Growing Together: A Shared Spiritual Journey in Marriage

 

Summary

In our journey of spiritual growth, the relationship between spouses plays a crucial role. It is essential to approach this journey as a shared project, where both partners are equally invested. This partnership is not about one person helping the other but about growing together as one flesh. The spiritual journey is deeply intertwined with the relationship dynamics, and it is vital to ensure that both partners are engaged and supportive of each other's spiritual disciplines.

Prayer is a significant aspect of this shared journey. It should be a natural and loving experience, reflecting the deep bond between partners. As Peter and Paul emphasize, understanding and loving one another according to knowledge is crucial. The man's role often involves taking the initiative to understand and support the woman, while the woman is seen as the glory of the man. This relationship is not about subservience but about mutual respect and support.

Each partner may have different spiritual needs and inclinations. It is important to recognize and respect these differences, allowing each person the freedom to pursue their spiritual disciplines. This freedom should not lead to competition but rather to a deeper commitment to each other's growth. Worship and celebration are times when coming together is essential, even as individual practices may differ.

Solitude and silence can be challenging, especially if one partner feels insecure. It is crucial to communicate and understand how these practices affect each other. Solitude should not be perceived as rejection but as a necessary part of spiritual growth. Sensitivity and understanding are key to navigating these challenges.

Children also play a role in this spiritual journey. Living a life of spiritual discipline naturally introduces children to a way of living that is different and stronger. It helps them interact with Christ and deal with the motions of sin. Teaching children to be comfortable with solitude and to resist peer pressure is a significant triumph. This understanding provides them with a foundation for healthy relationships and spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways:

- Spiritual growth in marriage requires a shared commitment, where both partners are equally invested in each other's spiritual journey. This partnership is not about one person helping the other but about growing together as one flesh. [00:23]

- Prayer should be a natural and loving experience, reflecting the deep bond between partners. It is a time to connect deeply, ending with expressions of love and affection. [01:40]

- Each partner may have different spiritual needs, and it is important to respect these differences. This freedom should lead to a deeper commitment to each other's growth, not competition. [03:04]

- Solitude and silence can be challenging, especially if one partner feels insecure. It is crucial to communicate and understand how these practices affect each other, ensuring they are not perceived as rejection. [05:14]

- Introducing children to a life of spiritual discipline helps them interact with Christ and resist peer pressure. Teaching them to be comfortable with solitude is a significant triumph, providing a foundation for healthy relationships and spiritual growth. [07:24]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Shared Spiritual Journey
[00:51] - Growing Together as One Flesh
[01:25] - The Role of Prayer
[02:02] - Understanding and Loving One Another
[03:04] - Respecting Individual Spiritual Needs
[04:08] - Worship and Celebration Together
[04:33] - Navigating Solitude and Silence
[05:14] - Avoiding Perceptions of Rejection
[06:01] - Spiritual Life Beyond Disciplines
[06:44] - Introducing Children to Spiritual Life
[07:24] - Teaching Solitude to Teenagers
[08:12] - Overcoming Peer Pressure
[08:27] - Building Healthy Relationships

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 5:21-33 - Discusses the relationship between husbands and wives, emphasizing mutual respect and love.
2. 1 Peter 3:7 - Encourages husbands to understand and honor their wives.
3. Colossians 3:16 - Highlights the importance of teaching and admonishing one another with wisdom.

#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what is the significance of approaching spiritual growth as a shared project between spouses? [00:36]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of prayer in the relationship between spouses? [01:25]
3. What are some of the challenges mentioned in the sermon regarding solitude and silence in a relationship? [05:14]
4. How does the sermon suggest children benefit from observing their parents' spiritual disciplines? [06:44]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Ephesians 5:21-33 relate to the idea of growing together as one flesh in a marriage? [00:51]
2. In what ways does 1 Peter 3:7 support the sermon’s emphasis on understanding and loving one another according to knowledge? [02:16]
3. How might Colossians 3:16 inform the practice of respecting individual spiritual needs within a marriage? [03:04]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of solitude in spiritual growth, and how might this be misunderstood in a marriage? [05:14]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current approach to spiritual growth in your marriage. How can you ensure it is a shared project rather than an individual one? [00:36]
2. Consider your prayer life with your spouse. How can you make it a more natural and loving experience that strengthens your bond? [01:40]
3. Identify any differences in spiritual needs between you and your spouse. How can you respect these differences while still committing to each other's growth? [03:04]
4. If solitude and silence are challenging in your relationship, what steps can you take to communicate and understand each other's needs better? [05:14]
5. How can you introduce your children to spiritual disciplines in a way that feels natural and engaging for them? [06:44]
6. Think about a time when you felt insecure about your partner's need for solitude. How can you reframe this practice as a positive aspect of spiritual growth? [05:14]
7. What practical steps can you take to teach your children to be comfortable with solitude and resist peer pressure? [07:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Shared Commitment in Spiritual Growth
In a marriage, spiritual growth is a journey that requires both partners to be equally invested. This shared commitment is not about one person helping the other but about growing together as one flesh. Each partner should actively engage in supporting the other's spiritual disciplines, ensuring that their relationship dynamics are deeply intertwined with their spiritual journey. By approaching this journey as a shared project, couples can foster a deeper connection and mutual respect, allowing them to grow together in faith and love. [00:23]

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you and your spouse actively support each other's spiritual growth this week, and what specific steps can you take to ensure this journey is a shared commitment?


Day 2: Prayer as a Bonding Experience
Prayer is a significant aspect of the shared spiritual journey in marriage. It should be a natural and loving experience that reflects the deep bond between partners. By praying together, couples can connect deeply, ending with expressions of love and affection. This practice not only strengthens their relationship but also aligns their hearts with God's will. Understanding and loving one another according to knowledge, as emphasized by Peter and Paul, is crucial in this process. [01:40]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: What specific prayer practice can you and your spouse incorporate into your daily routine to deepen your bond and align your hearts with God's will?


Day 3: Respecting Individual Spiritual Needs
Each partner in a marriage may have different spiritual needs and inclinations. It is important to recognize and respect these differences, allowing each person the freedom to pursue their spiritual disciplines. This freedom should not lead to competition but rather to a deeper commitment to each other's growth. By respecting individual spiritual needs, couples can foster an environment of mutual support and encouragement, ultimately strengthening their relationship and spiritual journey. [03:04]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you show respect and support for your spouse's unique spiritual needs this week, and what steps can you take to ensure that this freedom leads to mutual growth rather than competition?


Day 4: Navigating Solitude and Silence
Solitude and silence can be challenging in a marriage, especially if one partner feels insecure. It is crucial to communicate and understand how these practices affect each other, ensuring they are not perceived as rejection. Solitude should be seen as a necessary part of spiritual growth, and sensitivity and understanding are key to navigating these challenges. By fostering open communication and empathy, couples can support each other in their individual spiritual practices while maintaining a strong connection. [05:14]

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you and your spouse create a safe space for solitude and silence in your relationship, and what steps can you take to ensure these practices are not perceived as rejection?


Day 5: Introducing Children to Spiritual Discipline
Children play a significant role in the spiritual journey of a family. By living a life of spiritual discipline, parents naturally introduce their children to a way of living that is different and stronger. This helps children interact with Christ and deal with the motions of sin. Teaching children to be comfortable with solitude and to resist peer pressure is a significant triumph, providing them with a foundation for healthy relationships and spiritual growth. [07:24]

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)

Reflection: What specific spiritual discipline can you introduce to your children this week, and how can you model this practice in a way that encourages them to embrace it as part of their own spiritual journey?

Quotes


first thing i would say is that you're going to have to approach this on an equal basis that is to say it has to be your project together and it's as much for your mate as it is for you uh it's going to be very difficult if you approach it with one of you thinking well this is his or her project [00:00:27]

you need to understand that as people who are put together in one flesh you grow together spiritually and there is a great limit as to what either one of you can do without the other one entering into it there are tests of where you are like can you really pray together and what is your prayer together like [00:00:55]

when you when you pray together are you very relaxed is it very natural do you feel loving toward one another as you pray together you know what i mean i mean really loving i think a prayer time together between a man and a woman that doesn't end with a kiss needs to go a little deeper yeah i'll hug right absolutely [00:01:25]

you know what uh paul and peter say about man and woman relationships is so deep and important and about how we are to really love one another according to knowledge as peter says and the emphasis is nearly always placed on the man's initiative in seeing to it that this happens [00:02:02]

so it isn't necessarily good that you do the same thing as what i'm saying right one of you will be more inclined to study than the other very often it's the woman very often the man doesn't study well and perhaps there's no reason why they should it may be the other way around it depends upon the individuals [00:03:08]

remember that you're going to give to one another so that your gain in whatever discipline you're engaging in will be something that will redown to the benefit of the other so it's non-exclusionary kind of relationship needless to say i trust it would not be one in which there's competition though frankly it sometimes becomes that [00:03:34]

sometimes this is threatening the disciplines are threatening because for example you find people who are insecure in their relationship and they don't want the other person to be away they don't want the other person to be in solitude or silence or something like that and that's where each person has to be very sensitive [00:04:28]

when you go into solitude it is almost impossible for the other person not to experience that as rejection unless there is a real understanding and rejection is probably the ultimate meaning of hell is rejection it's bad it's bad stuff even if it's not real it's bad so you have to be very careful and work around that [00:05:10]

give one another a lot of freedom be sympathetic and sensitive to one another also be prepared to be with one another and learn how to do that in ways you haven't known and there are other issues with children for example that we might talk about too it's how do children enter individuals [00:05:37]

one of the greatest things you could do for your children was be able to live with such naturalness with spiritual disciplines and the spiritual life generally and i really want to emphasize the spiritual life is not just the disciplines and i really like to emphasize the way this is worded disciplines i don't even like the word [00:05:57]

to naturally of course supernaturally as well just lead them into a way of living which would be different and stronger and helpful so that they would naturally be introduced into interaction with christ and learn how to live their lives and deal with the motions of sin which are in their members because as soon as they hit the world [00:06:48]

if you watch teenagers they are so subject to the pulls from their peers they are just almost totally victimized by them and to have a teenager who knows that it's okay to be alone that's a great great triumph not just for you but for your teenager i mean the gang phenomena that you see in [00:07:20]

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Transcript
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