Customer Reviews

Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Sermons from Paul's Letter to the Romans

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Fleming Rutledge's work is always thoughtful, challenging, and exhilarating. Highest quality biblical interpretation, vivid illustrations, engaging literary allusions, passionate personal application, insightful social engagement--all offered in a wonderful use of language, herself. This collection of sermons on Romans comes from throughout the course of her ministry so far; giving a sense of her development as a preacher, as well. We have here an outstanding example of re-connection with Paul, specifically in a "mainline church" context. This volume provides an example of what preaching can and ought to be--and also is vital spiritual reading.

In this inspiring collection of fifty-one sermons on Romans, the author presents afresh the radical gospel of Paul. Countering the widespread suspicion that Paul somehow complicated Jesus' simple teachings, the author shows how Paul actually makes explicit what is implicit in the Gospel narratives and reveals "the full dimensions of God's project to reclaim the cosmos and everything in it for himself." With her stirring words and joyful delving into Romans passages, the author leads readers to refocus their eyes and ears on Paul's valuable teachings. She unpacks major ideas and motifs in the epistle, including the cross and resurrection of Christ as the first event of the age to come, faith as the human response ignited by the fire of the Word and the Holy Spirit, and God's work of salvation as all--encompassing and incomparable. This book will be a help to preachers and an encouragement to listeners.

This book was everything that the review in THE EXPOSITORY TIMES promised. See Geoffrey Stevenson, 'Pertinent and Post-Critical Pauline Preaching', THE EXPOSITORY TIMES,120:26, October 2008.