After I returned home last night, I was visiting different blogs and I saw Stephanie’s 2/6/09 post (go here to read it) to a lady who had left a comment on a recent post by Stephanie asking how to you begin to do Bible study. As Stephanie told her, there are many ways to study the Word and no one method is right for every person. I believe the Lord is encouraging me to share the method that Priscilla shared with us this weekend. It is how a busy mom of three little boys has found to study the Word and I believe that it is a great way for any of us to take apart a verse.
One of the keys of this method is to choose just a couple of verses each day and not try to take on large passages at a time. That way you can really break the verses down and apply them to your life. Here are Priscilla’s 5 P’s:
1. Position yourself to hear from God.
2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points.
Look for the who, what, when, where, and why of the verse
3. Pull out the spiritual principles.
What is God teaching? What is He revealing about Himself?
4. Pose the question.
Form a personally directed question from each of the spiritual principles.
5. Plan obedience and pin down a date.
God speaks to be obeyed—not just to hear Himself talk.
Sounds easy enough, huh? Oh, now let me show you how it works using the Scripture that Priscilla gave us to practice on—which just happened to be the two verses out of Isaiah 50 that I was working on memorizing. Isn’t God just too cool? Right now my focus is on the speaking ministry God has given me so this passage was very applicable to some of the things I am working through with the Lord. The verses would likely speak to you in a whole different way. There is no right or wrong answer for this. The important thing is to let the Word speak TO YOU PERSONALLY!!
Here we go! Isaiah 50: 4-5: The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.”
POSITION MYSELF: First I need to find a quiet place to practice the 5 P’s. It may be a specific room in your home, your back porch, it may even be that you have to lock yourself in the bathroom or a closet to get some time alone with the Lord, but JUST DO IT!!! Expect God to meet you there each day, even if it is just for 5 or 10 minutes.
PORE AND PARAPHRASE: Verse 4 – God has given me a tongue that can be used by Him to teach others His Word so they can be encouraged. He wakes me up each morning desiring to teach me something new that I can incorporate into my life and then teach other people. Verse 5 – God opens my ear to hear Him and He expects me to take what He teaches me and obey what I hear Him saying. I want to obey and not be rebellious.
PULL OUT THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES: Verse 4 – God has given me knowledge to learn the Bible and the gift of teaching to teach the Word. He is eager to teach me more and more so I can teach others. Verse 5 – I need to listen and obey what He tells me and speak accordingly.
POSE A QUESTION: What do I need to do differently in order to hear more deeply and minister more effectively? Are there any areas of my life or ministry where I have been disobedient or rebellious?
PLAN AND PIN DOWN: Wait on Him and listen for His plan for the ministry that He has given me rather than trying to formulate my own plan. Begin this today.
That is it!! It is easy. Priscilla had us practice right there in the middle of her message and this is what I came up with in less than 10 minutes. ANYBODY can do this—from a young child to a precious senior adult. Try it!! I think you will like it just as much as I did.
The following is an affiliate link to Amazon. If you click on this link and purchase Priscilla’s book detailing these 5 P’s of Bible study, I will earn a small commission for recommending the book. This is one way I help support my family. Thank you.
