If you’re anything like me, reading the Old Testament can be a task filled with moments of intrigue followed by boredom and at worst, moral disturbance.  The Bible contains enthralling human drama and mystifying supernatural occurrences mixed in with long genealogies and disturbing acts committed in God’s name.  The latter seem completely incompatible with Jesus’ teaching causing some people to question why they should bother reading it at all.

This past Sunday at City Church, Old Testament scholar Dr. Peter Enns addressed this question.  He showed how the Old Testament does contain the extraordinary acts of God in history as well as strange episodes that are sometimes difficult to accept.  He shed new light on how these ancient texts still matter today and exert authority in the Christian life, but frees the Christian from having to make a defense for archaic practices.  Ultimately, he demonstrated how Jesus turned the Judaism of his day upside down.

If you’re having trouble reading the Old Testament, listen to this lecture.  Some of your assumptions might be challenged but you’ll also receive answers to difficult questions your friends, neighbors, and coworkers may ask you.