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Practical Theology for Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives (Re: Lit Books)

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Wendy Alsup, says the blurb, "enjoys teaching theology to women." That's what she's done at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, and that's what she does in this book.

The title calls this practical theology, but the term is not used in a way that sets practical theology apart as a specific type of theology. The point Wendy Alsup is making by using this term is that the study of theology, defined as "the study of God and deep religious truth," affects our lives in a very practical way. Theology, she says, "is the root, foundation, and framework for practical living...." She is using the term, I think, in order to appeal to those who believe that theology is something for the intellectuals or the super-spirituals in the church, but not something useful for the average Joe or--considering the intended audience for this book--Jane Christian.

But why have a theology book aimed specifically at women? Because most theology books are written by men for readers who are predominately men. By writing a theology book intended for women, Alsup hopes to "fight the unspoken mentality that theology is for men, while parenting, sewing, or dieting classes are for women."

Essentially, this is a very basic, entry level book of doctrine. It is more elementary than any entry level theology book I've seen. It's shorter, too, at 150 pages, and written in a more conversational style. I'd judge it to be geared for the lay person with no previous interest in theology.

There are three main sections in Practical Theology for Women: What Is Theology?, Who Is Our God?, and Communicating with Our God. The first section discusses the meaning of theology and faith and how they are related. The second section, which I think of as the heart of the book, looks at the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives. God is our Father, the sovereign, compassionate, wise one who disciplines us, the Son is our Saviour, our example, our bridegroom, the one with whom we are intimately united, and the Spirit is our helper and sanctifier. The third section examines communication with God--our communication with him through prayer and his communication with us through his word.

The teaching is straight and true. The choice of content, for a book intended for beginners in theology, is exactly right. Considering the target audience, the conversational tone and organization is best, too.

If you read Charnock or Edwards, like some women I know, you'll probably find this book too basic for you. Likewise, I suppose, if you've had a college level course in systematic theology or doctrine and paid any attention. But for the majority of Christian women I know, this book would be perfect. Wendy Alsup does an excellent job of making the deeper things of God easy to understand for someone who has absolutely no background in theology. The best use for Practical Theology for Women, as I see it, would be in a group study for women, where women can use it to spur each other on in the study of who God is and what he does.

If you are wondering whether "Practical Theology for Women," is a euphemism for dumbed-down theology or pop-psychology, let me assure you it is not. To the contrary, the major theme of this book is that seeking to know the "deep things of God" from Scripture empowers Christian women in daily living- from the mundane to the events that shake our world. Throughout the book, Alsup quotes robust sections of Scripture to draw out themes such as God's love for us, the role of trials in giving us greater glimpses into God's glory, and the role of discipline in conforming us to the image of Christ. Laying a sturdy foundation from Scripture, Alsup highlights key truths about who God is: 1) as the Father who lovingly adopted us into His family and who desires for us to come to Him with all our needs; 2) as the Brother who sacrificially gave His life for ours, bought our freedom and access to the Father, and who demonstrates by example how we ought to live; and 3) as the Spirit who is our counselor, comforter, sanctifier, and the guarantee of the redemption that awaits us. Humbly using examples from her own life, Alsup goes on to challenge women to examine whether our responses in daily life reflect what we know to be true of God in Scripture. She asks:
What enables one man to face open-heart surgery with calm assurance, while another man is devastated because his car transmission needs to be overhauled? What force drives one woman to near hysterics as she contemplates flying in a plane, while another woman seeks to encourage her family even as she shares the news that she has breast cancer? p. 30
Her answer to these questions is biblical faith- knowing the God of the Bible, trusting Him, and subsequently living like we do. As Alsup reminds us, our God is sovereign, wise, and compassionate, and believing this by faith impacts our daily lives. Alsup's book exposes how our unbelief is often revealed in our common responses to trials by the way we manipulate our circumstances or sink into despair. Rather than settling for this way of living, Alsup urges women to "stop," "get off of the emotional roller coaster," and take our thoughts captive to make them obedient to Christ. She then takes us by the hand and walks us through the ways we do this by accessing God and the exceedingly great power that is available to us through the Word and through prayer.
The biggest legacy of this small book is its rich reference to Scripture, and the simple, practical, and empowering application of Scripture to the everyday life of women with everyday struggles. It can be read cover to cover in an hour or two, or it can be read chapter by chapter in about 5 to 10 minutes per day. Alsup not only employs helpful illustrations from her own life and the lives of other women, but she offers Biblical and practical tips on how to study the Bible and how to pray.
After reading this book, I am left with this truth that Alsup draws upon throughout the book: God does not leave us as orphans but rather gives us direct access to Him and to the same power that raised Jesus from the grave! As Alsup's book reminds us, this truth means something for us everyday at the breakfast table, in our school, in our workplace, in our cars, at the gym, at the mall, in our churches, and in our neighborhoods. It also means something when we lose our job, when our friends betray us, when we lose a loved one to death, or when we face our own impending death. Alsup's book leaves me convicted, inspired, and empowered as I seek to call on, honor, and image the God of the Bible moment by moment in my life.

When first I heard of Practical Theology for Women I knew I wanted to read it. My only question was, Who is Wendy Alsup? In addition to her responsibilities as a wife and mother to two small boys, she is Deacon of Women's Theology and Training for Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. Those are a few of the roles she fills, but deep down she is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ who desires to see Christian women study theology and allow the truth of God's Word to transform their lives. Instead of living the Christian life with a "desk calendar approach," Alsup challenges women to pursue sound theology.

Practical Theology for Women is organized into three parts: What Is Theology?, Who Is God? and Communicating with Our God. In Part 1, Alsup offers a simple definition of theology and a defense for why she believes women should take seriously the study of God. In Part 2, she discusses God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, His attributes and how He relates to His children. In Part 3, she writes about how we can communicate with Him through prayer and the study of His Word.

Alsup begins with a preface sharing personal stories to demonstrate that "what God teaches about himself in his Word is of utmost importance to the issues of [her] personal daily life." She understands that most women are intimidated by the thought of theological study. Many women, preferring to have a simple "nugget of wisdom" for the day, believe that the deep things of God are reserved for pastors and elders and seminary professors. Not only would Alsup disagree, she would say that a disregard for the deep things of God will ensure a mediocre Christian life. What we believe about God directly influences the way we live. Alsup writes, "Theology is the root, foundation, and framework for practical living that reflects wisdom and understanding." Put simply, theology directly influences faith which directly influences behavior.

Several scriptures convey the truth that the ones who know their God will do great things. Every systematic theology I've ever picked up includes a lengthy chapter or two on God and His attributes, activity, and character. Alsup, though she does not offer systematic details, provides helpful commentary on key scriptures regarding God as our Sovereign, Compassionate, and Wise Father; our Saviour, Example, and Bridegroom; our Help and our Sanctifier. Near the end of each chapter Alsup asks probing questions to help the reader discern whether the truth about God is being lived in her daily life. For example, when considering the believer's relationship with Christ and the Church, Alsup asks, "Do you identify Christ as the head of your body and live like he is the brains of your operation? Does your life reflect the supernatural connection you have to the rest of his body? Are you living in community with your brothers and sisters in his body or in isolation from other believers? Does your relationship with the church show that you believe that you are members of one another, or do you disobey Paul's instructions by living as if you don't need the other members? It is not enough to have a head knowledge of these doctrines. We must examine ourselves daily to see if we live out these teachings. If not, we must take our thoughts captive and make them submit to the truth of God's Word."

Finally, no study of God would be complete without some explanation of His Word and how we are to approach it. Alsup affirms that all of God's Word is sufficient to teach us about ourselves, about Christ, and about Itself. Alsup also offers a few helpful clues for how to study and interpret the Old and New Testaments. These few short chapters served to remind me what a gold mine the Word of God is; treasure awaits those who take the time to dig deeply for truth. It is important to read good books, but Alsup reminds us to always make God's Word the priority.

One of the marks of a gifted teacher is that he or she can take difficult concepts and explain them in such a way that others can understand. Alsup obviously knows what she's writing about, but she must walk a line between writing to demonstrate her mastery of the subject and writing for women who may not have any previous experience with theological study. Alsup does this well. A good teacher will also point students to her sources. Alsup ends several chapters with suggestions for further study, which is what she hopes women will pursue after reading this book. It is appropriate for individual or small group use, from college aged women on up. I am happy to recommend it.

When was the last time you heard a question like one of these: Why does God allow suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do innocent people go hungry? Why do I try to live for God faithfully and feel like my life is still a mess? When people look around today, they see suffering and difficulty. Life is challenging for many people, even good Christian people. Oftentimes when we get saved, we assume that God is going to take care of us and fix our lives. While there are tremendous benefits attached to being a Christian, having a perfect life is not one of them! Christians often find themselves feeling ill-equipped to handle the questions their non-Christian friends pose about the world around them. Even worse, Christians often have many questions themselves about who God is and why He does the things He does. It is easy to become discouraged and to wonder how to live and respond to daily life issues and pressures.

There is a simple explanation for this difficulty found in churches today. Many Christians have very little understanding of basic theology. They may read their Bibles and know many of its stories, but when it comes to explaining God's character or basic ideas surrounding how and why God saves people and works in the ways He does, many Christians come up short. They find they really don't have answers to many of the questions they struggle with, and they feel inadequate as they try to respond to life in general. Unfortunately, many Christians avoid the very study that would help them most, and that is theology.

Many Christians operate under the assumption that theology is for pastors, seminary students and professors. They assume that theology is merely an intellectual pursuit with no practical application in everyday life. This is a tragic mistake and has, in some ways, led to the confusion modern Christians experience as well as some of the struggles people face as they try to live out their faith in practical ways.

"Practical Theology for Women" by Wendy Horger Alsup is a good answer to this problem. This book is written for the layperson, particularly women. While theology is not different for women than it is for men, this book is written by a woman and is addressed specifically to women. It avoids most theological terms and complexities, focuses on helping the reader see how a grasp of basic theology helps make sense of life and leads to more consistent Christian living.

Part one of the book defines theology and explains why all Christians should study it. Alsup explains what faith is and argues that proper faith is practical and affects how we live. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

Part two looks at the character of God and highlights a few of His attributes. The author touches on aspects of our Father's discipline and the place of suffering in life. She also addresses salvation and our position in Christ. A particularly helpful part of this section is the chapters on the Holy Spirit--in my experience the most misunderstood Person of the Trinity in evangelical circles.

Part three challenges the reader to know God intimately through the means He has provided. There is a chapter on prayer, and two chapters on understanding how to read different parts of the Bible and how Scripture is unified in one whole book. The author also gives some practical suggestions for daily devotions.

The entire thrust of the book is living out your faith based on what you know to be true of God. To that end, Alsup encourages her readers to make the pursuit of God their life-long passion. No one is ever finished learning about God. She points her readers to Scripture and prayer as the primary means for accomplishing this. She also provides a few resource suggestions at the end of two of the chapters. Because this book is a very basic overview of theology, curious readers will find their appetite whetted and will want to do some further reading. Because of this, it may have been helpful for the author to provide a more extensive list of recommended resources for readers at the end of the book. Many Christians do want to learn more, but have no idea which authors to trust or how to select a sound theology book.

Overall, I think this book provides an excellent, user-friendly introduction to theology. Many Christians could profit very much by reading it. I also think it would serve as a wonderful text for a women's Bible study. I would encourage all women to read it, even those who may have some theological training. You will find yourself encouraged and challenged as we address making faith practical and living it out consistently in our lives.

Wendy Alsup's heart is to share solid theology and biblical commentary with women. This book reminded me of the book John Stott wrote about the basics of the Christian faith that pastors often quote.

This book covers the basics of theology, "which is the study of the nature of God". p. 23
In part one, Ms. Alsup talks about what faith is, and what it means to walk in faith. Then, she talks about who God is, which includes who Jesus and the Holy Spirit are. In the third part, she addresses how we communicate with God and what the Word is.

She covers the basics well. I was impressed that this is a book that is perfectly suited for a mentor to go through with a new Christian. Reading this book would remind older believers of what they know and help new Christian women understand what the Bible says and who God is. It would also be a good book for a Bible study which includes young Christians as well as women who have known the Lord for a long time, because younger believers wouldn't feel at a loss not understanding many of the words Christians use.

Here is an example of something that I thought was very well put in the chapter about the Holy Spirit:
"If a ministry talks more about the Holy Spirit than it does about Christ, it is probably not controlled by the Spirit of God. The Spirit is all about Christ rather than himself. The best way to figure out if a ministry is controlled by the Holy Spirit is to evaluate the clarity of its teaching and worship of Christ." p. 109

I have often longed for a book that I could recommend to new believers that wasn't fluffy or unbiblical. Too many books today are thinly veiled self help psychology books with a few encouraging Bible verses in them. I have also found many books that are simply unbiblical in what they say and take verses out of context.

I highly recommend this book if it sounds like what you are looking for.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Crossway Books.

So many women I talk to feel stressed about their life. They don't know how to think about hurt, loneliness, fears and pressure. And the scariest of all is the overarching unsettling unknown called their future. Something powerful I've learned in my own life is that amidst all that is unknown, God can be known. And not just intellectual facts gathered about him, but in a deeply personal way. The living God knows me and cares for me. This is when "theology" (the study of God) is no longer a boring concept but something I crave everyday in my life because knowing him is the difference.

There are some great theology books out there but they are often written off because they are old and use big words and seem like textbooks for pastors. But this book, Practical Theology for Women is not like that at all. I am confident that even though it is only 152 pages it does not compromise on the quality of content in studying who God is. But at the same time, it is not so wordy and lofty that even a high school girl could not get totally into it!

"God is, and his existence alone puts the rest of life in perspective."

When I sat down to read this book for the first time I didn't necessarily feel far away from God but I knew I needed to deepen my understanding of him. But I had no idea how much this book was going to move me! The author writes:

"It is my deepest conviction that what God teaches about himself in his Word is of utmost importance to the issues of my personal daily life."

And that is exactly what this book is about. In each chapter she describes and explains qualities of who God is, taking us through the Bible to see what God has told us about himself. She then connects the dots from that big concept of our mighty God to the everyday situation you and I face and get frustrated about. The way she does this compelled me personally to put off sin in my life that I realized in reading this book was a result of misunderstanding or forgetting who God really is.

The more I understand how God does things and why he does them, the more ready I am to live all out for him! Some chapters in this book were so good; I seriously only read a paragraph a day because I had to chew on it. I couldn't just keep turning pages because some things she would point out really were important and I had not always treated them that way. Things like:

* How faith really works..."To say we have faith in him while living a life characterized by anxiety and worry is to deny him by our actions, if not our words."

* How God is sovereign, compassionate and wise and how those all still makes sense even when he must discipline us as his children.

* How to think about our problems in light of who God is..."Many Christians in today's churches seem much more convinced of the reality of their problems than the reality of their God."

* How intense it is that Jesus left heaven, took on a human body, to take the punishment for our sin and how there is no love that compares to the beauty of God redeeming us and making us his people ready to do great things for his glory!

* How everything that God has for us to do, he is enabling us to actually do because of the Holy Spirit, our Helper, living in us--amazing!

* How reading the Word and praying continually are not just spiritual disciplines that we should strive for because we know we should. They are our connection to the God of the universe!

You should definitely get yourself a copy of Practical Theology for Women and see for yourself how knowing God will make a huge difference in your everyday life!

This review was originally written in the form of a blog post at tulipgirl.com, and therefore is more conversational in tone than simply a review (and the Amazon version lacks the in-text links found in the original).

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Those who have been visiting me here at TulipGirl for any length of time have probably noticed we have a whole category with miscellaneous writings on Theology for Girls. We are great fans of Louis Berkhof, John Calvin, St. Augustine, J. Gresham Machen, and others who have gone before, upon whose shoulders we stand.

Often theology isn't perceived to be a proper girlie pursuit, as if it were too strenuous for our pretty little feminine heads. And yet, we as Believers are called to study, think, discuss, writing, meditate -- all with the purpose of knowing our God and walking with Him intimately.

A couple of weeks ago a friend mentioned the book Practical Theology for Women. She pointed out the cover reminded her of our shared online community, a place where women regularly gather to discuss and work out the practical implications of the Gospel in our family lives.

So when my birthday came around and I splurged (imagine, a pocketful of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders gift cards!), I impulsively bought this book. I probably wouldn't have bought it if the pretty cover didn't give me happy feelings already, and Rebecca has already given it five stars in her review.

Wow. . . that's a lot of background for why I bought a book. . . *L* And to think, I meant this to be a short book review!

.

When I first upacked Practical Theology for Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives from my Amazon box, I was a tad disappointed to be honest. It is such a slim little volume. When buying books new, I feel like I want to really get something substantial. And yet, my that disappointment quickly evaporated as I began to read.

Wendy Alsup has written a brief, accessible, but meaty introduction to theology for girls. She begins by giving a sketch of why she studies and teaches theology to women, along with a glimpse of the struggles in her life and how the Lord has carried her. She gives both a definition of theology and brief apologetic for why women should study theology. In a nutshell, she writes what my heart knows -- the study of God and His attributes compels my heart to worship. Theological pursuits enable me to rest in the Lord.

The chapters are short, perfect in length for daily devotionals. Alsup is free with referencing Scripture, not just giving chapter and verse, but also quoting at length the relevant passages. Several things spoke to my soul within the first few chapters. (Oh, how I need to remember, refocus, and abide in the Lord!) But it also brought to mind some things Hubby's mom is walking through right now, and I wanted to share this book with her before she leaves town tomorrow. I decided to read the book quickly, in order to give it to her for her trip.

Truthfully, though, this book is better read in bite-sized bits. As a devotional, as a prompt for meditation -- each chapter addresses an attribute of God or the reality of His presence in our lives.

It is a small book. It can be a read quickly. The ideas are simple -- but not simplistic. For those who are newly walking with the Lord or scared by the term "theology," Practical Theology for Women is an excellent foundational Bible study. For those who have been walking with the Lord for years and perhaps are already convinced of the value of theology, this book provides a means for refocusing on the basics of our walk with the Lord.

One of the things I liked best about this book is that it would be so easy to use either in a one-on-one discipleship context, a small group Bible study, or just to pass along to a friend. Already there are several women in my life I know would find it encouraging to their faith.

I've already shared my copy of Practical Theology for Women with my mother-in-law and give it a rating of 5/5.

That said, had I been Alsup's editor, I would have suggested two small changes. First, I would have edited the chapter that focused on "being ruled by emotions" to communicate the value of the emotions God has given us. Secondly, I would have provided a short "For more study" bibliography in the back for those who would like to take the next step in theological study.

Speaking of. . . which Theology for Girls resources would you recommend?

A new book is now available, published by Crossway Books, and is an absolute must read for all women, Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Horger Alsup. It's a small book with a lot of big theology, but nothing a woman (or man) doesn't need to know. One particular matter she addresses I also believe is extremely important for women to grasp. She writes,

...instead of seeing ourselves as connected to Christ at all times, we tend to view our relationship with God in terms of intersecting moments during the day. We think that the more times our lives intersect with God, the more 'spiritual' we are. In this paradigm, God goes on his way and I go my way until we intersect at another corner...Instead, we need to think of ourselves walking with Jesus continually...Christ is in you...holding you together at all times. (p. 96)

I continually meet women who say they agree with the author in this regard, but then they will often speak of their work or family life as something separate from their spiritual life, or they will speak of their devotional life as the spiritual quadrant where they go to find God, neglecting to recognize His presence in every other area of their life.

This is an excellent book for the young or mature woman in Christ. There is nothing about it that says "this book is for girls," so for those who typically avoid pink, frilly devotionals, this book is for you. I recommend moving from this book into more studies in systematic theology, but I affirm the impact this book will have on the thought life of everyone who reads it. It's very suitable for group studies and individual reading.

Practical Theology for Women
Crossway Books, Wheaton, Illinois
ISBN: 1433502097
153 pages

I liked this book and I believe it is helpful to anyone who reads it and it can change your thoughts and your way of living, too.

Concise, and very easy to understand. It's got short chapters, and would be very easy to study with a group or on your own.