Preaching the Unpreachable: Opening Up the "Difficult" Texts of Scripture

Course Description

Preaching and teaching often gravitate towards a “canon within the canon” consisting of texts we know well and find easy to understand—texts we’re comfortable with. But what do we do with texts that are seldom, if ever, preached or taught? How do we approach them, and what place could they take within our worship and life as a church?

This course will explore a number of these difficult texts. We’ll look at how to understand, interpret, and use them well, whether as individuals seeking understanding or teachers and preachers who want to broaden and deepen their thinking and ministry. Through an exploration of sample texts from Judges, Leviticus, Psalms, and Job, we will consider how powerfully the whole of Scripture can speak to the church today.