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Discussion questions

​These questions can be used by you alone, with a friend, or your Faith Group to discuss "Is the Bible Intolerant? in the series "How (Not) To Read The Bible" preached May 11, 2025. This is the third message in the series. 

Have you ever read a verse that left you confused—or even disturbed? You’re not alone. For many people, the Bible can feel confusing, offensive, or downright strange. Questions about science, gender, violence, and tolerance have caused some to walk away from faith altogether.

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In this series, we’ll take a fresh and honest look at the Bible’s most challenging parts—and discover how understanding the bigger story changes everything. Because the Bible isn’t just a book of ancient rules. It’s a story of redemption—and at the center of it is a Savior who still speaks today.

Open your group with a prayer. Use these questions as a guide; select the points you want to discuss.

GETTING STARTED  

Let’s ease into the conversation with a few fun and honest questions. These are designed to help us get to know each other a little better—and to surface some of the everyday ways we bump into the idea of truth, belief, and disagreement.​

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  1. Have you ever been 100% convinced you were right… and then found out you were totally wrong? What happened?

  2. What’s a food, movie, or opinion you’ll defend to the death—even if no one else agrees with you?

  3. What’s a moment where someone else’s strong opinion made you laugh, roll your eyes, or back away slowly?

  4. If someone had to describe “your way of doing things,” what would they say? (Think driving, ordering at restaurants, or navigating airports!)

  5. Would you rather have everyone agree with you all the time—or always have to defend what you believe to a skeptical crowd? Why?

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​Digging Deeper

Now let’s dig a little deeper. These questions will help us better understand what the Bible says about truth, Jesus’ exclusive claims, the origins of religion, and how we should think about other worldviews. Some will take us into Scripture; others will help us engage with the cultural and theological ideas we heard on Sunday.​

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  1. Jesus claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life” in John 14:6. What does each part of that claim mean, and why is it more than just a religious slogan?

  2. Read Acts 4:12. How does Peter’s statement reflect both boldness and compassion? How would it have been received in a pluralistic culture like ancient Rome?

  3. Why do you think exclusivity makes people uncomfortable today? What are some reasons our culture reacts so strongly to claims of absolute truth?

  4. In the sermon, we talked about how truth by nature is exclusive. Can you think of other areas in life (outside of religion) where this is also true? Why is that easy to accept in some areas but not in matters of faith?

  5. Read Genesis 11:1–9 (The Tower of Babel). What does this story show us about human pride and our tendency to “make a name for ourselves”? How does it connect to the rise of other religions?

  6. The sermon mentioned that some scholars believe early humanity started out with a belief in one God. How does that challenge the modern assumption that monotheism is a late invention?

  7. Read Joshua 24:2–3. What does this tell us about Abraham’s background before God called him? Why is it significant that God called someone from a polytheistic culture?

  8. Many people believe all religions basically teach the same thing. Based on what you heard in the sermon, why isn’t that accurate when it comes to the core beliefs of major world religions?

  9. In what ways did Jesus stand apart from other religious figures—not just in what He said, but how He lived? What stuck with you most from that part of the message?

  10. Read John 1:14 and John 3:17. How do these verses help us understand the posture Jesus took in communicating truth? What made His approach so different from how truth is often handled today?

  11. The sermon used the phrase, “Jesus didn’t weaponize the truth—He embodied it.” What do you think that means, and how does it challenge both harsh and watered-down versions of truth-telling?

  12. What was most surprising, challenging, or clarifying for you in the way the sermon presented the uniqueness of Christianity? How has your understanding of spiritual tolerance and exclusivity changed?

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​Living It Out

Now let’s bring this home. These questions are meant to help us think about how to live out the truth of the Gospel with courage, humility, and love. We’ll talk about the actual moments where faith gets tested—not in theory, but in conversations with friends, coworkers, and family members who may see things very differently.​

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  1. When have you felt nervous or hesitant to say something about your faith because you were afraid of sounding intolerant? What did you do in that moment—and how do you wish you had responded?

  2. How do you personally wrestle with the tension of holding to exclusive truth while loving people who believe something very different? What’s hard about that for you?

  3. Who in your life comes to mind right now—someone you care about, but who sees Christianity as narrow or judgmental? What might it look like to engage them in a more thoughtful, grace-filled way?

  4. How can you speak truth like Jesus did—with honesty that heals, compassion that reaches, and courage that invites? What part of that is hardest for you?

  5. What would change in your conversations if you really believed that “truth is an invitation,” not a weapon? How would it shape your next spiritual conversation?

  6. If someone asked you tomorrow, “Why do you believe Jesus is the only way?”—what would you say? How can your group help each other prepare for real, respectful, gospel-centered conversations like that?

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