DEFENDING THE FAITH: Apologetics in Women's Ministry by Mary Jo Sharp

ABOUT THE BOOK

Women want answers!

A busy twenty-first century woman who has not taken the time to think through exactly what she believes about God, even why she believes in God, tends to live as a practical atheist. Today's Christian woman needs the transformation that having a reasoned belief in the reality of God's existence can bring, the intellectual confidence that will empower her to speak boldly on faith issues, with love and self-control.

It's not that women need different or special apologetics arguments; they simply need to be encouraged and instructed in the importance of apologetics in their daily lives. Women who are exposed to apologetics find themselves energized and excited about sharing their faith with family, friends, and coworkers.

Popular apologist Mary Jo Sharp issues a personal challenge for sisters in Christ to approach their faith on an intellectual level, along with a compelling call for women's ministries to help women love God with their minds by incorporating apologetics into their programs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Mary Jo Sharp is director of the nonprofit apologetics ministry Confident Christianity, Inc. She holds an MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and is Assistant Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University. Sharp maintains a rigorous speaking schedule throughout the year.

See more about her at http://confidentchristianity.blogspot.com/

MY REVIEW

Proverbs 4:5-9 says,

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her and she will watch over you. The beginning  of wisdom is: Aquire widsom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; she will present you with a crown of beauty (NASB).

Wisdom and understanding are the foundations of apologetics. Without those two important things our growth in our knowledge of God and His wondrous works is greatly stunted. 
 
I was a skeptic for many years and it wasn't until I took some Christian apologetic classes I found reason to stand firm in my faith and was able to convey to those I knew why I am able to stand in my belief.

I believe Mary Jo's book is very timely. She causes the reader to ask searching questions and she points the reader in the right direction to find the answers. Christian apologetics for women is not just necessary but vital in the church and in home. It is generally the mother who nurtures the child until they are of school age, unless she is homeschooling. It isn't enough to tell a child what to believe because that's what mom and dad believe. And unless the woman has a deep understanding of why she believes, she makes a poor witness to her neighbors, coworkers, and even her family. 

This book is one that I will refer to again and again. And I will definitely refer it to my friends and pastors.

This review was made possible by Kregel Publications. They provided me with a free review copy.