Hello! My name is Robyn and I blog over at Robyn's Nest! I posted about my pastor's 7 arrows of Bible reading a few months ago. then, a few weekends ago while I was on the Renew Retreat with Jessa, She brought up the 7 arrows! It was so neat to hear someone outside of my church talk about it.
Jessa and I thought it would be fun to collaborate on a post about the 7 arrows! We thought it would be cool to see the arrows in action and how differently people think things through on the same section of scripture. So today I am sharing my 7 arrows here & Jessa is sharing hers on my blog!
Romans 12:1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
o1 | what does this passage say?
- our bodies are a tool of worship to the Lord & should be used as such
- we need to renew our mind with scripture so the world will not have a stronghold on it
- we should view the body of Christ as a whole entity & not see one part as higher than the other
- we are to use the gifts God gives us to benefit the entire body
o2 | what did this passage mean to its original audience?
The church was pretty new when this letter was written. The fact that Paul calls the church a body and explains that there are different members was most likely a radical thought in that time. or at least something that hadn't been heard before. Anyone that has grown up in the church today has most likely heard this language frequently.
Other than those differences, I think the meaning to the original audience is very close to the meaning for us today. Paul is simply explaining how the gospel should affect our everyday life. Paul was emphasizing the importance of knowing scripture & allowing it to renew our mind constantly. Paul also reiterates the importance of using our gifts for the common good.
o3 | what does this passage tell us about God?
This passage shows us that God gives us the tools to discern His will. Tt shows us that He is not a detached God, but rather He is involved in our lives and has a plan for us. It shows us that God has a plan for the church and He created each of us with specific gifts to make up the entire body.
o4 | what does this passage tell us about man?
This passage reiterates that man is sinful when left to himself. this passage tells us that we have to allow the Spirit to renew our minds or else we will be persuaded by the world. The only way we are able to use our gifts and be beneficial to the body of Christ, is to allow the Spirit to renew & transform us.
o5 | what does this passage demand of me?
This passage demands that I use my body as a tool of worship, that I renew my mind daily with scripture & prayer, that I use sober judgment of myself and the other members of the body, and that I use my gifts for the good of the body as a whole and not keep them to myself.
o6 | how does this passage change the way i relate to people?
It changes the way I relate to people, because it calls me to use sober judgment. I should not view myself as higher than other people, or other people as higher than me. I should view all the members of the body in the same light.
o7 | what does this passage prompt me to pray?
This passage prompts me to pray for the Lord to transform me and renew me through His Word. it prompts me to pray for discernment and correct judgment. it prompts me to pray that I will use my gifts for others and not keep them to myself because of pride or fear.
Thanks Robyn for taking over the blog for the day. It was so much fun to do this, and can admit that I will be doing this more often.
How do you study the bible?