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Help My Unbelief
Powerful reflections on faith and doubt by a leading contemporary evangelist. Fleming Rutledge s first book, The Bible and the New York Times, has been hailed for its up-to-the-minute relevance to contemporary life. With this new volume Rutledge speaks directly to readers who are plagued by doubts and uncertainties about Christian faith. Among the host of challenging questions she addresses Doesn t everyone have their own idea of God? What if I m not very religious? Can we still believe in the Resurrection today? Rutledge s approach has been described as a combination of pastoral warmth and intellectual fearlessness. She aligns herself with the struggling questioner as she faces the most penetrating theological challenges of our day. At the same time, she entrusts herself as a preacher in this new millennium to the explosive force of God s Word. Duke University chaplain William H. Willimon, in choosing one word to characterize her, selected biblical. Provocative, learned, and displaying the elegance of expression for which Rutledge is well known, Help My Unbelief offers satisfying answers for those struggling with faith and doubt in our modern world.
308 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 12, 2022
This is a series of sermon preached by Fleming during the 90’s. The chapter headings are a little misleading because the sermons are not necessarily tied together. Most of them do wrestle with the idea of faith and doubt.
What you should know about Rutledge’s style is that she constantly references current events and preaches in the mainline episcopal context. Her sermons continually refer to the liturgical calendar and different episcopal quirks. Your familiarity with these contexts will affect your experience of the sermons. Her continual references to the news is fascinating. Most of them are dated 20 years later, but it is interesting to see what was happening at the time.
If you are a fan of Fleming, then you will enjoy this book. If you haven’t read her before, then I would suggest starting with the crucifixion for a theological work, or her Advent sermon collection. I think these sermons are a weaker collection compared to her other work, but still worth reading.
What you should know about Rutledge’s style is that she constantly references current events and preaches in the mainline episcopal context. Her sermons continually refer to the liturgical calendar and different episcopal quirks. Your familiarity with these contexts will affect your experience of the sermons. Her continual references to the news is fascinating. Most of them are dated 20 years later, but it is interesting to see what was happening at the time.
If you are a fan of Fleming, then you will enjoy this book. If you haven’t read her before, then I would suggest starting with the crucifixion for a theological work, or her Advent sermon collection. I think these sermons are a weaker collection compared to her other work, but still worth reading.
February 20, 2019
A Fleming Rutledge sermon is a beautiful thing. An intertwining of current events, church calendar and lectionary readings that offer up theological insight and biblical truths that elevate the listener's (or in this case the reader's) gaze to who God is, how He acts on our behalf and who we are in Him. This is a collection of over 30 of these type of sermons. Reading this alongside another of her books The Crucifixion as you get to see how her theological understanding translates into congregational preaching.
July 29, 2016
Collected sermons of my favorite preacher
March 23, 2020
A really good collection of sermons, especially for those who are in doubt. Fleming's ability to speak to current events from the words of Scripture is incredible!
March 13, 2026
Fleming Rutledge is always a thoughtful and wise pastoral companion. I appreciated these sermons that were often rooted to real world realities, trying to discern the Spirit’s voice to the church and navigate a way forward.
As a collection of sermons, this is very well done. Each one is meaningful and accessible. This worked best for me as an evening devotional read before I went to bed. The sermons were brief enough to read even while tired, and helped set my thoughts in spiritual reflection before sleep.
Books of sermons, however, are always interesting to me since I don’t retain as much of the content compared to a typical book that focuses on exploring one main idea/thesis. So in terms of conveying, “Help My Unbelief,” readers should probably engage this book more like a spiritual companion than a text that explores faith and doubt in a more targeted way.
Overall, a meaningful read when you know what to expect from it in the homiletics genre rather than a monograph that uses chapters to build upon each other to support a central thesis/argument.
As a collection of sermons, this is very well done. Each one is meaningful and accessible. This worked best for me as an evening devotional read before I went to bed. The sermons were brief enough to read even while tired, and helped set my thoughts in spiritual reflection before sleep.
Books of sermons, however, are always interesting to me since I don’t retain as much of the content compared to a typical book that focuses on exploring one main idea/thesis. So in terms of conveying, “Help My Unbelief,” readers should probably engage this book more like a spiritual companion than a text that explores faith and doubt in a more targeted way.
Overall, a meaningful read when you know what to expect from it in the homiletics genre rather than a monograph that uses chapters to build upon each other to support a central thesis/argument.
April 26, 2019
Fleming Rutledge is my new favorite Christian author. I just finished it last night and the last 2 sermons really spoke to me (Gideon and Peter's denial of Christ). I was looking for a highlight to share, but honestly, I feel like I've practically highlighted the entire book. I would highly recommend this book for it's practical and clear teachings.
September 21, 2024
Another superb collection of sermons by Fleming Rutledge. She has an amazing way of combining orthodox Christianity with current events and our culture. Easy to read, hard to put down, but also intellectually challenging.
February 13, 2023
Superb. 35 sermons preached at various times and in various locations by the author. They are insightful, pertinent, and short! They have become my evening devotionals.
April 15, 2026
Took a group through this book and it offered wonderful discussion. I'm a big fan of Fleming and her writing/sermons.
April 24, 2026
This book changed the way I think about the nature of Christianity and our place in creation. I can't recommend it highly enough.
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September 6, 2020Wonderful collection of sermons. Wish I had discovered Rutledge sooner
August 13, 2020
A book of Fleming Rutledge sermons from the 90s. Anglican sermons are short and to the point. This is a reissue of the book first released 20 years ago.sermons are collected into topical areas. She is direct and clear as she outlines core Christian orthodox beliefs.
August 8, 2012
This book was under my desk at work. In my semi-annual purge of that black hole, I read a few pages of this and decided to bring this collection of sermons home. Either I hadn't noticed or had forgotten that Fleming Rutledge is a woman. She is one of the first women that the Episcopal church ordained in 1977.
I was able to use this as part of my devotions for about two months. Rutledge is a good writer and I could tell that her sermons would be interesting to hear. She had refreshing things to say about Paul and I found her sermons about Ruth and Lydia fascinating.
If I am going to enjoy a book, I want to learn something or have something to think about at the end. I want interesting characters and the better the writing, the happier I am. Fleming Rutledge gave me all these things. I may have to find something else to read that she has written.
I recommend this mostly to Christians of the liberal persuasion, to readers looking for something inspirational and to those who like to pick books up, read a bit and put them down. Most of these sermons were about five pages.
I was able to use this as part of my devotions for about two months. Rutledge is a good writer and I could tell that her sermons would be interesting to hear. She had refreshing things to say about Paul and I found her sermons about Ruth and Lydia fascinating.
If I am going to enjoy a book, I want to learn something or have something to think about at the end. I want interesting characters and the better the writing, the happier I am. Fleming Rutledge gave me all these things. I may have to find something else to read that she has written.
I recommend this mostly to Christians of the liberal persuasion, to readers looking for something inspirational and to those who like to pick books up, read a bit and put them down. Most of these sermons were about five pages.
January 19, 2016
Another wonderful collection of sermons by Fleming Rutledge. These are on the topic of belief in modern times. She always provides an original perspective on the Biblical text. You may not always agree with her, but she will provide thought-provoking interpretations which will aid in your reading and understanding of the text. Enjoy!
February 19, 2025
Cannot recommend this book highly enough. An outstanding collection of sermons.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews