Godly Women's Collection (14 vols.)

Avoiding the pitfalls of both radical feminism and reactionary conservatism, Sarah Sumner traces a new path through the issues – biblical, theological, psychological and practical – that arise between complementarians and egalitarians on the topic of women and the Church. Arguing that men and women are both equal and distinct, Sumner encourages us to find ways to honor and benefit from the leadership gifts of both. Men and Women in the Church is a book for all who want a fresh and hope-filled look at a persistent problem.

Evangelicals stand divided in their view of women in the church. On one side stand complementarians, arguing the full worth of women but assigning them to differing roles. On the other side stand egalitarians, arguing that the full worth of women demands their equal treatment and access to leadership roles. Is there a way to mend the breach and build consensus? This easily accessible volume looks beneath the surface at how complementarians and egalitarians talk past one another, and offers a hope for the parties on either side of the divide.

Interview with Sarah Sumner

IVP: Briefly describe the purpose of Men and Women in the Church.

Sarah Sumner: Part of the answer is this--the purpose of the book is to address people such as myself who need daily to repent from selfish ambition. My own biases, for instance, have been very self-serving. My sins of dressing immodestly have been problematic too. But God has forgiven me and helped me to make wiser decisions. To be perfectly frank, I wrote the book because I felt called by God to write it. Or rather, I felt hemmed in by God. Almost every signal in my world told me to write this book. And now, the glorious outcome is that God changed me in the process of writing this book. He changed me for the better. I am praying He will change my readers too.

IVP: What is your hope for the readers of Men and Women in the Church?

Sumner: My hope is that each reader will catch a vision. That each one will be inspired by the idea of making it a top priority to obey the commandments of God. I can't wait to hear someone say, "I get it! I see what you're talking about! I want to repent from my worldly view of manhood and womanhood. And I want to repent from my sins of partiality. I want to be the kind of husband who trusts God enough to exalt my wife as the Father exalts the Son. Or I want to be the kind of wife who respects my husband and submits to him in everything. I want to be the kind of person who celebrates the dignity of men and women. I don't want to miss out on God's plan. I don't want to be stuck in sexual sin, and finally, I think it's possible for me not to be. I don't want be caged in a prison of fear, and finally, I see that I don't have to be." On and on I could go. My hope is that my readers will choose to become long-term doers of the Word (James 1:22).

This outstanding collection of essays, presented at the 2005 Wheaton Theology Conference, explores the current issue of women in ministry from biblical, theological and ecclesiological perspectives. Bringing to bear the ministerial and sociological insights on the issue, this impressive integrative work aims to break through the current impasse between complementarians and egalitarians. These essays point the way forward for women and men in ministry in our churches.

This biographical dictionary, the first of its kind, is exhaustive, with nearly a thousand entries drawn from the first century to the present. It discusses women from all denominatons and backgrounds, including those who influenced the church positively and negatively and played a role in the development of Christianity throughout history. The arrangement is alphabetical, extending from Barbe Acarie to Anna Reinhard Zwingli. It also includes a chronological index organized by periods in church history. The dictionary is an invaluable resource for libraries, schools, educators, ministers, historians, or anyone else interesting in finding out more about specific influential women.

A Dictionary of Women in Church History provides a seemingly endless list of great people who have been fundamental in helping the church become what it is today.

This resource is arranged in five categories:

• Ancient Church History
• Medieval Church History
• Reformation
• Expansion and Denominationalism
• Revivals, Missions and Further Expansion

The number of people covered in this resource is staggering - it gives biographical synopses of over 70 women in the Reformation period alone! This one of a kind resource will give you hundreds of examples of what it takes to be a woman of God.

We are like Eve. We have all experienced defeats and failures, trouble and turmoil. We have all experienced a selfish heart, a shrewish spirit, anger, envy, and bitterness. And we ache to do things over, to have lives of harmony and peace. Nancy Leigh DeMoss sheds light on how we can be delivered from bondage and set free to walk in God’s grace, forgiveness, and abundant life. This book offers the most effective weapon to counter and overcome Satan’s deceptions—God’s truth.

The twenty-first century has brought a new urgency for Christian women to search for meaningful relationships where they can live out their faith. This is in part due to our increasingly secular lifestyle and the radical changes in marriage and family life that have isolated and discouraged many women. Women Mentoring Women offers the solution to a chronic weakness in churches: the lack of involvement of wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters in vital women’s ministries.

We may look at our full slate of Bible studies and women’s ministry programs and wonder why women who are hurting don’t get involved. What a woman in pain needs is a loving shepherd. Why a shepherd? Because a shepherd responds with compassion and understanding. Bev Hislop believes that an effective women’s ministry should involve women who, under the authority of their church’s leadership, are shepherds at heart. A shepherd skillfully dispenses pastoral care that is timely and appropriate. Most importantly, a woman who is a true shepherd ministers to each woman by leading her to drink—first sips from a teaspoon, then mouthfuls from a cup, the cup of the living water—Jesus Christ. Out of her years of experience ministering to hurting women, Bev offers this book in the hope that, by raising up shepherds equipped to address the issues of a woman’s heart, ministries to women will become more relevant and more vital than ever before.

God's high calling for women in the church is outlined in 1 Timothy 2:9-15. If followed, His plan results in blessing, unity, and glory for God. Dr. MacArthur discusses major aspects of concern for women in the church as outlined by the apostle Paul: their attitude, appearance, testimony, roles, design, and contribution. This is a thorough study on the important and controversial subject of women in the church.

The debate on women’s roles often goes on without a careful look at what the Bible actually says. Mary J. Evans seeks to fill this gap by surveying all the relevant Old and New Testament texts. In her treatment of the Biblical texts, she presents all the major options and deduces a reasonable conclusion, presenting her position clearly but not dogmatically. She also supplies helpful information on the cultural and religious influences affecting the New Testament church. In the light of the biblical evidence she asks us to re-examine our current attitudes and practices. The church today cannot afford to ignore her findings. What is a woman’s place at home, in the church and in society? Are there roles which should or should not be permitted? Woman in the Bible is a comprehensive and fair survey of the Biblical passages that deal significantly with women.

The feminist revolution was suppose to make us feel better about ourselves, bringing us greater fulfillment and freedom. Yet many of us are feeling anything but fulfilled and free. Across generational lines. inside the church and out, we are understanding that we have lost the beauty and wonder of our distinctive makeup and calling as women. We are realizing that what was supposed to lift us up has been tearing down society, churches, and most importantly, our own families.

There is now a new movement spreading its seeds—seeds if hope, humility, obedience, and prayer. It is a call to return to godly womanhood, and it is resonating in the hearts of women everywhere.

Let its truth ring in your own heart through the powerful messages of these seven beloved teachers: Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Susan Hunt, Mary A. Kassian, Carolyn Mahaney, Barbara Hughes, P. Bunny Wilson, and Dorothy Patterson. They approach the subject of womanhood from different angles and teaching styles, but throughout there runs a thread. One that will instill itself in your spirit. A thread of joy and delight with the greatness of God's created order and the part He wants you to play in His grand, redemptive plan.

From the Publisher

Though the modern feminist movement left suffering families and a lost culture in its wake, there is a new movement spreading seeds of hope in the hearts of Christian women everywhere. Nancy Leigh DeMoss has brought together seven respected teachers, including Susan Hunt and Mary A. Kassian--all of whom speak to the hearts of their sisters in Christ with a message about the greatness of God's created order and the part women play in His grand, redemptive plan so that they may re-discover the beauty and wonder of their distinctive calling.

Genuine peace and joy come when women follow God in every area of their lives-and become women after His heart. With warmth and grace, Elizabeth George shares practical, scriptural insights on how you can pursue God's priorities concerning:

• Your husband: Foster a deep commitment to serve and honor him
• Your children: Pray faithfully for them and teach them God's Word
• Your home: Create a nurturing atmosphere and a tapestry of beauty
• Your walk with the Lord: Grow through love of Scripture and in discipleship
• Your ministry: Learn to reach out and become and encourager

Let God fulfill His greatest desire for you. Allow Him to transform you by preparing your heart and mind to embrace His incredible work. You'll find lasting joy and peace in a life of prayer, a life of priorities, a life as A Woman After God's Own Heart.

For a Christian, motherhood is the subtle art of building a house in grace—the wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands (Proverbs 14:1). Each day’s work is significant, for it contributes toward the long-term plan. Each nail helps a house stand in a storm. But motherhood isn’t a simple formula. Building a home—childbirth, education, discipline—requires holy joy and a love of beauty. The mother who fears God does not fear the future.

The fourth gospel presents the reader with an early Christian text in which women and men are treated as “a discipleship of equals.” Specifically, the gospel contains six examples of “gender pairs” of characters (a widely-accepted Lukan feature). The members of each pair are portrayed in a parallel or contrasting faith encounter with the Johannine Jesus that is of substantial theological importance to the gospel’s stated purpose (John 20:31). Through close examination of these pairs, Margaret M. Beirne offers a reading of the Gospel which gives support to the equality of women and men with respect to the nature and value of their discipleship.

How does a woman build her house? Nancy Wilson begins with the table, remembering how each scratch and stain in the wood chronicles a memory—"hours of stories and jokes, questions and concerns (through courtships and pregnancies), prayers and discussions. . ." She continues, each essay full of stories and encouragement—the beauty of imperfection, the comfort of Velveeta, the strengths of mothers- and daughters-in-law, the honesty that is submission, the laughter of reading aloud. As ever, while Nancy draws out our sins and weaknesses and sore spots, she comforts us with the favor of God and rouses us to a joyous faith.

Imagine where the Church would be today if the men in it were respected as they ought to be by their wives. What power would God unleash through godly men who were respected in their homes? This book is a collection of Nancy Wilson’s columns for women from the pages of Credenda/Agenda magazine. Although directed toward wives, this book is a fabulous read for any woman wanting to understand her calling to mirror the Church. In one place now, read practical wisdom on the biblical themes of respect, contentment, homemaking, and lovemaking that have been so helpful to women across the nation.