What Are the 7 Arrows for Bible Reading?

The 7 Arrows for Bible Reading method was developed at The Church at Cherrydale in South Carolina by Pastor Matt Rogers and Donny Mathis. They were looking for a simple but effective way to multiply discipleship and encourage deeper spiritual understanding of Scripture among their congregation. The basis for this method began as a way for small groups to begin the discipleship process among themselves and to help new believers dive into Scripture in a digestible way.

The name is  derived from the seven arrows used to signify the seven key questions you’re looking to answer. Because of the number of steps and what they seek to answer, you may find that this method takes some additional time to complete. But this method places an emphasis on a deeper examination of the passage in its own context, and the different ways that it communicates to us.

We’ll be looking at Matthew 11:28-30 for our purposes.

What Does This Passage Say?

Here your goal is simply to summarize the passage you just read. Keep it simple. Just a couple sentences that capture the main point(s) of what the author is saying. You will probably find it helpful to write this summary in your own voice. Try to tell the same story the way you would if you were explaining it to someone else.

To sum up our passage, I might write: Jesus provides a supernatural rest through His supernatural provision. I can trust Him as the provider and the sustainer to meet all my needs. Rather than try to find more work for myself under my own power, I can seek His heart and do what He’s called me to do and trust that He gives me the strength to do it.

What Does This Passage Mean to Its Original Audience?

Very simply, what is the context surrounding this passage? For this arrow you will seek to examine the passage at a deeper contextual level. Here you are trying to answer questions about what the culture of the time was like, what specific nationality was the author writing to/about? What kind of social norms were in place during the time that might affect how the message is received? What was the author themselves experiencing as they wrote it?

The context of this particular passage is first and foremost Jesus talking to His disciples. The picture of being “heavy laden” here is the idea of being weighed down under oppressive legal burdens. The Pharisaical leaders and laws at the time had become so embroiled in legalistic demands that are ultimately antithetical to the grace of the Gospel. Rather, the discipleship model that Jesus presents here is a picture of relational intimacy.  

What Does The Passage Tell Us About God?

At its core, the Bible is a story about God and His redemptive plan for His people. So then, every story in the Bible points back to God in some way. The focus of this arrow is to dig in to the text you’ve read, and discover what it tells you about God. Remember when working through this arrow that in your passage you may see God on display as any one of the three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit.

From Matthew 11:28-30, we learn that God is a gracious and caring God. He loves His people and is tired of seeing them beat up by the legalistic demands of those in authority. He never designed it to be that way. The grace of God translates to a burden that is light and a yoke that is easy.

What Does The Passage Tell Us About Man?

If there’s one absolute certainty about humans, it’s that we’re broken, sinful people in desperate need of a savior. All throughout the Bible we see plenty of examples of people in all walks; Struggling to obey God, living in sin, people that are broken and repentant, and people that walk with God throughout their lives. Scripture is absolutely full of stories of people just like you and I, and the goal of this arrow is to understand what scripture teaches us about that person's example. About what we can learn from their life and their walk with the Lord.

This passage reveals a great deal about the nature of man. We are prone to make things difficult for ourselves. We are innately skilled at adding undue burdens to ourselves and missing the point. We often think if it’s too easy, it’s not real. This is ultimately antithetical to the design of grace—which is to say God designed it to require nothing from us but faith.

What Does This Passage Demand Of Me?

This arrow, as well as the next two, are placed where they are in the sequence because the previous four arrows can help you answer this and the following questions much easier. Sometimes the command of scripture is very clear and in your face as you’re reading. Things like The Great Commission given in Matt 28:19-20 — Jesus’ command there is pretty unmistakable. But other times, you may discover that the demand of Scripture is kind of buried under a few other layers that you need to dissect first. This is where the first four arrows help — with what you’ve already answered to this point, where Scripture is not explicit, you should have already laid the foundation for your answer to this question.

The demand of Scripture won’t always be a tangible action, such as beginning a new habit, eliminating an old vice, or repairing a damaged relationship. It is just as often something more inward, like asking you to rewrite your notions and tendencies. Often, the demand of Scripture may simply be to renew your faith in God, rather than worrying about something you don’t have much control over.

The Gospel provides a better way. The grace of God gives a rest for my soul, if I would but trust in Him with all of me. I need to stop keeping myself under the yoke of legalism, anxiety, doubt, and worry. All of those things are “me-centric” rather than grace and Gospel-centric. Where is my hope and promise? It needs to be with the Lord, not with my own efforts.

How Does This Passage Change The Way I Relate To People?

For this arrow, your goal is to understand what the passage teaches you about your relationships with the people in your life. More specifically, you should be trying to answer questions like Is there someone I need to forgive? Is there someone I could offer some encouragement to? Is there anyone I need to seek forgiveness from? It’s important to remember that each and every person is made in the image of God and as His image bearers, we must put His love on display by loving others. So, another way you can look at this question is: how does the passage you just read help you understand how to better love those around you?

God has given me much grace and has provided a way for me to escape the burden of legalism and oppression. Do I extend that grace and freedom to others or do I demand more of them than I should? To another point: I may never know the burdens that someone else is dealing with. How can I be graceful and relieve their burdens even when I don’t see or understand them?

What Does This Passage Prompt Me To Pray?

As with many of the study methods we’ll discuss, we end with prayer. We want to commit ourselves to God and ask Him to help us truly bury His Word in our hearts. Sometimes at the end of your study, you’ll find that you’re particularly convicted about an area of your life, sometimes you’ll have spent your study reflecting on God’s grace and mercy, but no matter what the focus of your study is, you should end with a response to God for what He has revealed to you through His Word. 

I should pray for relief. I should pray for my heart to change and rely wholly on Christ and His freedom rather than my own efforts. Rather than stumble under the weight of all my self-imposed anxieties and struggles, I can rely on the easier yoke that Christ provides. 

Removing the Mystery

The beauty of the 7 Arrows for Bible Study is in the simplicity. Through simple iconography your Bible studies can embark on a journey to understanding the depth and power of Scripture. As you ask these seven questions, you’ll find yourself challenged but encouraged as the truths of Scripture are revealed to you through diligent practice.

As of this publication, the 7 Arrows team has put together a lot of content to help settle into the 7 Arrows for Bible Study, including devotionals, a book on the process, and a CSB Study Bible with the 7 Arrows method outlined in the pages with bonus study content to help you go even deeper.

---