Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Fleming Rutledge's collection of sermons emerges from her decades as an Episcopal priest preaching through the turn of the millennium, a period when American Christianity faced increasing cultural marginalization and internal theological confusion. Drawing from her pulpit ministry at Christ Church in Tarrytown, New York, these thirty-three sermons demonstrate what proclamation looks like when it refuses both cultural accommodation and retreat into irrelevance. Rutledge preached these messages during a time when the mainline Protestant church was hemorrhaging members and confidence, yet she approached the pulpit with fierce conviction about the transformative power of biblical preaching.

The sermons pivot consistently around Paul's declaration in Romans that he is "not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation." Rutledge argues that effective preaching must be unapologetically theological, grounded in rigorous biblical exegesis, and willing to confront both personal sin and systemic evil with the scandalous particularity of the cross. She demonstrates how preachers can engage contemporary issues—from terrorism to consumerism to despair—without reducing the gospel to therapeutic advice or political program. Her homiletical method insists that the biblical text itself must do the work of transformation, not clever illustrations or psychological insights. Throughout, she models preaching that takes both human suffering and divine grace with utmost seriousness, showing how the resurrection of Christ speaks into contexts of genuine darkness without minimizing their reality.

The collection has endured because Rutledge exemplifies preaching that is simultaneously intellectually rigorous and pastorally urgent. Her sermons demonstrate that theological depth enhances rather than hinders accessibility, and that biblical faithfulness can address contemporary concerns more powerfully than cultural relevance strategies. Who should read this: Preachers seeking to recover confidence in the transformative power of biblical proclamation, and thoughtful Christians who want to see how serious theological reflection can illuminate both personal struggles and public crises. This is not for those seeking light inspirational messages or simple applications of faith to daily life.