Andy Rowell | Church Leadership Conversations

Biblegateway.com - Why every pastor should demonstrate it to their congregation

All pastors should put a blurb about Biblegateway.com in the bulletin or show their congregations on the screen how to use it.  It is a basic 21st century discipleship tool. 

• There should be no excuse why worship leaders cannot find Scripture verses that go with the song they are singing any longer.  They can use Biblegateway. 
• PowerPoint slides should never have typing errors in the Scripture verses.  Just cut and paste from Biblegateway.com
• Bible Study leaders need not use only one version in their preparation.  They can easily paste two versions in a table so that people can compare them.

I have taught my Biblical Literature II and Program and Curriculum Development students how to use Biblegateway.com this week.   

See also my post: The Best Bible Study Tools on the Web

What everyone needs to know about Biblegateway.com. 

1. It is free.  No registration.  No login.  Free.   
2. Go to http://www.biblegateway.com/
3. You can search for a word or a passage on the home page.  In other words, if you put in salvation, it will know to look for that keyword.  If you put in 1 Corinthians 13, it will take you to that chapter of the Bible.  It is smart.   
4. You can also change which version you are searching.  You can also look up a passage in five versions at a time on the Passage Lookup page.  I recommend TNIV, ESV, NLT, The Message (paraphrase), and NIRV (for kids).  See more about Bible Versions at my post The Best Bible Study Tools on the Web.   
5. You can also go to Keyword Search and look up how often words occur.  Yes, this is a basic concordance.   
6. You can also listen to chapters that are read aloud online.  Look up a verse in the TNIV and then click “Listen to this passage” or the icon.  You can listen to it in RealPlayer.  I tell my students to listen to one chapter while getting dressed in the morning.  (Sorry you can’t download it or listen to more than a chapter at a time).   There are a number of audio versions available on the Audio Bible page. 
7. You can change your default bible in Preferences on the home page. 

I have pasted below my handout in class which has page views. 

Download Biblegateway.doc 

Biblical Literature II Textbooks

I have posted below the textbooks I am requiring for BIB 210: Biblical Literature II (New Testament Survey) which starts next Wednesday.  Both this and OT survey "Bib Lit I" are required for all Taylor University students. 

I have 45 students in the course.  I have 30 freshmen, 8 sophomores and 7 juniors.  They represent 17 different majors including accounting, chemistry, economics, engineering, environmental science, sociology, and visual arts.  (Reminds me of a church).  There are 15 different states and three countries represented.

1.     Elwell, Walter A. and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005.   I assigned a different book last semester but I used this one for lecture preparation. What I most appreciate about the book is its scholarly simplifying.  Elwell and Yarbrough weigh issues as they are normally weighed in recent scholarship.  For example, the four-source vs. two-source synoptic gospel hypotheses are not given much time at all.  This is not crucial information for undergraduates nor is there a particularly helpful scholarship consensus to pass on to them.  This was a huge question in the 1960's when source criticism was at its height.  Furthermore this is an incredibly well-organized and well-written work.  It is colorful and has great summaries.    

2.     Fee, Gordon and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3d ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.  Make sure you get the third edition. Though not always crystal clear, this book engages the difficult questions about reading the Bible that trip up the sharpest readers.  Later in life, students who wrestle with this material will be much better Bible study leaders and lay church leaders because they have wrestled with some important hermeneutical issues.  

3.     Bible. If you do not yet have a study Bible, I recommend the Zondervan TNIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.  (It costs $24.99-79.99 on Zondervan.com depending on the size and cover you choose among 9 choices).  The TNIV is the updated version of the 1978-1984 NIV.  It includes a number of improvements based on 25 years of scholarship since the NIV was published. I really think it has made the NIV obsolete though many churches are slow to change.  It is famous or infamous for its inclusive language.  I think they have been responsible and judicious in their use of inclusive language in the TNIV (see here) but there are definitely some conservative evangelicals who beg to differ. I recommend it to my students as an outstanding version to use in their reading through the New Testament during the semester.  In my sermon preparation, besides consulting the original languages, I will consult the ESV, NRSV, NLT, The Message, and HCSB.  See my description of the best Bible study tools on the web and more about Bible versions at my post here. 

Download BIB 210 Syllabus.doc

I've updated my list of the Best Bible Study Tools on the Web

I have updated my post entitled:

The Best Bible Study Tools on the Web

The biggest news is that Biblegateway.com is better than ever.  They now have the TNIV (2005), ESV (2001), NLT (second edition which few know exists, 2004), NASB (the update, 1995), HCSB (2003), The Message (2002), CEV (1995), and the NIrV (which all children's ministry people should be using, 1998).   You can look up five versions of a passage at a time.  Not bad for free. 

I also tell you where to find the NRSV, what commentaries are available on the net for free, where to get photos of the Holy Land, etc.  Check out that post.

How do you preach about helping the poor?

Here is an email from one of my students and my response. 

Hi Andy!

I hope that your summer has been going well and that you are enjoying visiting practicum students! I am doing well here at ________Church in ________, and I actually gave my first ‘sermon" this past Wednesday night.  The thing is, I have to give another sermon this upcoming Wednesday, and I am scrambling to gather information that would be helpful.  I am going to be speaking on the sheep and the goats parable, but not from a view of judgment, but rather, I would like to focus more on the "unto the least of these" aspect of it, to encourage action in the jr. higher’s.  I was wondering if you could refer me to any resources or if you have any notes on the topic that you wouldn’t mind sharing with me?  That would be great! But if not, that’s ok too! Thank you so much!

~Name~

Dear _______,

Great for you preaching!  This is not an easy passage to exegete but it is indeed an inspiring one for us to serve the least of these in our paths.  The good samaritan might be a tad simpler if you want to go that route.  You don't have the judgment to worry about explaining.    

For Preaching Ideas and Illustration Inspiration:

§ Tony Campolo has a heart for serving the poor.  Any of his sermons would probably be inspiring.  They are at his website here.  Maybe start with "Missions: Getting Beyond the Kingdom of Ticky-Tack."  These sermons might give you some inspiration or illustrations.  We will likely meet with him on Capstone.  It is not specifically on Matthew 25.   

§ John Ortberg's sermon on 3/12/06 "The Church on Monday Morning" is also incredible.  It is about the people of the church getting out and making a difference for good in the community.  It is inspiring!  You can find his sermons here.  It is not specifically on Matthew 25. 

§ The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne  is also a great new book by a young person.  We will meet with him on Capstone.

Biblical Study:

§ Here are a list of good commentaries if you have the chance to get to Taylor's library.  Here are some Links to Lists of Good Commentaries  One of the Matthew commentaries by Craig Keener would be great.  He married an African woman and has a deep passion for justice and simplicity.  We will meet with him on Capstone.  Also D.A. Carson's commentary is solid.  He clarifies that it is not that your good works get you into the kingdom of heaven but rather: "The reason for admission to the kingdom in this parable is more evidential than causative."

§ Ron Sider's short book  Scandal Of The Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like The Rest Of The World? (Paperback)
by Ronald J. Sider would also give you some good stats and a good summary of the Bible material about serving the poor.

§ Here is my link to Bible study resources on the net.   

I'm glad you are preaching.  It takes a lot of time and it is easy to get discouraged in the preparation so hang in there! 

I would write out what you want to say in complete sentences so that you can basically read it.  Once you have it how you like it basically, then read it over to yourself 3-4 times outloud.  By the 4th time you will basically have it memorized and you will just need to glance down at it.  Writing it helps you have down exactly what you want to say and reading it a number of times helps you get ready to deliver it clearly.  Once you have studied hard, write strongly and passionately what you think.  This is your strength!  Call me on my cell if you need more help ________

Let you prayer be: "Lord I can't help but want to look good and impress people when I preach.  But more than anything, I want YOU to look good!  Please be glorified in what I say." 

I'm going to post my letter to you (without your name) on my blog.  Maybe someone else will have some good ideas.   

Grace and peace,

andy

Click on the category to the side entitled "Senior Capstone Trip" to find more posts about our January capstone trip to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. 

How to Lead An Impressive Bible Study

I have a friend who is trying to get a pastoral position at a church.  He needs to lead a Bible study with the board of elders for 60 minutes as part of his job interview.  Below is the advice I gave him.   

Dear __________,

This year I have graded hundreds of Bible studies. 

I have seen three problems over and over again.

1. The leader doesn't understand the flow of Life-Bible-Life and does all Bible study questions. 

2. It goes super long and so you are never get to discussing how this relates to life.  Often the leader is a bit afraid of talking about the nitty gritty so this adds to the frequency of the lengthening of the Bible study portion. 

3. No one talks because the leader doesn't ask good open questions. 

For the flow of their Bible Study, I encourage my students to use Thomas Groome's Shared Christian Praxis Five Movements from his books Christian Religious Education and Sharing Faith. 

Here's my free-wheeling description of it. 

I hope it gives you some ideas as to the structure of your time.

1. 5 minutes. Easy activity - quote, news story, movie clip, personal story, survey, etc about the topic.  Then gently ask them for what they think about the topic "off the top of their heads."  Or better yet, ask what other people typically think about the topic.  Let this be fairly light.  Ease them into it.  E.g. "What do your coworkers think about spirituality?  What are some of the spiritual movies of the last few years?  (Sixth Sense, Chronicles of Narnia, The Passion, The Village, Da Vinci Code, Superman Returns).  Why do people say they are spiritual?"  Or, "What superheros do you remember growing up?  Have you enjoyed any of the movies about superheros (X Men, Superman, Spiderman, Batman, etc.).  What is the appeal of those movies? (the triumph of good over evil; interesting talents)"   

2. 5 minutes. Engage a little of discussion about the importance of the issue.  What are the consequences if people think that about this topic?  What if everybody did that?   Why do people typically have that view of the subject?  Where do you think those ideas come from?  E.g. "How do children learn about spirituality?  What happens if children get confused views of spirituality? (Columbine? Confused by predators on the internet?)  What efforts do public schools do at teaching ethics and values? (No drunk driving, no cheating, etc.)"

3. 15 minutes. What does the Scripture say about this topic? Your four sentence background summary.  Then read the text - ask for volunteer(s).  Have three people read if you think there are three main sections of the passage.  Give people a copy of the text to mark up (NRSV, NIV, ESV, TNIV).  It will typically take people some time to get a handle on the passage so you want to faciliate them diving in and discovering it.  Have people pair up and share.  Ask, what are you think are the most important words? Or what do you think is the most important sentence?  Open questions are especially good.  Paraphrase your favorite sentence.  What questions do you have?  It is much easier for most people to share with a partner rather than the whole group and it facilitates them getting into the Scriptures themselves.  Then have some people (if they are willing) share with the whole group some of the main insights they had shared with their partner.  Hopefully through these questions you are guiding people to the main point of the passage with maybe a couple of subpoints.  When the light goes on and people get that you want to move on. Your summary statement: What I am hearing is . . . What I was thinking about this earlier, this is how I would summarize it.  Then . . . ok, we have begun to talk about it but let's talk a bit more . . . what does this mean? 

4. 10 minutes. So what?  How does this insights from Scripture relate to what we see on TV?  How does this insight from the Scriptures affect our coworkers?  What might be different about their lives if they knew this?  How might our church be different if we knew this?  What does this text remind you of?  Who in your life could really use this lesson?  If  . . . is what this passage is teaching, what is one thing that this affects in daily life?  Take 60 seconds and draw a picture or symbol of something and share it with your partner.  E.g. At the beginning of our discussion we talked about kids and how they learn ethics and morals in our culture - from TV and superheros and worse.  What does our text have to say about that issue today?  Anything? 

5. 10 minutes.  What is the new thought for you today?  What do you plan on contemplating the rest of this week?  What part might you memorize?  What attitude might this change?  How will you act differently this week?  Give them a small piece of paper with the text for the day, date and room for them to draw or write anything they like.  Give them 2 minutes to think, or draw or pray.  End by saying . . . what are some things that we can pray about . . . anything . . . how can we pray for all of us concerning this . . . what are other side comments have we brought up tonight that we can bring to the Lord in prayer.  Have short prayer. 

45 minutes scheduled.  If you go over a little somewhere that's ok if the discussion is hot.  Aim to end at 4 minutes early (56 minutes total).

I often try to pair down the flow of the whole lesson to about 8 questions and print them out for people and that is for 1 1/2 hours.  You will probably be able to discuss about 6 questions I'd say in an hour. 

I hope that might give you a vision or at least some fresh ideas for the time. 

andy

Update: my friend thinks he did well though he didn't take my advice!  Oh well. 

The Best Bible Study Tools on the Web

Updated August 31, 2006

Here are the Best Bible Study Tools I know about on the web.

English Translations:

BibleGateway.com
BibleGateway.com is the best Bible search site.  It has almost all of the best English translations.  You can look at five versions of a passage at a time.  Here are some of the versions I would recommend checking out.  The descriptions below in quotes are from the publishers of the Bibles. 

• Today's New International Version (TNIV), 2005. "The Today's New International Version (TNIV) is a thoroughly accurate, fully trustworthy Bible text built on the rich heritage of the New International Version (NIV). In fact, this contemporary language version incorporates the continuing work of the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT), the translators of the NIV, since the NIV's last update in 1984."  I really like this translation and would recommend you using it with the ESV.   It is well-known for being more gender-inclusive than the ESV.   
• English Standard Version (ESV), 2001. "It seeks to be transparent to the original text,   letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of   the original."  Very popular in conservative reformed churches. 
• New International Version (NIV), 1984.  The most popular English translation.  It is very popular with evangelicals.  I am hoping that more and more people begin to notice some of these newer translations. 
• New American Standard Bible (NASB), 1995.  "The NASB update continues the NASB's tradition of literal translation of the original Greek and Hebrew without compromise."  It is hard to read but helpful if you want to get word-for-word translation. 
• Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), 2003. "to affirm the authority of the Scriptures as God's inerrant word and to champion its absolutes against social or cultural agendas that would compromise its accuracy."  This is another new solid translation. 
• New Living Translation, second edition, (NLT), 2004. "In the New Living Translation, this is accomplished by translating entire thoughts (rather than just words) into natural, everyday English."  This is another outstanding translation that has been updated since its original 1996 version.  It is more of a paraphrase but done by outstanding scholars. 
• The Message (MSG), 2002. "There is a need in every generation to keep the language of the gospel message current, fresh, and understandable—the way it was for its very first readers. That is what The Message seeks to accomplish for contemporary readers."  This paraphrase by Eugene Peterson reminds us that the Bible didn't originally sound holy and religious but rather earthy and fresh. 
• Contemporary English Version (CEV), 1995. "The text is easily read by grade schoolers, second language readers, and those who prefer the more contemporized form."  These last two translations are superb resources for English as a Second Language and young readers.  Children's Sunday school teachers must start using these two versions!
• New International Reader's Version (NIrV), 1998. "The NIV is easy to understand and very clear. More people read the NIV than any other English Bible. We made the NIrV even easier to read and understand. Sometimes we used shorter words. We explained words that might be hard to understand. We made the sentences shorter."  This should be the first choice for all who work with children or in ESL.

The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), 1989. It is typically used in Presbyterian USA churches among other places.  The NRSV is the one recent version that is not yet on Biblegateway.com but you can find it at:

NRSV

Commentary lists:

Ever wondered which commentaries, you should grab off the library shelf.  Well check out the recommend lists below.   
Gordon-Conwell Bibliography - Christian Resources
Denver Seminary Journal - 60101 - Annotated Old Testament Bibliography
Denver Seminary Journal - 60201 - New Testament Bibliography

I also recommend pointing students to the list at the end of the book of:

Fee, Gordon and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3d ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

This is a much more comprehensive resource:

Glynn, John. Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources. 9th. ed. Kregel Academic & Professional, 2003.  It was reviewed positively in RBL and JETS  A new version is coming out in March 2007. 

Commentaries:
BibleGateway.com Commentaries
IVP NT Commentaries - not bad for free.  Thanks InterVarsity. 

Classic Bible Commentaries (Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Spurgeon)

Plea to commentary writers and publishers:

There are so many outstanding commentaries that are written and published.  I am waiting for some publisher or author to make their commentaries available online for free. It would do a tremendous amount of good to widely circulate solid biblical commentaries.  Too many people use the ancient Matthew Henry Commentary (1811!) because it is the only thing available online for free.   Don't commentary writers want their works to be read and used?  I realize they work like crazy on these things and want some compensation and that commentaries are the best money-makers for publishers . . . but still . . . I will say it again . . . don't they want their works to be read and used?!  What about those of F.F. Bruce for a start?  Gordon Fee and James Dunn, will you put it in your will that all your works be published online for free when you're gone?  Why wait? 

Bible Software:

For the record, I recommend one of the better Bible software packages as opposed to cobbling together free stuff from the internet. The better Bible softward packages include: Logos (what I have which is ok), Accordance (which Rikk Watts and Phil Long - Regent College professors have), BibleWorks, or Gramcord (D.A. Carson president).

Greek
New Testament Greek
Greek New Testament, Read by Marilyn Phemister
Greek-Latin New Testament Audio Readings
http://www.zhubert.com

Photos for Use in PowerPoint
Holy Land Photos
Free for use by professors and students

BiblePlaces.com - Photos of Israel from the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands
Sells Bible Places photos but lets students use the ones on the websites for free.

Audio

See also my list of the very best audio lectures and sermons on the web here.

Favorite Audio Sermons and Lectures

This post was updated on August 30, 2006.

Below I have placed links to lots of free audio of good teachers and speakers on the internet.

See also my list of favorite podcasts for church leaders here. 

30GoodMinutes.org including Frederick Buechner, Richard Foster, Thomas Groome, Calvin Miller, Lewis Smedes, Jim Wallis, Walter Wangerin, Will Willimon, Philip Yancey

Allelon - NT Wright, Brian McLaren, Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard

American Rhetoric including Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Bono

Andy Stanley - North Point Community Church

Andy Stanley - Practically Speaking - Seven Practices of Effective Ministry Series

BibleGateway.com Audio Bibles

Billy Graham and Franklin Graham - The Hour of Decision Past Broadcasts

Bob Russell - OnePlace.com - Broadcast Archives

Brenda Salter McNeil - Urban Youth Workers Institute - "Elevate" -  2004

Brenda Salter McNeil - New Community (Chicago) - "Racial Reconciliation" - 11/20/2005

Brian McLaren - Cedar Ridge Community Church including series on Emerging Church in Sept-Oct 2005.

Brian McLaren Q&A with Canadian Church Leaders "Resonate" in April 2006.

Brian McLaren - Grand Rapids Theological Seminary - What is Emerging?

Catalyst Conference Podcast Interviews with Andy Stanley, Erwin McManus, Donald Miller, Tim Sanders, Eugene Peterson. Rob Bell, Mike Foster and Louie Giglio.

Cornel West at Whitman College

Covenant Theological Seminary's "Covenant Worldwide" - free seminary courses.

Craig Barnes and John Perkins - Shadyside Presbyterian Church Recent Sermons

Da Vinci Code - New Testament scholars Richard Hays and Bart Ehrman Debate - April 2006

Dallas Willard Audio

Darrell Johnson, Ken Shigematsu, Larry Crabb, John Stackhouse - Tenth Avenue Church

David Dark - The Message in the Matrix - 25 minute interview

Durham NT Seminar Audio Archives including NT Wright, James Dunn, Walter Moberly, Francis Watson, John Barclay

Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger Lecture on Emerging Churches at Fuller Seminary

Emergent Village Podcasts including LeRon Shults, Miroslav Volf, Stanley Hauerwas, and Scot McKnight.

Erwin McManus - Mosaic Podcast

European Leadership Forum - Resources for European evangelical leaders - Amy Orr-Ewing, Don Carson, Ravi Zacharias, Bruce Winter, Darrell Bock, Henri Blocher, and William Lane Craig.

Following Christ 2002-2003 - InterVarsity Plenary Session Speakers - Marva Dawn, Miroslav Volf, Dallas Willard

For Sale - Regent Bookstore Online MP3 CDs

For Sale - Willow Creek Conference Resources

For Sale - Youth Specialties 2005 National Youth Workers Convention - San Diego, California

For Sale Youth Specialties 2004 National Youth Workers Convention - San Diego, California

For Sale Youth Specialties Pastor's Conference 2003

Grand Rapids Theological Seminary Chapel: Rodney Clapp, Robert Webber, Brian McLaren, Scot McKnight, DA Carson

Gordon-Conwell's Dimensions of the Faith free online theological education program. Listen to full Church History, Systematic Theology, and Biblical Studies courses.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Audio

J.I. Packer - St. John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church

John Ortberg - Menlo Park Presbyterian Church - Menlo Park, CA - Sermons Online

John Piper - Audio Sermons

John Stott, Alister McGrath, Philip Yancey - All Souls Church, Langham Place

John Stott "A Call to Christian Maturity" Mariner's Church, Calif. Nov 2005

Larry Crabb - New Way Ministries

Leadership Network resources - mission statement: to identify, connect and help high-capacity Christian leaders multiply their impact.

Leith Anderson - Weekly Sermons

Marva Dawn interview. It is excellent.  From WBCL - a Christian radio station in Fort Wayne, IN.  March 24, 2006.  You can only listen to it online. 

Max Lucado - UpWords

N.T. Wright Page

New Perspective on Paul Opponents- Theopedia - DA Carson

Off-The-Map - Brian McLaren on Evangelism

Parker Palmer Lecture

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Audio including Ken Bailey

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Audio including Emerging Church Discussions with John Franke

Preaching Today Audio - They ususally have one free under "Media"

Princeton Theological Seminary Emerging Church Theological Education Caucus with Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Kenda Dean, and Doug Pagitt

Princeton Theological Seminary Institute for Youth Ministry - Cloud of Witnesses: An Audio Journal on Youth, Church and Culture including Eugene Peterson and Darrell Guder

Regent College Radio

Resurgence Podcasts including Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, John Piper, Chris Seay

Rob Bell - Mars Hill

Stuart and Jill Briscoe - Elmbrook Church, Brookfield, Wisconsin

Taylor University Chapel Archives 2005-2006 - Jay Kesler, Dan Allender

Tony Jones talks with Alan Hartung - March 2006

The Veritas Forum - Donald Miller, Alvin Plantinga, William Lane Craig

Tim Keller - Redeemer Presbyterian Church

Tim Keller - free archive

Tony Campolo's Messages

Wheaton College Chapel - now free!

Willow Creek's most recent mid-week "New Community" sermons

Basics of listening to MP3’s:

In the olden days, I would listen to tapes. Now I usually listen to MP3’s. If you are technologically fearful and don’t want to deal with the hassle of MP3’s, you can always pay for CD's and tapes. Almost all the sites above have places where you can order CD's or tapes. But if you want to listen to free stuff, this is the ticket!

MP3’s are computer files. So you can listen to them on any computer and on most new CD players and DVD players and of course portable MP3 players. Your computer will likely play them in Windows Media Player, or on the basic Real Player (which is free to download here) or in ITunes (which you can download for free here). Basically, you just click on the sites above and you click on the sermon you want to listen to and it will pop up and begin playing. Make sure you have your volume up on your computer (Control Panel . . . Sounds and Audio Devices . . . )

Some of the audio are only available when you are connected to the internet. Usually they play in Real Player only or some other player. But most are MP3's that you can download and listen to later. If you want to save a copy to your computer to listen to later, you can often right click the link and click "Save Target as . . ." and save the MP3 to a folder of your choice on your computer. For example, you can do this with the Veritas files. (These are big files (20-50 MB) so you don't want to do this with Dial Up.)

Once you have it on your computer, you can burn it to a CD and play it in your CD player or DVD player or MP3 player. Or just listen to it from your computer like I do. I hook my laptop up to my stereo by having a cord that goes from my laptop headphone jack into my stereo.

See my description here of my listening habits.

Bibliography of Key Biblical Commentaries for Women in Ministry Issues

1 Timothy, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and Genesis are the location for the main "problem passages" for women in ministry. Here are some of the most important commentaries on those books. 1 Timothy 2 Complementarian The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text (New International Greek Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)by George W. Knight Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (August 1, 1992)

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 46, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (mounce) (Hardcover)by William D. Mounce
Nelson Reference (May 1, 2000)

The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus: God's Good News for the World (The Bible Speaks Today) (Paperback)by John R. W. Stott
InterVarsity Press (June 1, 2001)

The First and Second Letters to Timothy : A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Bible) (Hardcover)by Luke Timothy Johnson
Anchor Bible; 1st ed edition (March 20, 2001)

Egalitarian

The Pastoral Epistles: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary (International Critical Commentary Series) (Paperback)by I. Howard Marshall
T. & T. Clark Publishers, Ltd. (July 22, 2004)

1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Hardcover)by Walter L. Liefeld
Zondervan (August 1, 1999)

First and Second Timothy and Titus: Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Thomas C. Oden
J. Knox Press (November 1, 1989)

1-2 Timothy & Titus (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)by Philip H. Towner
InterVarsity Press (May 1, 1994)

1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (Paperback)by Gordon D. Fee
Hendrickson Publishers (April 1, 1989)

1 Corinthians 11; 14:34-35

Complementarian

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)by Anthony C. Thiselton
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (December 1, 2000)

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by David E. Garland
Baker Academic (November 1, 2003)

1 Corinthians (Hardcover)by Craig L. Blomberg
Zondervan (April 10, 1995)

Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14 (Paperback)by D. A. Carson
Baker Academic (October 1, 1987)
Egalitarian

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by Gordon Fee
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (July 1, 1987)

1-2 Corinthians (New Cambridge Bible Commentary) (Hardcover)by Craig S. Keener
Cambridge University Press (June 13, 2005)

First Corinthians (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Richard B. Hays
Westminster John Knox Press (September 1, 1997)

Ephesians 5:21-33

Complementarian

Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by Harold W. Hoehner
Baker Academic (January 1, 2003)

Egalitarian

The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (New International Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by F. F. Bruce
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 1, 1984)

Ephesians (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)by Walter L. Liefeld
InterVarsity Press (March 1, 1997)

Ephesians (Hardcover)by Mr. Klyne Snodgrass
Zondervan (July 7, 1996)

Not Sure whether egalitarian or complementarian

The Letter to the Ephesians (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)by Peter T. O'Brien Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 1, 1999)

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 42, Ephesians (Hardcover)by Andrew T. Lincoln
Nelson Reference (November 6, 1990)

Ephesians: Translation and Commentary on Chapters 4-6 : Anchor Bible 34A (Anchor Bible) (Paperback)by Markus Barth
Anchor Bible (September 3, 1998)

Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Ralph P. Martin
Westminster John Knox Press (February 1, 1992)

Genesis 1-3

Genesis (Hardcover)by Bruce K. Waltke, Cathi J. Fredricks
Zondervan (August 1, 2001)

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 1 Genesis 1-15 (wenham) 406pp (Hardcover)by Gordon J. Wenham
Nelson Reference (October 9, 1987)

Genesis: Interpretation : A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Walter Brueggemann
Westminster John Knox Press (March 1, 1982)

Genesis 1-11: A Continental Commentary (Hardcover)by Claus Westermann
Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 1st Fortress Press ed edition (May 1, 1994)

The Book of Genesis (New International Commentary on the Old Testament Series) 1-17 (Hardcover)by Victor P. Hamilton
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (November 1, 1990)

The New American Commentary: Genesis 1-11:26 (New American Commentary) (Hardcover)by Kenneth A. Mathews
Broadman & Holman Publishers (January 1, 1996)

Genesis (Hardcover)by Dr. John H. Walton
Zondervan (October 1, 2001)

Women in Ministry Bibliography

Egalitarian and Complementarian

Egalitarian: http://www.cbeinternational.org/

Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy (Paperback)by Ronald W. Pierce (Editor), Rebecca Merrill Groothuis (Editor), Gordon D. Fee (Editor)
InterVarsity Press; 2nd edition (August 1, 2005)
The most comprehensive, scholarly, and recent (2005) presentation of the biblical egalitarian view. Contra: The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s response at http://www.cbmw.org/journal/editions/10-1.pdf

Two Views on Women in Ministry (Paperback)by Craig Blomberg, Thomas R. Schreiner, James R. Beck, Ann L. Bowman, Linda L. Belleville, Craig Keener
Zondervan (June 1, 2001)
Excellent and updated essays by excellent scholars Linda Belleville and Craig Keener

Paul, Women, and Wives: Marriage and Women's Ministry in the Letters of Paul (Paperback)by Craig S. Keener
Hendrickson Publishers (November 1, 1992)
Craig Keener is an excellent commentator whose speciality is backgrounds. Make sure you get the version with the new 2004 preface.

A Mind for What Matters: Collected Essays (Paperback)by F. F. Bruce
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (November 1, 1990)
See chapter 17 "Women in the Church: A Biblical Survey." This essay is also available at the Christians for Biblical Equality website http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/free_articles/ffbruce.shtml

Listening to the Spirit in the Text (Paperback)by Gordon D. Fee
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 1, 2000)
See chapter 6: "Gender Issues: Reflections on the Perspective of the Apostle Paul."

Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry (Paperback)by Stanley J. Grenz, Denise Muir Kjesbo
InterVarsity Press (November 1, 1995)
A prolific evangelical theologian weighs in and summarizes the issues

Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis (Paperback)by William J. Webb
InterVarsity Press (May 1, 2001)
An excellent work exploring the important hermeneutical issues.

Gender & Grace: Love Work & Parenting in a Changing World (Paperback)by Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen
InterVarsity Press (May 1, 1990)
The classic work by the brilliant scholar asking how far psychological data supports the idea of natually different roles for men and women.

Women Leaders and the Church: 3 Crucial Questions (3 Crucial Questions) (Paperback)by Linda L. Belleville
Baker Books (March 15, 2000)
This is a fairly popular work. Her more technical work is in Discovering Biblical Equality and the Two Views book.

Dictionary of New Testament Background (Hardcover)by Craig A. Evans (Editor), Stanley E. Porter (Editor)
InterVarsity Press (November 1, 2000)
See Keener's articles on "Marriage," "Family and Household," and "Headcoverings."

Finally Feminist: A Pragmatic Christian Understanding of Gender (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology) (Paperback)by John G., Jr. Stackhouse
Baker Academic (December 1, 2005)

Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality (Paperback)by Rebecca Merrill Groothuis
Baker Books (January 1, 1997)

Women Caught in the Conflict: The Culture War Between Traditionalism and Feminism (Paperback)by Rebecca M. Groothuis
Wipf & Stock Publishers (July 1, 1997)

Junia: The First Woman Apostle (Paperback)by Eldon Jay Epp
Augsburg Fortress Publishers (October 1, 2005)

A Woman's Place: House Churches In Earliest Christianity (Paperback)by Carolyn Osiek, Margaret Y. MacDonald, Janet H. Tulloch
Fortress Press (November 1, 2005)

The Journey Back to Eden : Restoring the Creator's Design for Women and Men (Paperback)by Glen G. Scorgie
Zondervan (October 1, 2005)

The Fall of Patriarchy: Its Broken Legacy Judged by Jesus & the Apostolic House Church Communities (Paperback)by Del Birkey
Fenestra Books (February 1, 2005)

Familiar "Leadership" Heresies Uncovered (Paperback)by Bruce C. E. Fleming
Wipf & Stock Publishers (January 1, 2005)

Putting Women in Their Place: Moving Beyond Gender Stereotypes in Church and Home (Paperback)by Joe E. Trull (Editor), Audra E. Trull (Editor)
Smyth & Helwys Publishing (June 1, 2003)

Woman Be Free (Paperback)by Patricia Gundry
Suitcase Books (June 1, 1977)

Courage And Hope: The Stories of Ten Baptist Women Ministers (Baptists) (Paperback)by Pamela R. Durso (Editor), Keith E. Durso (Editor)
Mercer University Press (September 30, 2005)

Instruments for His Glory: Releasing Women to Minister in Harmony with God and Manby Joyce Strong
Charisma House (July 1, 1999)

Is It I, Lord?: Discerning God's Call to Be a Pastor (Paperback)by James O. Chatham
Westminster John Knox Press (December 1, 2002)

A Time for Risking: Priorities for Women (Paperback)by Miriam Adeney
Multnomah Pub (July 1, 1987)

Middle:

Men and Women in the Church: Building Consensus on Christian Leadership (Paperback)by Sarah Sumner
InterVarsity Press (March 1, 2003)

Complementarian: http://www.cbmw.org/

Two Views on Women in Ministry (Paperback)by Craig Blomberg, Thomas R. Schreiner, James R. Beck, Ann L. Bowman, Linda L. Belleville, Craig Keener
Zondervan (June 1, 2001)

The Feminist Gospel: The Movement to Unite Feminism With the Church (Paperback)by Mary A. Kassian
Crossway Books (April 1, 1992)

Man and Woman in Christian Perspective (Paperback)by Werner Neuer
Crossway Books; 1st U.S. ed edition (February 1, 1991)

Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood (Foundations for the Family Series) (Paperback)by Wayne A. Grudem (editor)
Crossway Books (November 1, 2002)

The Role of Women in Ministry Today (Paperback)by H. Wayne House
Thomas Nelson Inc (March 1, 1990)

Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth : An Analysis of More Than 100 Disputed Questions (Paperback)by Wayne Grudem
Multnomah (November 4, 2004)

Man and Woman in Christ: An Examination of the Roles of Men and Women in Light of Scripture and the Social Sciences (Hardcover)by Stephen B. Clark
Servant Pubns (June 1, 1980)

Leadership for Women in the Church (Paperback)by Susan Hunt, Peggy Hutcheson
Zondervan (October 20, 1991)

Equality in Christ?: Galatians 3:28 and the Gender Dispute (Paperback)by Richard Hove
Crossway Books (September 1, 1999)

Biblical Womanhood in the Home (Foundations for the Family Series) (Paperback)by Nancy Leigh Demoss (Editor)
Crossway Books (January 1, 2002)

Building Strong Families (Foundations for the Family Series) (Paperback)by Dennis Rainey (Editor)

The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective (Paperback)by Martha Peace
Focus Publishing (September 1, 1996)

Called to Womanhood: The Biblical View for Today's World (Focal Point) (Paperback)by Beth Impson
Crossway Books (June 1, 2001)

Where's Mom?: The High Calling of Wives and Mothers (Paperback)by Dorothy Kelley Patterson
Crossway Books (June 1, 2003)

The Feminist Mistake: The Radical Impact Of Feminism On Church And Culture (Paperback)by Mary Kassian
Crossway Books (May 30, 2005)

Different by Design (Macarthur Study Series) (Paperback)by John, Jr. MacArthur
Chariot Victor Publishing (June 1, 1994)

Different by Design: God's Master Plan for Harmony Between Men and Women in Marriage (Paperback)by H. Dale Burke
Moody Publishers (March 1, 2003)

Does Christianity Squash Women?: A Christian Looks at Womanhood (Paperback)by Rebecca Jones
Broadman & Holman Publishers (August 1, 2005)

Embracing Authority: Learning to Live Joyfully in God's World (Paperback)by John Kitchen
Christian Focus (September 1, 2002)

Gender Roles and the Bible: Creation, the Fall, and Redemption a Critique of Feminist Biblical Interpretation (Paperback)by Jack W. Cottrell
College Press Publishing Company (December 1, 1994)

God, Marriage, And Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation (Paperback)by Andreas Kostenberger, David W. Jones
Crossway Books (November 11, 2004)

Male Spiritual Leadership (Paperback)by F. Lagard Smith
21st Century Christian (October 1, 1998)

Men and Women, Equal Yet Different: A Brief Study of the Biblical Passages on Gender (Paperback)by Alexander Strauch
Lewis & Roth Publishers (September 1, 1999)

Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood (Foundations of the Family) (Paperback)by Wayne A. Grudem (Editor), Dennis Rainey (Editor)
Crossway Books (February 1, 2003)

Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Paperback)by John Piper, Wayne A. Grudem (Editor)
Crossway Books (April 1, 1991)

Rocking the Roles: Building a Win-Win Marriage (Paperback)by Robert Lewis, William Hendricks
Navpress Publishing Group; Rev Update edition (January 1, 1999)

Role Relationships of Men and Women: New Testament Teaching (Paperback)by George W. Knight III
P & R Publishing (June 1, 1989)

What's the difference?: Manhood and womanhood defined according to the Bible (CBMW practical living series) (Unknown Binding)by John Piper
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (January 1, 1989)

Women and Men in Ministry: A Complementary Perspective (Hardcover)by Robert L. Saucy (Editor), Judith Tenelshof (Editor)
Moody Publishers (May 1, 2001)

Women, Creation, and the Fall (Paperback)by Mary A. Kassian
Crossway Books (March 1, 1990)

Women and Ministry: What the Bible Teaches (Paperback)by Daniel M. Doriani
Crossway Books (April 1, 2003)

Women In The Church: An Analysis And Application Of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 (Paperback)by Andreas J. Kostenberger (Editor), Thomas R. Schreiner (Editor)
Baker Academic; 2nd edition (August 1, 2005)