November 28, 2025
Is the Bible reliable?
Joshua Tufte
What We Believe About the Bible at Passion Church
If you’ve ever wondered what Passion Church believes about the Bible, let me put it simply:
We believe the Bible is God’s Word — not just ancient text, but God revealing Himself, His heart, and His will to us. That may sound like a big statement, but it’s one the Bible makes about itself over and over again. Where You Find Your Truth Shapes Your Life. Here’s something I’ve learned as a pastor and as a follower of Jesus: If you don’t choose your source of truth, culture will gladly choose it for you.
And culture is a shaky place to build a life. If you haven't noticed, our country's idea of truth, if it exists, morals, and beyond are, well, perhaps the best way I can describe them is on fire. The news decides which side of what story to publish, and social media is a melting pot of good intentions, fake posts, and angry people yelling at each other. Very few people know where to turn for real information, and everyone seems angry about something. America is leaning further into a toxic and violent mindset than many of us want to admit, and all this is fueled by the idea that Truth, if it exists, is fluid; it changes based on our situation, culture, and who we are. If I'm privileged in one way or another, then my truth changes from those who are starting a few steps behind, because I can mean that it's right for me.
The “truth” of culture changes: Every decade, every election cycle, every new social justice movement, every time the internet decides something is “problematic.” It’s exhausting — because it’s unstable.
But God doesn’t change.
His character doesn’t shift with the polls.
His Word doesn’t fade like trends.
The Bible gives us clarity that doesn’t move — because God Himself doesn’t move.
In Scripture, God reveals: Who He is, how He saves us, and who He created us to be. This is why Christians have anchored their lives to the Bible for centuries. There is peace that comes from knowing that what you base your life on does not change. It's a foundation that doesn't shift and brings incredible peace through life's battles.
The Bible Isn’t Just a Book — It’s God Speaking (Through History)
When we talk about Scripture being “God’s Word,” we’re not using a religious slogan. One of the greatest pieces of evidence that the Bible is divine is the sheer scope of its creation:
Around 40 different human authors
Written across multiple kingdoms and empires — Israel, Judah, Babylon, Persia, Rome
Spanning roughly 1,500 years
Written in three languages — Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
Authors from every walk of life — kings, shepherds, generals, prophets, fishermen, tax collectors, a doctor
And yet, somehow, through all of that diversity…
The Bible tells one unified story about one God pursuing one humanity with one plan of redemption.
To see the sweep of God’s revelation:
Moses wrote the first five books around 1400 BC, likely while leading Israel through the wilderness.
David wrote Psalms around 1000 BC — worship, pain, repentance, and raw honesty.
Isaiah prophesied in the 700s BC, speaking clearly about the coming Messiah long before Jesus arrived.
Daniel wrote from Babylonian captivity, faithfully serving foreign kings while staying true to God.
Matthew, once a tax collector, wrote his Gospel in the first century AD to show that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
Luke, a physician and historian, wrote Luke and Acts around 60 AD, giving orderly accounts of Jesus and the early church.
John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, wrote his Gospel and Revelation near the end of the first century AD.
Different centuries.
Different nations.
Different languages.
Different backgrounds.
Same God.
Same message.
Same story unfolding.
That unity is not humanly manufactured.
This isn’t just a book. It’s God revealing Himself through history, through people, and through the Holy Spirit — so every generation can know Him.
The Bible Includes Tough Subjects — And That’s a Good Thing
Let’s be real:
The Bible doesn’t skip the hard stuff.
It talks openly about: sin, sexuality, justice, forgiveness, repentance, sacrifice, heaven and hell, and the parts of life we’d rather avoid. Sometimes we will hold beliefs that our culture doesn’t like. And that’s okay. We don’t follow Jesus because He fits neatly into cultural expectations. We follow Him because He is truth.
But here’s the key: Truth is best delivered through relationships, not arguments.
Jesus walked with people, listened to them, knew their stories—and then spoke the truth. We’re called to do the same. The Bible Is True, Clear, and Reliable Scripture doesn’t just contain truth — it is truth.
Psalm 119 says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet…” “All your words are true.” “The sum of your word is truth.”
God’s Word is steady when the world shakes.
One way to picture the Bible is a lot like Google Maps. It doesn’t just give us random information — it shows us the route God has laid out so we can reach the destination He intends for us. It guides, directs, corrects, and gives purpose. And it doesn’t let us down. But here’s what happens: People hit a confusing passage — something culturally distant, linguistically different, or hard to understand — and they turn away. They assume the Bible is outdated or irrelevant. Or they decide to look elsewhere for truth. But confusion doesn’t mean Scripture is unclear. It means we’re invited to learn.
The Bible was written in: a different time, different cultures, with ancient idioms and references, in languages most of us don’t speak. That doesn’t make Scripture less true — it means we need to study, research, and dig deeper. When we do, God’s message becomes even more powerful and relevant.
The Bible Is No Longer America’s Default Standard of Truth
We have to be honest about the cultural moment we’re in. For many people today, “The Bible says…” doesn’t carry much weight. Some see it as irrelevant. Others see it as offensive. Some walk away the moment Scripture is mentioned. That means we must rethink how we share truth — not whether we share it.
Build relationships before sharing hard truths.
Let people see Jesus in how you live long before they hear Him in what you say.
Truth carried on the back of love reaches places arguments never can.
Build a Relationship With God by Reading His Word
The Bible is how we get to know God — not the filtered, Instagram version of Him, but the real, living God.
And just like any relationship, the more time you spend with Him, the more clearly you understand Him.
Think about a close friend or spouse.
After years of walking together, you finish each other’s sentences, you can predict their reactions, you know their heart. Why? Because you’ve spent consistent time together.
Imagine knowing God like that.
Imagine understanding His heart so deeply that you can sense what He wants, recognize His voice, and confidently interpret Scripture because you’ve grown familiar with Him.
Imagine what that would do to your life — and to the lives of your family, your friends, and everyone you influence.
Reading Scripture builds that kind of relationship.
The more you know God’s Word, the more you understand: who He is, what He wants, how He speaks, and how to interpret other verses biblically and accurately. So don’t stop when you hit something confusing, lean in.
Ask mentors, Study, Research, join groups, explore commentaries, and pray for insight.
God reveals Himself richly to those who keep seeking.
Don’t Just Take My Word for It — Explore It Yourself
The passages below talk directly about the Bible itself —
what it is, what it does, and why it matters:
Psalm 12
Psalm 105
Psalm 119
Psalm 160
Proverbs 30
Matthew 22:37–40
1 Timothy 1:13
2 Timothy 3:16
2 Peter 1:20–21
Read them this week.
Ask the Holy Spirit to speak.
Let the Word shape you.
And if you haven’t already, download the YouVersion Bible App.
Start a simple devotional — even 5 minutes a day creates space for God to speak and helps you build a steady habit of reading.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of trusted, mature Christians.
A mentor, a Bible study group, or a seasoned believer who has walked with Jesus for decades is priceless. Their wisdom can help you interpret Scripture, understand context, and stay grounded.
There are also excellent books that provide strong historical, archaeological, and logical evidence for the reliability of Scripture and the truth of Jesus. Here are five solid and accessible books I recommend:
Recommended Books on the Reliability of the Bible & the Evidence for Jesus
More Than a Carpenter — Josh & Sean McDowell
Evidence That Demands a Verdict — Josh & Sean McDowell
The Case for Christ — Lee Strobel
Cold-Case Christianity — J. Warner Wallace
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus — Gary Habermas & Michael Licona
These resources will help strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding, and give you confidence that Scripture really is what it claims to be: God’s Word.
Final Thoughts
We believe the Bible is God’s Word.
Steady.
True.
Loving.
Life-giving.
Eternal.
We don’t worship the Book — we worship the God who speaks through it.
Let’s be a church that doesn’t just read the Bible…
but builds our lives on it.
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He wanted to make the world a better place. But he didn’t know where to start or how to make a difference. He had recently taken on a leadership role in his neighborhood and was already discouraged by the resistance he was facing. He worked hard, applied creativity to solving problems, and kept running into wall after wall. I’ve heard story after story like this. And over time, I’ve come to believe that generally speaking, people do want to help. They just don’t know how, and eventually they feel defeated. So the question becomes: Why worry about other people’s problems at all, right? While that mentality is understandable, it can lead us into some dangerous places as a society. It can also lead us somewhere very different than what Jesus talked about. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God’s Word repeatedly reminds us that true religion includes caring for the vulnerable, widows, orphans, and those in need. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” — James 1:27 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” — Psalm 82:3 So how do we care without becoming overwhelmed? Over the years, I’ve developed a simple framework that has helped me tremendously. These are three questions I ask when deciding where to focus my energy. First: Is this important to my family and me? Second: Does this affect my immediate community? Third: Is there anything I can actually do about it? If the answer is no to two out of those three questions , I leave it alone. Often, I add it to my prayer list, which is powerful, but beyond that, I let it go. 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That may sound harsh, but here’s the reality: You and I only have so much influence and so much capacity. That capacity looks different for everyone, but one thing we all share is that both our influence and our capacity are limited. If I spend all my energy worrying about things I can’t directly affect, then I’ll miss the thousands of people I can affect who are right in front of me. By serving in the church, engaging personally in the community, exerting social influence, praying, and building everyday relationships, I can focus my attention where it can actually make a difference. And when we do that, we become far more effective. Does this mean we don’t care about war or larger global issues? Not at all. Those things should affect us deeply. The loss of life is heartbreaking and tragic. And lives will be lost. That should absolutely weigh on our hearts. But we cannot allow ourselves to drown under the weight of the entire world’s problems. God, and only God, has the capacity to carry the sins of the world on His shoulders. We are not Him. In fact, at its core, believing we can or need to fix everything can become somewhat egotistical. Scripture reminds us clearly of the limits of our role: “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 God calls us to be faithful where we are, with what we have, among the people He has placed around us. When we focus there, on what is important, immediate, and doable, we can actually begin to change the world around us. And sometimes, that’s exactly how God changes the world.
Grace and Truth… which one actually matters more? I think this question might be at the root of a lot of the tension and disunity we’re seeing among Christians right now—especially in how we respond to the culture around us. And I think some of it comes down to misunderstanding how grace and truth are supposed to work together. Hear me out. All throughout Scripture, we see two big themes in how God interacts with people: grace and truth. Even in the garden, this shows up. It was pure grace that God created us in His image and wanted a relationship with us. But there was also truth—His law. And when that law was broken, separation followed. Grace and truth, together. When Jesus shows up, He doesn’t throw out the law. He fulfills it. He teaches Scripture with wisdom that leaves people stunned. And yet… He eats with sinners. He walks patiently with imperfect disciples. He washes the feet of the man who would betray Him. That tension is everywhere. Grace and truth. Fast forward to today, and it feels like we keep picking one side or the other. Some people go all in on truth. Call everything out. Shout it down. Cancel it. If culture violates God’s design, it needs to be exposed loudly and publicly. Truth matters, period. Others swing the opposite way. “Just love people.” “Don’t worry about sin.” “Jesus forgives, so none of this really matters.” Grace becomes the whole message. The problem is… both of those miss something important. Truth by itself doesn’t save people who don’t believe. Scripture even warns us about this. Jesus talks about not throwing pearls before pigs—not as an insult, but as a way of saying you can’t expect people who don’t share your worldview to value Scripture the way you do. Why are we surprised when sinners act like sinners? Truth is mainly for the family of God. We hold Christians accountable to live like Christians. When we try to force biblical standards on people who don’t believe, it usually just pushes them further away. But grace without truth isn’t love either. Jesus didn’t come with one or the other. He came full of both. As Craig Groeschel puts it: “Truth without grace leads to hell. Grace without truth doesn’t exist.” If we judge anyone—including ourselves—by the law alone, we’re all done. Romans makes that pretty clear. None of us measure up. Not one. At the same time, agreeing with everything someone does just to keep the peace isn’t loving. If my one-year-old reaches for a hot stove, I don’t say, “Go for it, that’s your truth.” I stop her and tell her the truth—because I love her. So maybe the better question is: what if we started with grace? What if we led with love, patience, and relationship—and then spoke truth inside that relationship? Not as a weapon, but because we actually care. And if someone still chooses a path we believe is harmful, we don’t abandon them. We keep loving them. Because grace saves. Our fight isn’t against people. Scripture says it’s against unseen forces. And yet we often end up hating the very people we’re called to reach—over politics, music, or a halftime show no one will remember in a year. Is that really worth losing the chance to share the gospel? Nothing is worth souls. Jesus told us to go and make disciples, not win arguments. The people who vote differently, live differently, love differently, or believe differently are still God’s children. Yes, truth matters—but grace has to lead. Grace and truth. Not one. Both. So what does this look like in real life? It looks like this: we keep loving them. We keep praying for them. We keep showing up. We keep building the relationship. And we keep gently, faithfully leading them toward Christ—slowly, lovingly, with grace and truth working together. Jesus was perfect—the most right person to ever walk the earth. And yet sinners didn’t run from Him. They flocked to Him. Why? Because He embodied the perfect balance of grace and truth. He didn’t water down truth, and He didn’t weaponize it either. He showed us the mark to aim for. Living that way is hard. It will draw fire from both sides. You’ll be “too soft” for some and “too rigid” for others. But it’s worth it. I’ve had the privilege of walking with people who came from very dark places and watching them find salvation in Jesus Christ—seeing lives saved, changed, healed, and restored. There is nothing like it. And that only happens when we love people long enough, patiently enough, and faithfully enough to walk with them toward truth instead of trying to shout them into it. So I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts. Where do we draw lines? How do we actually live this out day to day? Do you even agree with this? Please be kind to one another. We’re here to talk, learn, and sharpen—not fight.
Passion Family, Over the last few weeks in The Playbook series, we haven’t just been talking about vision — we’ve been talking about formation . About who God is shaping us to be as His people in this season. At Passion Church, we believe the Kingdom of God moves forward through partnership, not pressure. Through people who say, “God, You can count on me.” That’s why we’re stepping into Commitment Sunday and a Month of Partnership together. Below you’ll find links to our website with more information about Commitment Sunday, what it means to partner with Passion Church, how to get involved, and a deeper look at Project OIKOS. Please take time to read through this and follow the links. We are prayerfully inviting our church family to seek what God is calling them to do. Our next steps are significant, and this is where you can begin partnering with us. What does it mean to partner with Passion Church? On Commitment Sunday, we’re inviting our church family to prayerfully step into four commitments — not as boxes to check, but as a way of life: GROW Choosing to go deeper in your walk with Jesus — being rooted in Him, authentic before Him, and intentional about spiritual growth. SERVE Using your gifts to love people well — stepping into compassion, meeting real needs, and helping carry the mission of the church forward. GIVE Living generously — not out of guilt or obligation, but as an act of worship and a reflection of God’s heart in a broken and divided world. ATTEND Showing up consistently — building your life around worship, community, and the work God is doing through this house. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about faithfulness . It’s about alignment. It’s about saying yes to what God is doing here. A Word to Those Already Partnered With Passion Church If you are already partnered with Passion Church, I want to say thank you . Your faithfulness, generosity, and willingness to show up have helped shape this church into what it is today. Because of your commitment, lives are being changed and the Kingdom of God is moving forward through this house. During this season, we’re inviting our existing partners to renew their partnerships —not because anything was lacking, but because God is leading us into a new chapter. Renewal is a way of saying, “God, I’m still in. I’m still aligned. And I’m ready for what You’re doing next.” This season is an opportunity to recommit with fresh faith, fresh vision, and a renewed sense of purpose as we move boldly into the future together. Commitment Sunday & the Month of Partnership Commitment Sunday is the starting point — and our largest moment — where we commit together as a church family. Through this Sunday, it will not only unite us in purpose but also allow leadership, myself, staff members, the advisors, and our external oversight team (Elders) to gauge where we are in the process of launching our new campus, both with volunteers and finances. It launches a full Month of Partnership throughout February, giving everyone the opportunity to take their next step in partnership with Passion Church. Beginning February 1 and continuing through the end of the month : Partnership and commitment forms will be available at the Connection Desk each Sunday Online commitment forms will remain open on our website Upfront gifts for Project OIKOS can be given at any time Long-term giving commitments can be submitted throughout the month While Commitment Sunday is our primary push — the moment we believe God will unite us most powerfully — we also want to create space for those who are traveling, sick, new to Passion Church, or simply need more time to pray. Our prayer is that this month will align our hearts, unify our faith, and allow us to move boldly into our next season together . Learn More About Partnership Here Project OIKOS Out of this posture of partnership, we are stepping into Project OIKOS. OIKOS is a biblical word meaning household, family, and those entrusted to our care. Project OIKOS is about building a spiritual home — a place where people can belong, grow, heal, and encounter Jesus for generations to come. Our overall goal is to raise $285,000 over the next 24 months . As part of that, we are prayerfully asking God to provide $120,000 in upfront gifts by the end of April , leaving $165,000 to be fulfilled through long-term giving commitments over the remaining 24 months. I want to say this clearly and pastorally: Project OIKOS is not about money first. It’s about mission. It’s about stewardship. It’s about obedience. Giving is simply one way we participate in what God is doing — alongside growing, serving, and showing up. Learn More About Project OIKOS Here How to Make a Commitment If you’re able to be with us in person on Commitment Sunday, we would love for you to participate together as a church family. If you can’t be there in person, you can still partner with us. Our Commitment Sunday page on the website will be live starting today, and you’ll be able to submit your commitment online. Additionally, commitment cards will be available at the Connection Desk throughout February for anyone who wants to commit in person after Commitment Sunday. Throughout this series, we’ve been reminded that: God is generous, and He forms generous people The world is divided, and the Church must look different Love becomes visible through sacrifice When God’s people commit together, God moves powerfully So here’s my pastoral invitation to you: Pray. Seek the Lord. Talk as a family. Ask not, “What’s expected?” but “What is God inviting us into?” And whether you are partnering for the first time or renewing your partnership , this Month of Partnership is your opportunity to say yes. We are not trying to build something flashy or glamorous. We are building something faithful. Something rooted. Something that will impact lives for generations. I am honored to walk into this next season with you. With gratitude and excitement, Pastor Josh Passion Church