We've all heard the expression, "The elephant in the room." It's a metaphorical idiom in English for an important or controversial topic that's obvious to everyone, but so delicate that no one wants to address it.

But what happens when elephants come to church? That is, what does the local church do with such hot-button topics as creation vs. evolution, same-sex attraction, racism and sexism, depression, and burial vs. cremation? Often, the answer is: We avoid them.But we shouldn't because the Bible addresses them all. Elephants in the Church explores fourteen such topics from a biblical perspective. Written for pastors and laypersons alike, this study features discussion questions at the end of each chapter and is an engaging, readable, and biblically sound resource for all Christians.

Ken Parker serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Kearney, Mo.