The Bible and the New York Times

by Fleming Rutledge

This collection of vividly illustrative sermons by a leading contemporary Episcopalian preacher eloquently heralds the Christian call to faith in the face of modern challenges.

Widely known for their up-to-the-minute relevance to modern life, the sermons of Fleming Rutledge are always out on the edge, challenging the boundaries of contemporary thought and experience. No issue is too threatening, no event too shocking, no question too impertinent to be addressed. Following Karl Barth's dictum that sermons should be written with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, Rutledge weaves the changing events of the daily news together with the unchanging rhythms of the church seasons. Her book leads readers through the liturgical year, from All Saints to Pentecost, showing how the biblical story intersects with our own stories.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Faith, Christian, Christianity

228 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 1998

Reviews

[Grant Carter]

A collection of Fleming Rutledge’s sermons. I appreciate how she grounds the Christian faith in reality. She doesn’t shy away from applying the tenets of the Christian faith to current events and political movements. Also, I especially love her insights into the book of John.

[Audrey Marcusen McMacken]

Collection of sermons through the liturgical year. I've yet to be disappointed when my friend who loaned me this puts a book in my hands to read-- and over the years there have been many (I should count). This was no exception. Like sermons in their regular form some made more impression than others. I bet all of them would meet my 12 year old's ideal of a 12 minute sermon.

[Allison Turner]

Fleming Rutledge is the real deal

[Jon Anderson]

Somewhat following the liturgical year, these are wonderful examples of Rutledge's sermons and showcase her gifting.

[Matthew Price]

Some of the best sermons I've ever read. Fleming Rutledge is brilliant, and I'm thankful I recently discovered her work.

[Carl Palmateer]

A collection of sermons by Rev Rutledge an Episcopalian priest taking up Karl Barth's maxim that sermons should be prepared with the Bible in one hand the newspaper in the other. The timing and arrangement of the sermons is tied to the liturgical calendar which makes for an interesting framework. Bridging the gaps between the Bible, the NYT and ourselves Rev Rutledge presents a refreshing perspective, understanding and insight. It is well worth the time to read it. That said don't let the amount of time I took put you off, I paced myself at one or two a week to keep them from just jumbling together.

[Daniel]

I adore many of Fleming Rutledge’s other volumes of sermons, but this (the first to be published, and featuring an endorsement from none other than Annie Dillard) felt lacklustre in comparison. There are some good ones, but there are too many that land flat or feel slightly ‘preachy’. Ah well, encouragement for us younger preachers that even masters like Fleming improve!

[Kenneth Garrett]

Anyone who studies sermons should read this book, or any one with Fleming Rutledge sermons.

[Tim]

Fleming Rutledge does not disappoint with her sermons! This collect takes one through the church year and reflects on current events (at the time of writing, but still relevant).

[Daniel Barrows]

From David Stewart's review in Christian Century:

What is most distinctive about these sermons is their preoccupation with the holiness of God, not as an arid abstraction incomprehensible to contemporary folk but as an unavoidable point of reckoning for all humanity. With disarming matter-of-factness, Rutledge preaches as if nothing could be more crucial than our coming to grips with the reality that "God is holy, and we are not." ...

"The message of the Bible is that there is no rescue from within [the human] sphere," she declares. "Rescue must come from beyond. And that is exactly what has happened."

Annie Dillard says, “this is beautiful, powerful, literary writing.” and that Rutledge “writes as a person who knows she is dying, speaking to other dying people, determined not to enrage by triviality.”

This book contains thoughtful commentary on the human condition, offering spirituality as cure for existential angst in full recognition of the world's absurdity.

[Timothy Hoiland]

The title, of course, comes from Karl Barth’s famous line about how preacher-theologians ought to stand in the pulpit, figuratively if not literally, with the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both,” he said. “But interpret newspapers from your Bible.”

If you’ve ever given a sermon—or listened to one—you know this is easier said than done. It is natural for us to read into the Bible our own biases on the debates of the day, or (depending on the church and the preacher) to avoid saying anything having to do with “the news” at all. For better or worse, the people in the pews are being catechized accordingly.

more at timhoiland.com

[Terry]

I am not in the habit of reading sermons - they are meant to be heard. Fleming Rutledge, if I were to hear her sermons, would not be my favorite preacher. Much of her cadence and many of her emphases are too reminiscent of a tradition which no longer speaks to me. All this being said, I did enjoy reading this collection of sermons that sweep through the Christian year. Fleming preaches an inclusive Gospel of Grace with an edge; there is nothing soft in these sermons. She uses, especially in the Advent series, vivid, unconventional imagery which commands a new consideration of ancient themes.

[Emily]

A very fine collection of sermons. My faith was affirmed and blessed by her writing.