Book Review: The Gospel Centered Woman by Wendy Alsup

About The Gospel-Center Woman: 

Understanding Biblical Womanhood through the Lens of the Gospel

Many Christian books written to women claim to present God's good instructions for their lives. Some expound on the value of marriage and children. Many extol the virtues of the Proverbs 31 wife. A good number teach the value of love, submission, and respect in Christian marriages. Though this book deals with these topics, The Gospel-Centered Woman addresses women from an entirely different perspective. The most important part of the Bible's instructions to women center around the gospel. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection brought about a seismic shift in our understanding of Scripture. After His resurrection, His disciples understood words written thousands of years before with a clarity they never had previously. The good news of Christ illuminates all other Scripture, including instructions to women. 

   

Meet Wendy:  

  

Wendy Alsup is a wife, mom, and math teacher. She is the author of "Practical Theology for Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives" and "By His Wounds You are Healed: How the Message of Ephesians Transforms a Woman's Identity". 

Find out more about Wendy at 

www.theologyforwomen.org.

MY REVIEW:
When you truly understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you will see Biblical womanhood in a new light. That's what this book is about. The author invites women to look to Jesus as their role model to imitate. Women have need for provision and need for affirmation or approval (among others). All these needs are met in Christ! The author wants to help women redirect their desires and longings they've placed on men or things towards God, instead. God created women to be helpers in the image of God but the fall made women become more like nagging manipulators, trying to take matters into their own hands. It ain't pretty :)! Thankfully, gospel grace comes to the rescue and makes all the difference! Christ's life, death, and resurrection changed everything. Read the book to find out how :)!

This book is divided into 3 sections: Created in God's Image, Redeemed to Reflect God Once More, and Wisdom in the Tension. There are 11 chapters altogether. It covers different topics such as godliness, contentment, forgiveness, justification, and wisdom vs. law. The author expounds on Psalm 73 and Proverbs 31 in the context of the gospel. She encourages readers to wait upon the Lord and endure to the end. Each chapter ends with a page for readers to write down their reflections. At the end of the book, you will find discussion questions for each chapter. It's a gospel-centered, grace-filled book for all God's daughters who want to know how to live their lives through the lens of the gospel and in the light of eternity.

"There is nothing on earth that can replace what only God can provide to sustain our hearts." (p.23)

"The gospel equips you to do battle with sin and suffering with the very same power that raised Christ from the dead. You have a lavish spiritual bank account, and this is an integral piece of the good news of all Christ has accomplished for you." (p.46)

"The grace and mercy God gives us at His throne of grace equips us to evaluate the wicked with compassion rather than envy, burdened for them rather than frustrated by them." ([p.55)

"The gospel makes confession safe so it can be our normal response to sin and conflict." (p.63)

"What God did externally through His Law in the Old Covenant, He now does internally through the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant." (p.94)



~I received a free copy of this book via Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. You can check out other reviews of this book here.