Power in Marriage: A Biblical Word Study

Host: Kia GutierrezGuest: Christopher Barnard, Sr.In this episode, Kia welcomes back Chris Barnard for a hands-on walkthrough of how to study Scripture through an Eastern lens—specifically, how to do a word study that actually deepens your relationship with God and strengthens your understanding of Scripture.Chris breaks down the exact three-step method he uses, shares the tools that make it accessible for anyone, and shows how this kind of study can transform the way we understand relationships and power dynamics—especially in marriage.If you’re longing for Scripture to feel alive again, or you’re trying to grow in emotional and spiritual maturity, this episode will give you practical tools you can start using today.Notes From ChrisKey Topics CoveredStudy is meant to enhance, not gatekeep, your relationship with God.You don’t need hours a day—just consistency.Context protects Scripture from being misused or “cherry-picked.”Chris shares:Why he begins every day with a 5-minute devotionalHis go-to titles: Streams in the Desert, Morning and Evening (Spurgeon), and YouVersion devotionalsHow keeping notes tied to devotion readings helps you track spiritual history and God’s faithfulnessA method designed for real people with real lives:Understand who the passage was written to and whyAvoid cherry-picking—look at the whole storyUse tools like study Bibles, commentaries, and BibleGatewayCompare translations side by side (NASB, NIV, KJV, etc.)Look for differences—they’re not red flags, they’re fun flagsTranslation differences signal that the original word carries layered meaning worth exploringWriting (or typing) the passage slows the mindActive voice helps you hear the text differentlyThis creates space for noticing patterns, hyperlinks, and repeated wordsChris walks through the resources he uses:Blue Letter Bible (free, powerful for Hebrew and Greek)Concordances for root meaningsBible Project, Tim Mackie, BEMA Podcast (Marty Solomon & Brent Billings) as learning companionsChris highlights the signals that something deserves a closer look:Repeated words or phrasesPatternsHyperlinks between verses or storiesCultural clues you might miss in a Western readingThe very first time a word appears in ScriptureTranslation inconsistenciesThese are the kinds of moments where Scripture opens up in surprising ways.Chris reminds us:The goal of study is to grow closer to GodA deeper understanding of Scripture leads to healthier relationshipsJesus’s lens—love God, love your neighbor—should always frame interpretationWhen we study this way, Scripture becomes more than information; it becomes transformationChris applies his method to Genesis 2:18–24, exploring:The Hebrew meaning behind key wordsWhat those meanings reveal about partnership in marriageHow Scripture addresses power, mutuality, and unityWhy this matters for couples seeking emotionally healthy, Jesus-centered relationships todayBlue Letter Bible (online + app)BibleGateway.comStreams in the DesertMorning and Evening — Charles SpurgeonBible ProjectBEMA Discipleship PodcastNASB, NIV, KJV translationsChristians hungry for deeper Scripture understandingCouples wanting to grow together spirituallyLeaders longing to teach the Bible with integrityAnyone tired of surface-level readings who wants Scripture to come alive againFollow Kia Gutierrez and @thechurchwedreamof to keep growing in emotional intelligence, spiritual depth, and church health.