Over the years, I have placed asterisks next to numerous portions of the Bible. My guess is that you have too.
While reading the Bible, either devotionally or while preparing for teaching, have the hairs on the back of your neck ever stood up as you tried to figure out why you’re seeing a certain passage there, what it means, and what you’re supposed to do with it as Jesus’ disciple today?
Perhaps you’ve wondered why God would include that phrase, that verse, that paragraph, that story, or even that book or letter in his Holy Word.
Pastors have great latitude when it comes to text selection. The temptation for all preachers is to skip over the verses or passages that cause interpretive or applicational troubles.
Sometimes the biblical author writes a complex paragraph that juxtaposes seemingly contradictory points. Since we don’t know how to reconcile that inconsistency, we choose to skip the passage.
I remember when I was preaching a sermon series through the gospel of Mark titled “Who Is Jesus?” and came across a rather shocking narrative concerning the naked man in Mark 14:51–52.
Giving myself an escape path, I conveniently skipped over the account of Jesus’ arrest that included these two verses. I thought, “This doesn’t have anything to do with who Jesus is, so let’s move on.”
It’s only natural to want to gloss or pass over the uncomfortable or bizarre. It’s troubling, at times, to know how to explain some of the seemingly bizarre things God says, does, and requires of God’s people in both Testaments.
Sometimes the strangeness of scripture emerges in what God permits according to God’s divine sovereignty.
In addition, sometimes it’s hard not to be embarrassed when we read God’s Word. Some of the most uncomfortable texts in the Bible make us squirm in our seats. We often don’t know how to deal with awkward subject matters like nudity, graphic violence, suicide, or politics, to name a few.
Much like in general conversation, there are a few principles to keep in mind when approaching uncomfortable matters in the Bible.
Perhaps a good way to broach the topic is to give your listeners a trigger warning. For instance, “I’m going to be talking today about an awkward story or subject matter from scripture, and it’s ______________.” Giving your listeners a heads-up before diving into the passage enables them to mentally check in and prepare their hearts for what’s coming.
Certain awkward texts can be best introduced with some degree of levity. While we won’t make a mockery of scripture or make fun of God, it can help to acknowledge the elephant in the room with measured humor. “Isn’t it strange that this is in the Bible? It’s actually a bit funny. We can laugh about it together.”
Uncomfortable passages are often invitations into a larger conversation. We’re not going to solve in one sermon or Bible study lesson centuries-long disputes about politics or social norms. However, we can engage in dialogue about views we share or disagree about.
Awkward scripture texts force us to respond in either positive or negative ways. Make your best effort to read the room. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you teach your people what God’s Word has to say to them—even when it comes to uncomfortable things.
Just because we question or wonder about what’s included in scripture doesn’t mean we should avoid preaching and teaching on difficult, perplexing passages. Just the opposite, in fact. I want to embolden you not to shy away from the weirdness or wonder of scripture.
Remember, as Paul instructs in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Hopefully, the next time you read an awkward passage, your first instinct will be to take up the challenge to preach or teach it anyway.
Every iota of God’s Word is significant to the lives of Christians today and worth preaching and teaching.
This blog post is adapted from the coauthored book by Eric J. Bargerhuff and Matthew D. Kim, What’s God Saying Here? How to Navigate Awkward, Troubling, and Bizarre Passages We Would Rather Skip (Zondervan Reflective, published on October 21, 2025). Used by permission.
