Empowered and Equipped

"Jesus commissioned disciples to teach the nations, and women of the church must take his call seriously." Men and women alike are given the spiritual gift of teaching, yet few resources are designed specifically for women who exposit the Scriptures. In Empowered and Equipped, Julia Higgins steers women through the steps needed to faithfully interpret, apply, and teach a passage of Scripture. By examining both the principles and practices of teaching of Bible exposition, Higgins seeks to prepare women in the local church to make and mold disciples.

About the Author :
Julia B. Higgins (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of Ministry to Women and associate dean of Graduate Program Administration at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Julia is co-editor of The Whole Woman: Ministering to Her Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength.

Review :
"Julia Higgins is a dear friend and a much-valued colleague at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is an excellent scholar and superb classroom teacher. She is also a gifted writer as this book clearly demonstrates. If you are looking for a book that will well equip women (and men!) to faithfully interpret and expound the inerrant Word of God, I strongly encourage you to consider this one. It will serve you well." --Daniel Akin, president and professor of preaching and theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary "The sheer breadth and clarity of wisdom distilled in this book is impressive! Not only does Dr. Higgins survey the essential components of biblical interpretation, and trusted methods for expositional teaching, she does so with a Christ-centered hermeneutic. Scripture is clear: women have been given teaching gifts to be used for the edification of the church. Julia helps us understand how to encourage and equip the women in our churches to use those gifts in a way that is faithful to the testimony of Scripture. Julia's contribution to the saints in the pages of this book is both admirable and commendable. This work deserves wide readership and an easily accessible place on any church leader's bookshelf." --Matt Capps, senior pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Apex NC "Empowered and Equipped is a needed resource for developing doctrinally sound Bible teachers in the church. With great clarity and wisdom, Dr. Higgins provides a compelling approach for women desiring theological depth in their teaching. I highly recommend this resource for women preparing to teach the Bible." --Emily Dean, assistant professor of ministry to women, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary "If you are serious about learning to teach the Bible, this is the book you need. Julia Higgins has written the most comprehensive, systematic, and accessible book I've seen on the topic. She steers her readers through each step needed to faithfully interpret, apply, and teach a passage. I will not only use this book as I help others learn to teach, I will return to this book again and again to sharpen my own skills and grow as a teacher of God's Word." --Courtney Doctor, author and coordinator of women's initiatives, The Gospel Coalition "This is the book I've been hoping someone would write--a solid resource for women who want to be equipped to examine, understand, and exposit the Bible faithfully and soundly." --Nancy Guthrie, author and Bible teacher "One of the great needs in the local church is equipping and providing opportunities for women to teach the Bible. In this book, Dr. Julia Higgins provides a theologically rich and practical resource to help address this problem. This book is not just for women who have the spiritual gift of teaching (though these women will certainly gain much from reading this book), because of the commands of the Great Commission we are all responsible for teaching the Bible; therefore, this book will benefit anyone. As one who is committed to see women equipped to be disciples who make disciples, I recommend this book to anyone who wants to participate in God's redemptive work." --Lesley Hildreth, women's discipleship director, The Summit Church "Equipping women to teach God's word is not just a nice, hopeful aspiration. It's a necessity for multiplying disciples and helping women know deeply about the God who reveals Himself through Scripture and His redemptive plan for all people. I'm grateful Dr. Julia Higgins has compiled a resource that should be in every teacher's library. With this book, women will be challenged and encouraged to make scripture come alive and transformational to those they teach." --Kelly King, manager of magazines/devotional publishing and women's ministry training, Lifeway Christian Resources "For anyone who wants to be equipped to teach the Bible, look no further than Empowered and Equipped: Bible Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures by Julia Higgins. This book is a well-organized, insightful, practical, and beneficial guide for teaching God's word with accuracy, clarity, and insight. I highly recommend this excellent resource!" --Melissa Kruger, author and director of women's initiatives, The Gospel Coalition "For years, many of us in the evangelical community have towed the line regarding the biblical guidelines for women to teach Scripture to other women and children, but not to men. Yet, simultaneous with this rigorous restriction has been our massive failure to provide opportunities and resources for God-called and Spirit-gifted women to carry out their task. My friend and co-laborer, Julia Higgins, has responded to the void. Empowered and Equipped not only celebrates the call and responsibility of female Bible teachers, but it also prepares them to do it. And Julia's commitment to solid biblical exposition further strengthens this book to be a critical tool for mentors, disciple-makers, churches, and ministry training schools to mobilize a generation of female expository teachers." --Jim Shaddix, professor of expository preaching, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary "Empowered and Equipped is a valuable resource for any woman who finds herself teaching in the church. As women answer the call to make disciples, they must teach all that God has commanded from 'In the beginning, God' to 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus, ' and everything in between. Julia Higgins has given women not only a much-needed tool for any Bible teacher who longs to rightly handle God's Word, but also an impassioned word of encouragement for women to never stop teaching women, taking them to depths of Scripture that they may know the priceless treasure God has for them. --Terri Stovall, dean of women and professor of women's ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary "Finally, a serious resource for women who want to grow in their gifting as Bible teachers. This book is both scholarly and readable. It is a trustworthy guide for anyone who wants to learn the tasks of faithful interpretation and formational exposition." --Leigh Swanson, executive vice president, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando "Operating within a solidly complementarian framework, Julia Higgins has produced a marvelous tool to furnish women with a strategic grasp of God's Word and an effective method to teach others. Engaging both the heart and the mind, relying on the Word and the Spirit, she expertly guides her readers through the world of the Bible so they can relate it in the contexts in which God has placed them. I commend the trustworthy theology and robust hermeneutic of Empowered and Equipped as a rich resource for the church, with confidence that everyone who reads and applies it will have greater Gospel impact." --Hershael W. York, dean of the school of theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary