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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 Sexist?" in the series "How (Not) To Read The Bible" preached June 1, 2025. This is the fifth and final 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  

Before we dive into Scripture and theology, let’s warm up with a few questions that get us talking about culture, relationships, and how we view men and women. These are meant to be fun, honest, and a little thought-provoking!

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  1. What’s one stereotype about men or women that you’ve always found funny—or frustrating?
    (Example: “Men never ask for directions,” or “Women take forever to get ready.”)

  2. If you had to take relationship advice from any sitcom couple, who would it be—and why?
    (Bonus points if the advice is terrible.)

  3. When you were growing up, what did you think it meant to be a “real man” or a “real woman”? Who shaped that picture for you?

  4. In what ways have you seen our culture talk about gender more in recent years—for better or for worse?

  5. Complete the sentence: “The world would fall apart without ___________.” (Men? Women? Coffee?) Explain your answer.

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​Digging Deeper

Now that we’ve warmed up, let’s explore the biblical truths behind the message. These questions are designed to help us better understand what God’s Word actually teaches about gender, dignity, and design—so we can see both the beauty of His plan and the wisdom behind it.​

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  1. What does Genesis 1:26–27 reveal about God’s design for both male and female from the very beginning? What does it mean that both were made in His image?

  2. Why is the creation of woman from Adam’s side (Genesis 2:21–22) significant, and how does that shape our understanding of equality and difference?

  3. Why does the Bible call Eve a “helper” in Genesis 2:18, and what does this word really mean in the broader biblical context? Read Psalm 118:7 to help interpret this.

  4. What specific relational consequences does God describe in Genesis 3:16 after the Fall, and how do these distort the original design?

  5. How did Satan subvert God’s order in Genesis 3:1–6, and what role did both Adam and Eve play in the breakdown?

  6. What evidence do we see in Jesus’ ministry that He valued, dignified, and elevated women? Look at John 4:7–27 (Samaritan woman) or Luke 10:38–42 (Mary and Martha).

  7. Why did Jesus choose twelve men as apostles, even though He openly included women in His ministry and as witnesses to His resurrection?

  8. How does Ephesians 5:22–25 define biblical headship and submission, and how does that differ from cultural stereotypes of power or control?

  9. What do we learn about the roles of men and women in the church from 1 Timothy 2:11–13, especially in light of the appeal to Genesis rather than culture?

  10. How does Galatians 3:28 affirm equality in Christ without erasing gender or role distinctions?

  11. Why does the sermon argue that headship and submission are not about hierarchy but about portraying the Gospel?

  12. What is lost—biblically and theologically—when gender roles are blurred or erased rather than embraced as complementary?

 

​Living It Out

Now that we’ve wrestled with what the Bible says about gender and how it all points to the Gospel, let’s talk about what it means for our everyday lives. These questions are meant to be real—because living out biblical truth in a skeptical world isn’t always simple. But grace helps us live with clarity, courage, and compassion.​

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  1. How have you seen biblical gender roles misused or misunderstood—in the church or in culture—and how has that affected your view of them?

  2. In what areas of life (home, work, church, friendships) is it hardest to live out God’s design for male and female with both conviction and grace?

  3. What’s one way you can better reflect Gospel-shaped leadership or Gospel-shaped responsiveness in your current season of life?

  4. How can married couples practically live out the parable of Christ and the Church in the way they speak, serve, and sacrifice for one another?

  5. If you’re single, how can your life still reflect God’s design for gender and point others to the Gospel?

  6. What might it look like to affirm the beauty of God’s design while engaging skeptics or critics with kindness and humility?

  7. What’s one way our church could do a better job celebrating both men and women as equal image-bearers with distinct callings in God’s story?

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