Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together

 "Woman to woman.

Older to younger.

Day to day.

Life to life.

This is God's good and beautiful plan."

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth today released her newest book entitled Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together. This wonderful and insightful volume is centered on the mandate found in Titus 2 for older women to train younger women as they live out the gospel, and provides a comprehensive analysis of these verses and very practical applications of them.  I found the book to be encouraging, convicting, thought-provoking, and inspiring, and I highly recommend it to any woman aspiring to live in such a way as to "adorn" the gospel of Christ. 

Throughout the volume, Nancy encourages both older and younger women to be intentional not only in pursuing, grasping, and treasuring the sound doctrine of God's Word, but also in allowing their lives to intersect.  She states "The Biblical model of older women living out the gospel and training younger women to do the same is vital for all of us to thrive."  

Nancy reassures older women that perfection is not a requirement: "what you have gleaned of God's nature and ways throughout the course of your life, however inadequate you may feel, is worth passing on to others, particularly to those following behind you...The soundness of your faith is based on the soundness of the One in who you've placed it, not on your perfect record in walking out that faith."

The book is divided into three main sections: Part I is entitled 'A Woman Under God," and addresses the need to have an accurate understanding of who God is--sound doctrine--as well as the need for women to help one another.  Part II is entitled "A Woman Under Control," and addresses the importance of women, young and old, living in such a way as to show reverence for God and His purposes.  Part III is entitled "A Woman Under Her Roof," and addresses the joy and fulfillment of women living out the beauty of the gospel in their homes.  

It would be easy to assume that a book like this is only for women who fit some sort of man-made stereotype, perhaps they are happily married, or stay-at-home moms, or seem to have it all together.  But truly this book is for every woman--young or old, married, single, or divorced, homemaker, breadwinner, or retiree.  It is not trite, but speaks in real terms about real life.  Nancy's thorough treatment of the text of Titus 2:1-5, 10 and her compelling and practical applications in areas such as purity, self-control, homemaking, and marriage, are powerful and encouraging.