What Are Some Good Questions to Ask Your Pastor About the Bible?
- steveguidry
- Jun 8
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 15
Imagine sitting down with your pastor—not in crisis or confusion, but with a cup of coffee and a curious heart. You’ve been faithfully leading your adult Sunday School class, studying the Bible week after week, and now you want to go deeper. Not just for yourself, but for your group. You want to ask good, thoughtful questions. But where do you begin?
In many Southern Baptist churches, pastors carry a high calling: to preach the
Word, shepherd the flock, and guard sound doctrine. But they’re also part of a church family—people we can learn from and talk to. As adult Bible study leaders, we don’t have to know everything. What we do need is the kind of spiritual curiosity that helps us grow, and helps our classes grow too.
In this post, we’ll look at good Bible questions for adults to ask their pastor—not to put them on the spot, but to deepen your own teaching, discipleship, and partnership in ministry.
So - - What ARE some good questions to ask your Pastor about the Bible? (and why it matters).
Before we get to the list, it’s worth asking: What makes a “good” question to ask your pastor about the Bible?
A helpful question usually:
Comes from a genuine desire to understand Scripture better
Respects your pastor’s calling and time
Connects to real issues in your class or your own walk with Christ
Opens the door to ongoing conversation and learning
Lifeway Research and other trusted groups have found that many churchgoers want teaching that helps them apply the Bible to real life, not just more information. As a Sunday School teacher or small-group leader, you’re on the front lines of that. Asking good questions of your pastor is one way to grow in your own understanding so you can better serve your class.
With that in mind, here are some Bible-related questions you can ask your pastor that will help you as an adult Bible teacher.
1. “How has God used His Word to shape your calling and ministry?”
This is more than a question—it’s an invitation to hear your pastor’s heart. When you understand how God’s Word called and shaped your leaders, it can give you a richer appreciation for how He calls and shapes you too. You may hear stories, key passages, or turning points that you can share (appropriately) with your class.
Sharing this in your group can also build unity between the pulpit and the classroom.
Related verse: 1 Timothy 4:16 – “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching…”
2. “How do you prepare to teach or preach a difficult passage?”
Every teacher, whether standing in the pulpit or leading a classroom, eventually hits tough texts. Asking your pastor about their process helps you develop your own. Do they consult commentaries? Pray and meditate first? Outline the passage? Talk it over with other leaders?
You might even model this for your class:
“Here’s how I studied this week’s text—and here’s how our pastor approaches it too.”
Related verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved…”
3. “What Bible topics do you wish people asked about more often?”
Pastors spend a lot of time helping people navigate life’s challenges, but they also carry a deep well of biblical insight that sometimes goes untapped. This question may uncover rich topics for future studies in your group—like forgiveness, assurance of salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit, spiritual disciplines, or how to read the Psalms.
Related verse: Proverbs 20:5 – “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
4. “Are there any common Bible misconceptions you see in the church today?”
This is a great question to ask, especially when you’re preparing for a series. Misunderstood passages or ideas (like “God won’t give you more than you can handle” or “money is the root of all evil”) often slip into our classrooms unnoticed.
By identifying and correcting these gently, you serve your class well and help build biblical literacy over time.
Related verse: Acts 17:11 – “They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day…”
5. “What do you do when Scripture says something hard or uncomfortable?”
Whether it’s judgment, exclusivity, or moral commands, the Bible doesn’t shy away from hard truths. As teachers, we don’t want to skip over those passages, but we also don’t want to come across as harsh or uncaring.
Your pastor can be a valuable guide here, helping you balance truth and grace in your teaching—especially in adult Sunday School discussions.
Related verse: John 6:60 – “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
6. “What’s one book of the Bible you think our church should study more often?”
Every church develops a rhythm in teaching, but sometimes we overlook parts of Scripture. Maybe it’s Ecclesiastes, the Minor Prophets, or Hebrews. Your pastor’s answer may surprise you—and it might help you choose a future topic that meets a real need in your group.
Related verse: 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable…”
7. “How can our class better connect with the current sermon series?”
This is a practical and encouraging question. It shows that you want to support what God is doing in the worship service and bring alignment between the pulpit and the classroom.
Some teachers even develop discussion questions or application prompts based on Sunday’s message and use them as Adult Sunday School discussion questions the following week.
Related verse: Ephesians 4:12 – “To equip the saints for the work of ministry…”
8. “What advice would you give to someone struggling to read the Bible consistently?”
This question gives your pastor an opportunity to speak both pastorally and practically. Many adults in your class may be quietly struggling with this very issue. By asking, you can gather ideas to encourage and resource your group—maybe through reading plans, devotionals, or simple accountability.
You can then turn this into a class discussion:
“What helps you stay in the Word when life is busy or hard?”
Related verse: Psalm 1:2 – “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
Why Asking Your Pastor These Things Matters
Asking your pastor thoughtful Bible questions isn’t about trying to sound smart or challenge authority. It’s about being a faithful student of the Word and recognizing the spiritual leadership God has placed in your life.
It also models something important for your class:
That questions are welcome in the life of faith
That curiosity is part of growth
That it’s okay not to know everything, as long as we’re willing to learn
Research from groups like Lifeway Research and Barna has shown that many churchgoers deeply desire teaching that connects the Bible to everyday life. As a Sunday School teacher, you’re right in the middle of that mission. Asking good questions of your pastor equips you to lead better discussions, clarify biblical truth, and shepherd your class with wisdom and grace.
When You Don’t Have Time to Write All the Questions Yourself
If you’re like most volunteer teachers and church leaders, you probably carry a lot already—work, family, ministry, and the normal pressures of life. Sitting down every week to craft fresh, deep, adult Sunday School discussion questions can feel overwhelming.
That’s exactly why I created Steve’s Bible Questions.
Our resources are designed to:
Save you preparation time
Give you ready-to-use discussion questions rooted in Scripture
Work alongside popular Lifeway series like Bible Studies for Life and Explore the Bible
Help you move from lecture-style teaching to real, honest conversation
You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to start from scratch every week.
Final Encouragement
Imagine your classroom becoming a place where people not only learn what the Bible says, but feel free to ask what it means—and how it meets them in real life. Imagine your class engaging more deeply, living more faithfully, and walking more closely with Jesus because you were willing to ask—and pass on—the right questions.
At StevesBibleQuestions.com, we exist to help you do just that. Whether you’re preparing for Sunday’s class or digging into a tough passage, our weekly discussion guides are designed to support faithful, thoughtful teaching.
If this post has sparked ideas, reach out to your pastor this week.Ask something. Learn something. Then bring what you’ve learned back to your class—and let God use it to grow them in His Word.
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