How to Study the Bible With Someone Else: A Practical Guide

My wife and I tried reading the Bible together for years. It never stuck.

We'd start strong -- sitting side by side with matching ESV Study Bibles, full of good intentions. Then life would happen. One of us would travel for work. The kids would wake up early. We'd miss a day, then two, then silently abandon the whole thing until guilt prompted another restart six months later.

What finally worked wasn't trying harder. It was changing our approach entirely.

Here's what we learned about actually studying Scripture together -- whether with a spouse, a friend, or a discipleship partner.

Why Bother Studying with Someone Else?

Solo Bible reading is essential. You need quiet time with God.

But Scripture was also meant to be read in community. The early church gathered to hear letters read aloud and discussed together. Iron sharpens iron. Where two or three are gathered, Jesus said He's there in a special way.

When you study with another person:

You catch what you miss. Everyone brings different questions and experiences to a passage. Your partner will notice things you'd overlook.

Talking forces clarity. You can nod along in your own head without really understanding. But articulating what you think a passage means -- out loud, to another person -- forces genuine processing.

Accountability creates follow-through. It's easy to read something convicting and move on. When you discuss application with someone who will ask about it next week, you're far more likely to actually act.

The conversation itself becomes worship. There's something sacred about seeking God's Word together. The relationship deepens as you pursue the same Lord.

The O-I-A Method

If you've never done structured Bible study, here's the simplest method I know: Observation, Interpretation, Application.

It works for couples over breakfast, friends at a coffee shop, or any two people who want to go deeper.

Observation: What Does It Say?

Read the passage together -- ideally out loud. Then ask: What do we notice?

This isn't about meaning yet. It's about looking carefully. Who's in this scene? What's happening? What words are repeated? What surprises you?

Most misinterpretation comes from skipping observation. We jump to "what does this mean for me" before carefully reading what it actually says.

Interpretation: What Does It Mean?

Now ask: What was the author communicating?

Think about the original audience. What did this passage mean to them? What theological truths emerge? How does this connect to the rest of the Bible's story?

When you're unsure, say so. "I don't know -- let's look into that" is a perfectly valid response. Come back to it later with a commentary or ask your pastor.

Application: What Do We Do?

Here's where life change happens.

Is there a command to obey? A sin to avoid? A promise to believe? An example to follow?

Be specific. "I'll try to be more patient" is too vague. "I'll apologize to my coworker for snapping at her yesterday" is actionable.

A Realistic Session Structure

Here's what actually works for my wife and me. Total time: about 45 minutes, though you can adjust.

Catch up (5-10 min): How are you? What's been on your mind? We used to skip this "to save time," but connection before content makes everything better.

Review (5 min): How did last week's application go? Did you follow through? What happened?

Read together (5 min): One person reads aloud while the other listens. Or read silently, then read it again together.

Discuss (20 min): Walk through O-I-A. What do you see? What does it mean? How should we respond?

Apply (5 min): Each person identifies one specific action for the week. Write it down.

Pray (5-10 min): Pray for each other based on what you studied.

That's it. Not complicated. Totally sustainable.

Where to Start

If you've never studied Scripture together, here are some accessible starting points:

For new pairs or new believers:

Gospel of Mark -- fast-paced story of Jesus
Philippians -- short, encouraging, practical
1 John -- clear teaching on love and assurance

For couples:

Ephesians 5:22-33 -- marriage as Christ and the church
Proverbs -- one chapter daily for a month
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

For any season:

James -- practical wisdom for daily life
Romans 6-8 -- life in the Spirit
Psalms -- prayer and worship in all circumstances

Or use a structured curriculum like DisciplePair's tracks, which provide passages, questions, and applications already built in.

What Actually Goes Wrong

Let me save you some mistakes:

Going too fast. You're not racing through a checklist. Sit with a passage. Let it breathe. A fruitful discussion of five verses beats a superficial scan of three chapters.

One person dominating. If one of you has studied the passage already, hold your insights loosely. Ask questions instead of lecturing.

Skipping application. The hardest and most important part. Don't finish without asking: "So what are we actually going to do?"

Treating disagreement as failure. You won't always see passages the same way. That's fine. On core doctrines, pursue clarity. On secondary issues, you can hold different views and still study together.

Giving up after missing a week. Life will interrupt. When it does, don't spiral into guilt. Just pick it back up.

The Couples Dimension

If you're married, studying Scripture together is one of the best investments you can make. A few things I've learned:

Pick a time and protect it. For us, it's Sunday evenings after the kids are in bed. Not romantic, but consistent.

Start small. Ten minutes you actually do beats an hour you don't.

Don't turn it into counseling. Study the text, not your spouse's problems. There's a time for marital conversations, but Bible study isn't it.

Pray for each other. Hearing your spouse pray specifically for you is powerful. Don't skip this.

If You Need More Structure

Some people thrive with complete flexibility. Others (like me) do better with a clear guide.

DisciplePair provides exactly that: Scripture passages, discussion questions, prayer prompts, and application steps for each session. You just show up and follow along.

We built it because my wife and I needed it -- and we figured we weren't the only ones.

The invitation is simple: find someone and open the Book together.

Text your spouse or a friend today: "Want to try reading through something in the Bible together? Maybe meet once a week to discuss?"

Most people will say yes. They're just waiting for someone to ask.