Yesterday I had the privilege (and fun!) of team-teaching with Ryan at Advance Church. You can watch the sermon above or download it from iTunes.
I had several women request more information about the quotes and books I referenced, so here is a hearty reading list to get you started. Consider purchasing used copies of these, as there are tons available on Amazon.
Nancy Lee Demoss & Carolyn Mahaney
Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother
GirlTalk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood
Shopping for Time: How to Do it All and NOT Be Overwhelmed – This profoundly practical book completely changed the trajectory of my life back in 2008.
Becoming God’s True Woman (also available in Spanish)- This is the book that has the “heart check” test I mentioned in the sermon. It’s also where I pulled this quote from Carolyn:
“God did not send Jesus to this earth to die so that women could get over their self-esteem problem and feel better about themselves. No, He sent his Son to die to rescue us from our sinful, futile quest for physical beauty and to reveal to us the satisfaction that comes from knowing God—whether we are beautiful or not!”
Lies Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free (there’s also a version for young women that’s excellent for ladies in their teens and early twenties) This book contains the quote I used about making the Gospel attractive to the world:
“The outward appearance of the Christian woman is to reflect a heart that is simple, pure, and well-ordered; her clothing and hairstyles should not be distracting or draw attention to herself by being extravagant, extreme, or indecent. In this way, she reflects the true condition of her heart and her relationship with the Lord, and she makes the Gospel attractive to the world.”
The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings – I mentioned that I sometimes only spend 5-10 minutes getting myself centered in God’s word. This is usually what I’m reading on those mornings.
Elisabeth Elliott
“The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God’s idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be.”
Secure in the Everlasting Arms – This is a wonderful book to commit to reading one chapter from every day if you are needing some sturdy guidance in the areas of contentment and remaining joyful in the face of sorrow. I kissed the cover of this book the first time I read it.
Articles
Protecting Kids’ Heart-Deep Identity: A Note to Parents about Instagram
CJ Mahaney on modesty (see the Modesty Series Index in the middle of the page)