After several clear nudges from the Lord in the spring of 2023, I applied for and was accepted to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary as a distance learning student in May 2023. I’m nearing the finish line on my MA in Ministry to Women.

As one might imagine, I have had the opportunity to read a LOT of books in the past couple of years.

There are several books I’ve read that I would recommend women’s ministry leaders and Bible study leaders add to their personal libraries. You’ll find all of these titles on my Amazon list here.

Please note that inclusion on this list is not a blanket endorsement of every book written by that author. It’s also not support or endorsement of every single sentence in every book. There may be some things you don’t agree with or view differently. I found the books below to be incredibly helpful, and I think you will too.

My Favorite Seminary Books

I’ll be adding additional books to this list as time allows and as I complete my last few classes.

The books are listed in alphabetical order.

10 Women Who Changed the World by Daniel L. Akin

I read this book in my Foundations for Ministry to Women class.

Dr. Akin shares about 10 inspiring female missionaries. As he shares about her life and the work she did, he looks at how each woman embodies a certain passage of Scripture. For example, Betsey Stockton and how she embodies 1 Corinthians 7:17-24.

We only had to read and write about two missionaries if I remember correctly. However, I plan to go back and read the rest of the book when I have time. It was a very interesting book!

While many of the churches we have attended have been active in local and international missions, I have not been exposed to many stories of missionaries or women in history who have made significant impacts on Christianity.

Quotes:

About Eleanor Chesnut: “She dreamed of becoming a medical missionary, but she often questioned whether she was qualified.”

About Betsey Stockton: “Once a slave, now a free woman and missionary candidate. Betsey’s conditions never deterred or stopped her from serving her Savior.”

40 Questions about the Apostle Paul by Miguel Echevarría and Ben Laird, 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible by Robert Plummer, 40 Questions about the Historical Jesus by Marvin Pate

These books were on the syllabi for my New Testament I and II classes.

The books in the 40-question series are helpful resources for the typical church attendee. They aren’t super academic, and they are written in a question-and-answer format.

The questions addressed are common questions people have about the topic/person. The answers are understandable.

Quotes:

Will be added later.

Counseling Women: Biblical Wisdom for Life’s Battles by Kristin Kellen

I had to read this book for my Counseling Women class.

This is a book I recommend every women’s ministry leader purchase. It is a fantastic resource that touches on almost every issue you may face when counseling and encouraging women.

Dr. Kellen helped me to understand that the goal of counseling is discipleship. She shares a six-piece framework for counseling: love, listen, learn, labor alongside, lead, and leverage the local church.

Dr. Kellen addresses common struggles women face including depression, anxiety, infertility, trauma, abuse, disordered eating, same sex attraction, and more. Every chapter includes definitions, growth assignments and ends with a recommended resource list for that chapter’s topic.

You will want to pull this book from your bookshelf when you encounter difficult counseling situations.

Quotes:

“Every woman’s greatest need, regardless of the counseling issue at hand, is redemption in Christ.”

“We build a method of counseling from the Bible, and for any information that is not directly given, we can use principles from the Word to filter what might be useful.”

Discipleshift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples by Jim Putman

I read this book for my Personal Discipleship and Disciplemaking class.

I’ll be adding more notes about this book once I locate it in our office.

Empowered and Equipped: Bible Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures by Julia B. Higgins

I read this book for Bible Exposition for Ministry to Women I.

When leaders ask for resources on teaching the Bible, this is one of the books I share. It is more of an academic text. Some may find it a bit challenging to read, but encourage them to push through. They’ll find the content extremely helpful.

Rightly handling and teaching the Word of God carries a heavy weight and it requires proper preparation.

This is a book you’ll want to purchase for every woman in your church who speaks and teaches. Dr. Higgins walks women through the steps of rightly interpreting, applying, and teaching a passage of scripture.

As a seasoned speaker who uses inductive-Bible study in my preparation, this book confirmed my preparation practices, but also provided additional tips that will help me better communicate the truths of Scripture.

Quotes:

“Once a student has considered personal application, she should then contemplate how the text might apply for those she intends to teach. Thus, the Bible teacher must consider how a specific text might be used by the Holy Spirit to bring about sanctification in the life of believers.”

“Those who do not know how to exegete a text may fall into a practice of reading meaning into the text, otherwise known as eisegesis.”

“The teaching idea must always stem from the exegetical idea of the passage, so that the teaching idea is located in the truth or argument that the biblical author sought to convey.”

From the Study to the Pulpit: An 8-Step Method for Preaching and Teaching the Old Testament by Allan Moseley

I read this book for my Old Testament I class. It pairs nicely with the book above.

The purpose of the book is to help the reader teach (and preach) the Old Testament more faithfully and effectively.

Dr. Moseley specifically focuses on teaching the Old Testament scriptures, but much of the information he shares is applicable to teaching any Bible passage. Despite the title, it is a helpful resource for Bible teachers and speakers.

This book is also rather academic, however, Dr. Moseley’s style of writing and explanations will help the reader through the more challenging parts.

Quotes:

“…we who teach and preach God’s Word should ask for God’s help throughout every step of preparation.”

“If we want to teach his Word like he spoke it, then we will have to hear it like he spoke it.”

“A common mistake Bible students make is attempting to read facts into a story that are not in the text.”

Knowing God by J. I. Packer

I read this book for my Theology I class.

This book is a Christian classic that I’ve wanted to read it for some time.

Due to a busy schedule, I needed to listen to some of the chapters on audiobook. I really want to go back and read it again and take the time to digest it slowly. It’s a rich book and would be great for a book club selection.

Quotes:

To be added later.

Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out: Evangelism the Way You Were Born to Do It by D. Scott Hildreth and Steven A. McKinion

I read this book for my Introduction to Great Commission Studies class.

This book has been on my to-read list for some time, so I was quite excited that I “had” to read it for one of my classes. I had the blessing to have both teachers as my professors.

This is not an academic book – it’s for anyone and everyone who wants to share Jesus with others. If you’re even a tiny bit intimidated by the idea of sharing your faith, this book is for you!

It’s a fairly quick and easy read that’s packed with practical tips and resources – don’t miss the extra material in the back, including an 8-week challenge and the group discussion questions.

This would be a great book to read as a team, but also to use as a book study. I had to read it in two weeks, but it would be an easy 8-week study and a manageable 4-week study.

Quotes:

“Our goal is simply to show you what evangelism looks like when it’s part of your ordinary, everyday conversations. We want to demystify sharing Jesus until it’s as natural to you as working your job, practicing a favorite hobby, or engaging in any other kind of daily activity.”

“We can’t control whether they receive the gospel message, but we can control whether or not they hear it.”

“Successful evangelism happens when we help the other person take at least one step closer to trusting Christ as Savior.”

Side note: Be sure to grab the second edition of this book, not the first.

The Character of Leadership: Nine Qualities that Define Great Leaders by Jeff Iorg

I read this book for Current Trends in Ministry to Women.

Dr. Iorg was one of the keynote speakers at a conference we had to attend for the class. I’d heard Dr. Iorg speak several years ago and found it to be very likable and accessible.

This book reminded me why I am so passionate about women’s ministry. It encouraged me to do a better job of leading with love. I believe it will encourage you and your team members to be better leaders.

This would be an excellent book for your women’s ministry team to read together. There are 11 chapters, including one for each of the nine qualities of leaders. You could read and discuss one chapter each month at your monthly women’s ministry team meeting.

Quotes:

“One of the hardest lessons to learn is some opportunities should be declined.”

“God is committed to shaping you into the image of Jesus. He uses his Word to set the standard and allows circumstances to turn up the heat.”

“There is a significant difference between excitement and compassion. Excitement, like most feelings, ebbs and flows. But passion is deeper than a feeling. Passion is a sustaining force God ignites for ministry.”

The Story Retold. A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament by G.K. Geale and Benjamin L. Gladd

I read this book for my New Testament II class.

The authors weave the Old Testament into their commentary on the New Testament. The emphasis on the story of the Bible makes this commentary unique.

The authors include the purpose, an outline, biblical-theological themes, and a detailed explanation of each book of the New Testament. Photographs sprinkled throughout the book provide additional context and understanding.

Side notes: This book was already in my library. I bought it based on Nancy Guthrie’s recommendation at her Biblical Theology Workshop. I am not a fan of N. T. Wright, and they pull from some of his writings occasionally. However, I still find the book a great resource in my library.

I’ve used this book as another commentary source when I’ve been preparing to teach or speak.

Quotes:

“Throughout the Old Testament, false teaching threatens the health of the covenant community, and with the coming of Christ, false teaching intensifies.”

“Only two options exist for the Galatian Gentiles – obey the Mosaic law or embrace Christ. There is no middle road.”

The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament

I read this book for Old Testament I, and I suspect it will also be on my reading list for Old Testament II.

This book provides some great background information on the Old Testament. The authors provide information about the composition, style, structure, and content of each Old Testament book. The information will lead you to a better understanding of the text. I would suggest reading it alongside a commentary as you study or prepare to teach.

I won’t sugarcoat it; this book is quite academic, and it’s thick, but the chapters on each book are not really that long. This is a good book for those who like to dig deep and understand the history of the canonicity of the Old Testament.

Quotes:

“Yet, if the modern reader is to understand the message of the Old Testament correctly, he must learn as much as possible about the archeology, culture, geography, history, languages, and ideology of the ancient Near East.”

“God Himself directed the writers as they incorporated material from revelation, written records, or oral tradition.”

“The sacrificial system and worship at the tabernacle would give the world a glimpse of the potential of enjoying an intimate relationship with the God of the universe and the hope of receiving an eternal resolution to their sin problem.”

You’ll find all of these titles on my Amazon list here.