Take this quiz at the beginning of a
Part 1: What Do You Think of Jesus?
Please answer each question with a “yes” (Y) or “no” (N).
- Does his mood often go up and down? Y N
- Is he a talkative person? Y N
- Would being in debt worry him? Y N
- Is he rather lively? Y N
- Was he ever greedy by helping himself to more than his share of anything? Y N
- Would he take drugs that may have strange or dangerous effects? Y N
- Has he ever blamed someone for doing something he knew was really his fault? Y N
- Does he prefer to go his own way rather than act by the rules? Y N
- Does he often feel “fed-up”? Y N
- Has he ever taken anything (even a pin or button) that belonged to someone else? Y N
- Would he call himself a nervous person? Y N
- Does he think marriage is old-fashioned and should be done away with? Y N
- Can he easily get some life into a rather dull party? Y N
- Is he a worrier? Y N
- Does he tend to keep in the background on social occasions? Y N
- Does it worry him if he knows there are mistakes in his work? Y N
- Has he ever cheated at a game? Y N
- Does he suffer from “nerves”? Y N
- Has he ever taken advantage of someone? Y N
- Is he mostly quiet when he is with other people? Y N
- Does he often feel lonely? Y N
- Does he think it is better to follow society’s rules than go his own way? Y N
- Do other people think of him as being very lively? Y N
- Does he always practice what he preaches? Y N
Part 2: What Do You Think About Yourself?
Do not look at your answers to questions 1-24.
- Does your mood often go up and down? Y N
- Are you a talkative person? Y N
- Would being in debt worry you? Y N
- Are you rather lively? Y N
- Were you ever greedy by helping yourself to more than your share of anything? Y N
- Would you take drugs which may have strange or dangerous effects? Y N
- Have you ever blamed someone for doing something you knew was really your fault? Y N
- Do you prefer to go your own way rather than act by the rules? Y N
- Do you often feel “fed-up”? Y N
- Have you ever taken anything (even a pin or button) that belonged to someone else? Y N
- Would you call yourself a nervous person? Y N
- Do you think marriage is old-fashioned and should be done away with? Y N
- Can you easily get some life into a rather dull party? Y N
- Are you a worrier? Y N
- Do you tend to keep in the background on social occasions? Y N
- Does it worry you if you know there are mistakes in your work? Y N
- Have you ever cheated at a game? Y N
- Do you suffer from “nerves”? Y N
- Have you ever taken advantage of someone? Y N
- Are you mostly quiet when you are with other people? Y N
- Do you often feel lonely? Y N
- Do you think it is better to follow society’s rules than go your own way? Y N
- Do other people think of you as being very lively? Y N
- Do you always practice what you preach? Y N
— by Scot McKnight, adapted from his book The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible.
Download this assessment for your small group. (PDF)
How to Use This Book
The Blue Parakeet is an accessible and even exciting read that will enhance Bible engagement in your small groups or Bible studies.
The premise of The Blue Parakeet is that many Christians—conservatives and liberals alike—are tempted to “tame” the Bible. We’re prone to focus on the parts we like, and ignore the parts we don’t like—especially the messy parts. The Blue Parakeet shows you a new and constructive way forward.
Your group members will begin to see the Bible in a new light: not just as a text to puzzle over, but as a Story that we’re summoned to enter and to carry forward in our day.
The Blue Parakeet will help you stop taming the Bible and let it speak anew for a new generation.