:He is a champion of taking marriages and just transform them, them into winning marriages.
Speaker B:Yes, I really like that.
Speaker B:Winning in marriage and being winners together, that's, that's so powerful because you know, we've talked about this before.
Speaker B:You have a, you have a mission for your marriage.
Speaker B:God didn't put you, you together to just seek your own desires or try to fulfill yourselves with what the world does, you know, to, to be satisfied.
Speaker B:He gave you a mission and a, and an assignment.
Speaker B:And you can't really discover that without the word of God.
Speaker B:And this is going to be solid guidance for your marriage to know what is our purpose, where are we headed, what does God mean for us to do in this marriage and how it's going to bless others, how it's going to reach out and minister to other people.
Speaker B:And you don't have to be ordained ministers or pastors for your marriage to be a blessing.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Your marriage has a purpose.
Speaker A:Your marriage has a calling.
Speaker A:And the, and the primary, primary calling is to reflect the love of Christ to the church.
Speaker B:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker B:That relationship, your relationship should be a.
Speaker A:Reflection of God's love.
Speaker A:Just like the moon reflects the sun.
Speaker A:That's how the moon, moon has no light in itself.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:If, if there was no sun, it'd be a black.
Speaker B:Rock.
Speaker A:But as it reflects, you know how beautiful the moon is on a full moon night.
Speaker A:It just, it's just gorgeous and gets and romantic and all that stuff.
Speaker B:Oh yes, we appreciate that.
Speaker A:And so your marriage should be a reflection of God's love.
Speaker A:Just, just reflect.
Speaker A:Because all the light from the, the moon has comes from the sun.
Speaker A:So all the love that we have really comes from God, comes from God.
Speaker A:It really, it really does.
Speaker A:Second Timothy 3, 16 and 17 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, which thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Speaker A:So when that the Bible says husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church.
Speaker A:That's an instruction for husbands.
Speaker A:And I should apply those instructions into our life.
Speaker A:And when I do that, it blesses our marriage and complete the King James Says perfect by that word in New King James is complete mature.
Speaker B:So become more mature.
Speaker A:We come more mature as we apply the truth of God's word to our lives and to our marriage.
Speaker A:Romans 12:2 in the ESV says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Speaker A:Just like we said before, Teresa, we're not.
Speaker A:We don't model our marriage after what society movies and books and TV show us is a typical marriage.
Speaker A:We don't do that.
Speaker A:We get our.
Speaker B:They could be a sinking ship.
Speaker A:We get our standards According to Romans 12:2.
Speaker A:We get our standard from the Word of God.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker B:And I love this.
Speaker B:You get transformed as your mind gets renewed by the Word.
Speaker B:And that testing is you step out on the word of God, you start using it, you start applying it like tools in your life, and you will see that God's will starts unfolding for you.
Speaker B:He gives you more wisdom each time you use the Word of God and you act on it, and you apply that to your marriage, you will see results that God is showing you his will.
Speaker B:He's giving you direction and guidance as you do that.
Speaker B:But it's.
Speaker B:It's really a step at a time.
Speaker B:We're not going to get the giant big picture all at once, necessarily.
Speaker A:So that word test, testing, it's kind of like when David was facing Goliath and Saul wanted him to use his armor, and David said, I can't use this.
Speaker A:I haven't tested it.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:I haven't tested it.
Speaker A:So you can test the Word of God.
Speaker A:You know, God says, prove me.
Speaker B:He does.
Speaker A:And so we can.
Speaker A:Not that we doubt God, but we're testing it.
Speaker A:We're applying it.
Speaker B:We're applying it.
Speaker A:Now, this.
Speaker A:This third benefit of reading the Bible, it may be surprising.
Speaker A:The third reason why we want to study the Bible together as a couple.
Speaker A:It will enrich our spiritual intimacy.
Speaker B:Yes, yes.
Speaker A:Studying Scripture together fosters a shared spiritual journey, helping couples grow closer to God and each other.
Speaker A:Isn't that right, Teresa?
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker B:You can't help but get closer to God when you start seeing what His Word says to you and about you and how it helps you when you need answers or you need encouragement.
Speaker B:You get into the Word of God and you can't help but be growing and improving and learning.
Speaker B:And for you to do that with your spouse, you get to share that journey.
Speaker B:It's it's really beautiful.
Speaker B:Get to share that together.
Speaker A:So when we study the Scriptures together, Teresa, it really creates a foundation for mutual encouragement and accountability in faith.
Speaker A:But this is what is surprising.
Speaker A:It will also enhance your physical intimacy.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Evan Lewis Cole, again, in a maximized manhood said prayer, both individual and together, can deepen intimacy and understanding between spouses.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:So husbands, again, we go over this again.
Speaker A:Your wife feels connected to you when she feels connected to you emotionally and spiritually.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Theresa, what does it do to a wife's heart for her husband to be a student of the Word who is leading her family spiritually?
Speaker A:That's another need of a wife for a husband to be the spiritual leader.
Speaker A:The house.
Speaker A:What does that do to a wife's heart?
Speaker B:Well, you know, I can borrow a familiar phrase, but apply it here.
Speaker B:To me, that's a knight in shining armor.
Speaker B:A man who loves God.
Speaker B:He's going after God, and he's leading his wife and his children spiritually.
Speaker B:And he's not just being an example, but bringing us along with him in that maturing process.
Speaker B:As he's growing in God, he's helping his wife to grow in God.
Speaker B:They're both sharing that with the children.
Speaker B:And there's just a spiritual covering for the whole household.
Speaker B:So there's a lot of security there for, for the woman.
Speaker B:So it's not really a fairy tale.
Speaker B:It's like a real life knight in shining armor.
Speaker B:The family feels stronger, protected.
Speaker B:The wife's heart is secure.
Speaker B:And to me, that just gives me so much joy.
Speaker B:And for you to be a spiritual man, not just, you know, a man of means or a businessman or a working man or, you know, father, those things are all good in their, in their roles.
Speaker B:But for you to be a spiritual man whose heart is going after God like David, you know, having a heart after God and knowing that spiritual things have to come first in the way that you see the world and the way that you conduct yourself and the way you interact with me as a husband and interact with our children and it.
Speaker B:That just means so much to me.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:That's the highest on my list for sure.
Speaker A:That's great.
Speaker A:And for husbands to see their wives, a student of the Word, you know, reading the Bible, praying, and you know, that to me, that is someone who is learning, who's growing, who is becoming more mature in a Christian walk.
Speaker A:And that is something that has called along to be a help meet.
Speaker A:And we talked about the word help meet.
Speaker A:It's not oh, she's my helper.
Speaker A:No, she is a military help.
Speaker A:She is the best prayer partner I could ever have in my life.
Speaker A:Your husband, your wife is the best prayer partner you can ever have because she will go to war with you by your side, and she will fight with.
Speaker A:Will fight together with you, back to back, side by side, linked in arms, and you will conquer everything that you're going through.
Speaker A:If you're facing difficulties, you will conquer those as you pray about things together.
Speaker B:Oh, yes, absolutely.
Speaker B:And I was thinking as you were saying that, that we can't have a picture of marriage where the husband is spiritual and leading, but the wife is just, you know, whatever, just whiny, wimpy.
Speaker B:Oh, honey, you know, you've got to help us.
Speaker B:You've got to take care of everything.
Speaker B:Both people in the marriage need to be strong in the Lord.
Speaker B:And that's what I was just so happy about when God brought us together.
Speaker B:Even before we were married, we were both endeavoring to be strong in the Lord, to grow in maturity so that, you know, being married does not solve your problems.
Speaker B:It's actually, you're going to have more problems once you get married.
Speaker B:So don't think, oh, we'll get married, and all these problems that people have will go away.
Speaker B:Actually, things get more complex, More complex.
Speaker B:Children come along.
Speaker B:There are unexpected things.
Speaker B:There are things you didn't know you had to handle being wife and husband and being parents.
Speaker B:And if you're not both endeavoring to be stronger and stronger as time goes by, you're going to have some situations that will just take the wind out of you.
Speaker B:Knock the wind out of you, so to speak.
Speaker B:And thankfully, we had some things that were surprises.
Speaker B:But it's like if one was kind of feeling weak, the other one was strong and lifted.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker B:Lifted me up.
Speaker B:You know, you'd lift me up or I would lift you up.
Speaker A:You would?
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Because that's.
Speaker B:That's the grace that God puts on your marriage.
Speaker B:When you're both walking with the Lord and having your personal relationship with him, and you share that together in your marriage, he will help you both to be strong.
Speaker B:And anything you face, like you said, you come out victorious.
Speaker B:You can go through fire and come out untouched and even stronger and closer to each other.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Let me give you.
Speaker A:And also to give you a key.
Speaker A:If.
Speaker A:If you're struggling in the area of physical intimacy and you're not engaging in sexual activity at the level or the frequency that you desire, don't focus on the physical intimacy.
Speaker A:Focus on your Spiritual intimacy.
Speaker A:Work on that.
Speaker A:Work on that.
Speaker A:Not that it's a trans transaction.
Speaker A:You know, if I do this, then, then they'll do this.
Speaker A:No, it's not, it's not like that at all.
Speaker A:But as you telling you, as you work on your spiritual intimacy, you will enhance your emotional intimacy, you will enhance your intellectual intimacy, and you will enhance your physical intimacy.
Speaker A:You will it because as you work on one section of your intimacy, it enhances all areas of intimacy.
Speaker A:Husbands, remember, your wife feels closer to you when she's emotionally connected to you.
Speaker A:Wives, your husband feels closer to you when he's physically, feels like he's physically connected to you.
Speaker A:So it's, you work on one to enhance the other.
Speaker A:So that's the surprising thing about Bible reading and praying together enhances your physical intimacy.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:I mean, you really feel like, you know, your spouse.
Speaker B:I mean, there are things that are going to come up as you go through script scripture and as you pray about things together.
Speaker B:And we've mentioned this before, sometimes hurts can come up.
Speaker B:Sometimes things you thought were one way get challenged by the scripture and like, wow, I really need to relearn some things or unlearn some things and learn how God thinks about this.
Speaker B:And then you can come together with that new understanding, like, okay, we're going to deal with this together and get something that was hindering us in any area out of our marriage.
Speaker B:And now we can be closer.
Speaker B:We got rid of a hindrance or a misunderstanding or just thinking different ways about things.
Speaker B:But the Word gives you that one standard to share together, right?
Speaker B:It's very powerful.
Speaker A:So this, this teaching or just reading the Bible together is really for married couples.
Speaker A:Because praying together and reading the scripture together when you're not married, intimate, it really gives you a sense of you're more intimate than you really are.
Speaker A:And then you're, you're outside the covering of the covenant and outside the covering of protection of marriage.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker A:And you will, you will engage in physical activity if, if you're not, if you feel more closer to a person than you really are.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker A:So this is why this is a challenge for married couples.
Speaker A:So couples, Christian couples, married couples, this is your challenge.
Speaker A:If you're married, this is the one habit that will strengthen your relationship like no other.
Speaker A:Reading the Bible together, reading the word of God together.
Speaker A:So drop us an email@inspiringmarriages.net with the word Bible and we will send you a customized Bible reading plan for Christian couples.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:So for the next three months, we dare you.
Speaker A:We're daring couples everywhere to commit to a Bible reading plan designed to deepen your faith, intimacy and communication.
Speaker A:Because when God is the center, love flourishes.
Speaker A:And the best part, we're just going to give you a free structured reading plan customized just for our listeners.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:So again, send us an email inspiringmarriagest.net with the word Bible, you put the Bible in the title, you can Bible Bible in the, in the body, it doesn't matter.
Speaker A:As soon as we see it, we will send you a link to a 90 day Bible reading plan has been customized just for you.
Speaker A:So the goal isn't just to finish the Bible reading plan in 90 days.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:But the challenge is to finish it.
Speaker A:The 90 day part isn't important.
Speaker A:And find a translation that you both enjoy or use several translations.
Speaker A:But the most important thing is to read.
Speaker A:And the best translation is the translation that you'll read.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:Exciting news.
Speaker A:Catch our audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Podcasts.
Speaker A:We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Speaker A:So please leave us a review.
Speaker A:This Week's Friendship Builder not surprisingly, this week's Friendship Builder is start the 90 day Bible reading Plan.
Speaker A:So send us an email@inspiringmarriagest.net and send us a email with a word Bible somewhere in the title or somewhere in the body.
Speaker A:And we will send you a link to a free PDF that has been customized for our listeners.
Speaker A:And it goes through Genesis, Ruth, Proverbs, Song of Solomon.
Speaker A:Yes, they are talking about what you think they're talking about.
Speaker A:And this goes through the week.
Speaker A:Weeks one through four is about foundations of love and marriage.
Speaker A:Then weeks five and eight talks about wisdom and communication.
Speaker A:A lot of proverbs, a lot of James, Galatians, Psalms, Isaiah, Corinthians.
Speaker A:In week nine to 12 is about intimacy and lifelong commitment.
Speaker A:Now some of these days it may be a couple of chapters, some may be a single verse.
Speaker A:So just take your time.
Speaker A:So it's not important, like we said, it's not important to finish this in 90 days when it is important.
Speaker A:Important.
Speaker A:Sorry, what is important is your reading together.
Speaker A:Now you may choose to read separately in the morning and then at night, come together for your 30 minutes of connection and talk about what you, what you read.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Or you can read together.
Speaker A:However you choose to do it.
Speaker A:There's no rules.
Speaker A:I mean, there's just, you know, you do, you do it how you, how you want to.
Speaker A:Right, Teresa?
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:It could be, you know, the best time for you to do that separately and Then talk about it together or read the scriptures to each other.
Speaker B:We like to do that.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:As well.
Speaker A:And you can use any translation you want.
Speaker A:If you want a more word for word translation, you can go with ESV or New King James or King James.
Speaker A:If you want a more thought for thought translation, you go with NLT or niv.
Speaker A:If you want some paraphrases, it's amplified, it's great passion.
Speaker A:Translation is great.
Speaker A:The thing is read.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:Is to read and apply and talk about what you read and apply this.
Speaker A:So because we want to apply what we've been reading.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:To our marriage.
Speaker A:Right, Theresa?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And if it's brings up questions or like you just say, lord, we need help to be able to apply this.
Speaker B:You know, of course you want to pray about these scriptures you're reading and these revelations that you're getting about how this applies to your marriage and changes you might need to make.
Speaker B:I mean, to me the scripture is as much encouragement as it is correction, but the correction is there.
Speaker B:So you'll have things to pray about together when you go through these scriptures for sure.
Speaker A:So start that Bible reading plan.
Speaker A:All right, Christian couples, this is your moment.
Speaker A:You've been invited to begin a Bible reading plan that will strengthen your faith, deepen your connection and bring God's word to the heart of relationship.
Speaker A:This is just.
Speaker A:This just isn't another pause.
Speaker A:This just isn't another challenge.
Speaker A:It's a commitment for growth, unity and spiritual transformation because God's wisdom is your foundation.
Speaker A:We're walking in this journey together.
Speaker A:So send us an email@inspiringmarriages.net with the word Bible and the title or the body and we will send you a link to a free PDF.
Speaker A:Want you to subscribe to Inspiring Marriages for more faith based insights.
Speaker A:Follow us on all the social media, Facebook and Instagram and YouTube for daily encouragement and practical tips.
Speaker A:Share this episode with a friend who wants to build a stronger marriage.
Speaker A:And most importantly, if you have a prayer request, send us an email@inspiringmarriagest.net and we will pray for you.
Speaker A:And we will keep your prayer request confidential, but we want to pray with you before we leave today.
Speaker A:Lord, thank you for this gift of marriage.
Speaker A:Help us cultivate emotional and physical intimacy that honors you, strengthen our friendship, deepen our love and guide us in our journey together.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:And remember, husband and wife are friends for life.
