How Do You Handle the Bible's Disturbing Passages?

How Do You Handle the Bible's Disturbing Passages?

A few years ago, Pastor Dan Kimball told me about some research he did to ascertain the questions young people were asking about God. He distributed more than 1,500 3x5 index cards and asked people to write their most pressing questions about the Christian faith. The answers were notable primarily for what was not included. Not one asked how they could know the Resurrection was true or how whether God existed. Instead, the questions they gave were all about the “problem passages” in Scripture. Did God really condone genocide? Is the Bible anti-woman? Isn’t the atonement a barbaric idea?

The previous generation saw a flood of resources designed to help Christians give proof that God was real. But this generation doesn’t seem to be asking, “Is God real? Instead they seem to be wondering, “Is God good?” Teaching the Hard Parts of Scripture will help you handle God’s Word in a way that addresses that underlying question. It features tips and principles from seasoned Bible teachers, including Kimball, on how to faithfully teach these passages without needlessly offending people.

Speaking of difficult topics, dealing with pornography and sex addition is a vital one. Our resource on the topic will equip your church to recognize and confront sexual sin.