We are a church community in the heart of the City of London for anyone who wants to investigate the claims of Jesus or who wants to know and serve him better. Whether you are working, studying or living in London we hope you will find meetings, talks, small groups and other events suitable for you.…
The St. Helen's Sunday talks podcast is truly exceptional and has consistently impressed me with its outstanding sermon content. The sermons are not only biblically sound but also culturally aware, making them relevant and applicable to the modern world. One of the things that sets this podcast apart is its articulate presentation of the Scriptures. Each sermon begins with a biblical text, and the readers who express the "feel" of the authors' intentions add an extra layer of depth and connection. Some of these readings have been deeply moving and have helped me to better understand and connect with the messages being conveyed. Regardless of which staff member fills the position, the exposition of the Word is always spot on, ensuring that listeners receive quality content every time.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to enrich my faith personally. The messages shared through these sermons have had a profound impact on my spiritual journey. They have challenged me to grow in my relationship with God, provided practical guidance for navigating life's challenges, and deepened my understanding of Scripture. This podcast has become a source of inspiration and encouragement for me, helping me to stay connected to God's truth and fostering a sense of hope in His abiding presence in my life and in the world.
As much as I appreciate this podcast, there are a few aspects that could be improved upon. Firstly, while each sermon is well-prepared and delivered with excellence, it would be beneficial if there was more variety in terms of preaching styles or guest speakers occasionally. This could add freshness to the content and provide different perspectives on biblical teachings. Additionally, it would be helpful if there was more interaction or opportunities for reflection built into each episode, such as discussion questions or suggestions for further study/practice.
In conclusion, The St Helen's Sunday talks podcast is truly exceptional in its delivery of biblically sound, culturally aware sermons that are articulate in presenting Scripture. The outstanding content consistently enriches my faith and optimism about God's presence in my life and in the world. While there is room for improvement in terms of introducing more variety and opportunities for interaction, overall, this podcast remains an invaluable resource for spiritual growth and understanding. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking insightful, thought-provoking sermons that will inspire and deepen their relationship with God.
William Taylor - Some will have heard the Apostle Paul described as cold, retentive, misogynistic, or even homophobic. Nothing could be further from the truth, and little could be more dangerous to a person's eternal wellbeing than seeing Paul in such a way. 1 Thessalonians 3 will lead us to appreciate and give thanks for all true gospel ministry.
William Taylor - Some will have heard the Apostle Paul described as cold, retentive, misogynistic, or even homophobic. Nothing could be further from the truth, and little could be more dangerous to a person's eternal wellbeing than seeing Paul in such a way. 1 Thessalonians 3 will lead us to appreciate and give thanks for all true gospel ministry.
Peter Adam - Psalm 100 calls us to a life of joyful prayerfulness: 'I will give thanks… I will praise…' It is a psalm of thanksgiving that urges all the earth to make a joyful noise to the Lord, to serve him with gladness, and to come into his presence with singing. We thank and praise God because he made us, we are his people, and he is our good and faithful Shepherd. His steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness continues to all generations. In Jesus Christ, all God's promises find their 'Yes'. As we pray, we respond with thanksgiving, praise, and confidence, knowing that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Peter Adam - Psalm 100 calls us to a life of joyful prayerfulness: 'I will give thanks… I will praise…' It is a psalm of thanksgiving that urges all the earth to make a joyful noise to the Lord, to serve him with gladness, and to come into his presence with singing. We thank and praise God because he made us, we are his people, and he is our good and faithful Shepherd. His steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness continues to all generations. In Jesus Christ, all God's promises find their 'Yes'. As we pray, we respond with thanksgiving, praise, and confidence, knowing that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
William Taylor - In praising God for the Thessalonians, Paul gives them two marks of a healthy church that is standing firm. Our attitude to God's word, and to persecution are sure indicators of our spiritual health.
William Taylor - In praising God for the Thessalonians, Paul gives them two marks of a healthy church that is standing firm. Our attitude to God's word, and to persecution are sure indicators of our spiritual health.
Peter Adam - Psalm 62 reminds us that prayer is not polished performance but honest dependence. Because God alone is our rock, salvation, and refuge, we can both wait quietly before him and pour out our hearts to him. David's prayer is filled with praise and patience, but also grief, fear, frustration, and protest. He teaches us that trust and honesty belong together: 'Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge'. As we follow the Lord Jesus—the man of sorrows who wept, suffered, and cried out to his Father—we are invited to bring every burden, sorrow, and weakness to God in prayer, trusting that he hears, comforts, and saves.
Peter Adam - Psalm 62 reminds us that prayer is not polished performance but honest dependence. Because God alone is our rock, salvation, and refuge, we can both wait quietly before him and pour out our hearts to him. David's prayer is filled with praise and patience, but also grief, fear, frustration, and protest. He teaches us that trust and honesty belong together: 'Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge'. As we follow the Lord Jesus—the man of sorrows who wept, suffered, and cried out to his Father—we are invited to bring every burden, sorrow, and weakness to God in prayer, trusting that he hears, comforts, and saves.
Jack Stileman - How can you tell God has been at work in your life? In 1 Thessalonians 2:9–12, Paul shows us the cost and conduct of real Christian ministry: a gospel supplied freely, without charge, and a minister who went person by person — exhorting, encouraging, charging — to spur each one to walk worthily of God. Real Christianity. Produced by real Christian ministry. God at work in your life.
Aneirin Glyn - How are we to live a life that matters? Paul's example shows us how serving the living and true God is weighty and leads to glory.
Drew Balch - The most powerful man in the world tells his story: not of pride and triumph, but of humiliation and transformation. King Nebuchadnezzar learns the hard way that God alone rules over all kingdoms and all people. Why does pride lie at the root of our rebellion against God and why does it ultimately leads to downfall?
Drew Balch - The most powerful man in the world tells his story: not of pride and triumph, but of humiliation and transformation. King Nebuchadnezzar learns the hard way that God alone rules over all kingdoms and all people. Why does pride lie at the root of our rebellion against God and why does it ultimately leads to downfall?
Jack Stileman - Real Christians need real reassurance. In chapter 1, Paul reassured the Thessalonians of their real Christianity. In chapter 2, he continues by reminding them of the real Christian ministry that produced it – his own. His mission, his motive, and his manner. Gospel-speaking. God-pleasing. Life-giving.
Aneirin Glyn - What is a Christian? The apostle Paul describes here what Christians believe, why it's true, why it matters, and how to respond.
Phil Hudson - In Daniel chapter 3 we read the only recorded words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. This chapter is here to equip us to be able to say them: 'But if not...we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.' (Daniel 3:18) And so, we see the world wants our worship. It's fierce, but it's a farce. And our God alone is worthy of our worship because he saves his people.
Drew Balch - In a world that demands conformity, Daniel 3 confronts us with a stark question: bow or burn? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to compromise, even when the cost is a fiery death. Their courage isn't reckless; it's rooted in the deep confidence that God can save… and even if he doesn't, he is still worth trusting. Following God is never meant to be safe, though it is meant to be true. Will we stand, even when it costs us?
Jack Stileman - There are many great things you might become in your life. But nothing – nothing – is better than becoming a Christian. What does that actually look like? In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Paul holds up the Thessalonians as the example of real conversion: turning to God, to serve him, and to wait for his Son, Jesus.
Aneirin Glyn - How can joy go hand in hand with affliction? Paul is overflowing with thankfulness for how the Thessalonian believers have been transformed by receiving the word about Jesus. The pattern of their lives is because they are loved by God and chosen by him.
Phil Hudson - When Christians face pressure to conform to the world or when the world seems unsettling, how can we be confident it is wise to stand firm with our God? In Daniel 2 we see the limits of human wisdom exposed and the firm foundation of God's revelation declared: God reveals the future and his kingdom rules forever.
Drew Balch - No one can truly predict the future. Even the most powerful rulers are left anxious, grasping for control. Today we meet a king who has everything, yet cannot sleep. This passage pulls back the curtain on reality: only God reveals what is hidden, and only God's kingdom will last. The future is an open secret! In a world of shifting power, political uncertainty, and cultural pressure, this chapter shows us why we can live with confidence, and what it looks like to stand firm in our modern-day Babylon.
Jack Stileman - What does real Christianity look like? In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul holds up a mirror to a young church under pressure and shows us: real roots, real power, real joy.
Aneirin Glyn - The word reaches Thessalonica, and makes a dramatic impact. There are young believers, in the midst of fierce opposition. These verses set our expectations for what happens when the truth is declared that Jesus is the Christ.
Phil Hudson - The normal Christian experience is to find the world opposed to God applying pressure to conform to its ways. So, what will help us stand firm? In Daniel chapter 1 we meet our God and learn that he reigns, even when human powers look to have won. And that he is unfailingly faithful to his people. Knowing this we are equipped to resist pressure and stand firm.
Drew Balch - How do we live faithfully in a world that doesn't share, or even opposes, our beliefs? God's people are in exile: taken from Jerusalem and placed in the heart of Babylon. It's a story that feels strikingly familiar. Like Daniel, Christians today live in a world that subtly pressures, shapes, and tempts us to compromise. Daniel doesn't withdraw from Babylon, nor does he blend into it. Instead, he lives faithfully within it, trusting God's sovereignty and drawing clear lines of loyalty.
Tim Sheppard - Sometimes the good news of Easter doesn't feel as life-changing as it should—but Paul's famous words in 1 Corinthians 15 are designed to change that. In one stunning verse, he shows us that Jesus' resurrection is not just good news but certain news—providing certainty that he rose from the dead, and that we will too.
George Diwakar - A brief reflection introducing readings on Mark's Passion from the centurion's statement in Mark 15:39: 'Truly this man was the Son of God'.
George Diwakar - In a time of national decline and despair, 2 Kings 13:14–25 reminds us where true hope lies. Even as Israel faces judgment and death, God's grace still remains and his word still has power to give life. When everything else collapses, the promises of God endure—and through his word he can still bring people from death to life.
Aneirin Glyn - Why is the number of strikes with the arrows so important? Why is a man returned to life only after being thrown into a grave? The writer of Kings wants us to think hard, to realise that the word of Lord both demands comprehensive obedience and brings life from the dead.
William Taylor - James ends his letter with a sobering but hopeful picture of church life: Christians are often weak and wobbly, and some will wander. But none of this has to be the end of their story. God's answer is not isolation, but honesty—confession, prayer, and a church family that takes responsibility for one another. These verses challenge our instinct to hide and instead call us to step in, speak up, and bring each other back. Because in God's kindness, wandering is not terminal—and through ordinary Christians, he works to save and restore.
William Taylor - James concludes his letter by laying out the pattern for a Christian's restoration. The verses speak to the weak, the wobbly, and the wandering. The whole church is to be involved in restoring the sinner.
George Diwakar - Delay can be deadly – especially when responding to the word of the LORD. God's people, Israel, had so many chances to listen, but they didn't take them. When judgment arrived, it was too little, too late. Will we make the same mistake, or will we listen to Jesus as saviour before his return as judge?
Nick Heeley - In 2 Kings 8, we see a final glimpse of the life God offers through Elisha, before the long-delayed judgement on the house of Ahab is finally set in motion. Yet these verses also reveal that Israel has already faced a kind of judgement—divided in two by how people respond to Elisha's life-giving ministry. The certainty of coming judgement is a warning to those who have not yet turned to Jesus, reminding us that delay does not mean it will not come. At the same time, the passage encourages Christians to persevere in serving the God who faithfully provides for his people.
William Taylor - James' aim for his readers is that we are completer-finishers. He is adamant that the Lord Jesus is returning – imminently – and that we therefore need to be steadfast and patient. But patience involves action: disciplined with regard to our hearts, tongues, trials and promises.
William Taylor - James' aim for his readers is that we are completer-finishers. He is adamant that the Lord Jesus is returning – imminently – and that we therefore need to be steadfast and patient. But patience involves action: disciplined with regard to our hearts, tongues, trials and promises.
George Diwakar - In a dramatic episode from the life of Elisha, God's people appear surrounded and helpless before their enemies. Yet this ‘Oscar-worthy' story shows that God's word cannot be stopped. As God opens eyes, protects his prophet, and even shows mercy to his enemies, we see that nothing can stand against his purposes. This passage calls us to trust God's power, sovereignty, and grace even when his people seem outnumbered or afraid.
Nick Heeley - Fear can stop us speaking and living boldly for Jesus in a hostile world. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha is the victorious saviour who shows mercy to his enemies, who points us forward to the our merciful saviour, Jesus. Seeing we belong to the winning side is the antidote to fear. Seeing Jesus's mercy to his enemies should drive the winning side out in courageous service in the world.
William Taylor - In their small print, those who run savings or investment accounts suggest that the price of their product may go ‘up or down'. There is no small print in James' instruction on wealth. He issues a straight-talking and unequivocal warning about wealth.
William Taylor - In their small print, those who run savings or investment accounts suggest that the price of their product may go ‘up or down'. There is no small print in James' instruction on wealth. He issues a straight-talking and unequivocal warning about wealth.
Jack Stileman - Our world is full of suffering and self-interest. In 2 Kings 5 we see that the true hope of the world is the word of the Lord.
Nick Heeley - As we reach the high point of the Elisha narrative, we see the power of the life-giving word and how far it can reach—to the worst enemy of Israel, one who is unclean and a picture of death. All of this comes about because a servant girl trusts in the life-giving power of God's word. She stands as a model of bold speech in a hostile world for us to imitate.
William Taylor - James teaches us that God gives grace to the humble who submit to him. If humbling ourselves before God is the gateway to receiving his grace, pride is the opposite. James identifies key indicators of proud resistance to God's grace. It is humbling stuff.
William Taylor - James teaches us that God gives grace to the humble who submit to him. If humbling ourselves before God is the gateway to receiving his grace, pride is the opposite. James identifies key indicators of proud resistance to God's grace. It is humbling stuff.
Jack Stileman - What will restore the church and renew the world? 1 & 2 Kings says: the word of the Lord. But in 2 Kings 2, the prophet Elijah is leaving. What then? New prophet, same word.
Nick Heeley - As Elisha's ministry begins, we get a glimpse of what his ministry is all about: bringing life to a land of death, followed by bringing final judgement to the House of Ahab. Elisha points us forward to the agenda of the Lord Jesus today, bringing life to the world, before returning to finally judge the world.
William Taylor - James's teaching in chapters 1–4 is deeply challenging. He urges his readers to remain steadfast so that they may be mature and complete at the coming of Jesus. How this is to be achieved is explored through his four-step ‘programme' for change.
William Taylor - James's teaching in chapters 1–4 is deeply challenging. He urges his readers to remain steadfast so that they may be mature and complete at the coming of Jesus. How this is to be achieved is explored through his four-step ‘programme' for change.
Jack Stileman - In a world of comforting lies, the word of the Lord is a confronting truth. But what happens when someone disregards it? In the middle of a battle between Syria, Israel and Judah, 1 Kings 22 teaches us a valuable lesson: no listening, no life.
Aneirin Glyn - What happens to Naboth reveals not only what King Ahab is like, but also our world. The Lord sees it all, especially how his people are treated, and will certainly judge. Which makes the glimpse of God's outrageous grace all the more astounding.
Tim Sheppard - What does the ‘wise life' look like? As James focuses in on this major theme of his letter, he challenges us to see that our ambition is far more sinister than we might think. At the same time, he shows us the heart of heavenly wisdom: meekness. We may think meek is weak, but James shows us why meek is wise.
Tim Sheppard - What does the ‘wise life' look like? As James focuses in on this major theme of his letter, he challenges us to see that our ambition is far more sinister than we might think. At the same time, he shows us the heart of heavenly wisdom: meekness. We may think meek is weak, but James shows us why meek is wise.
Luke Cornelius - What happens when reformation is not enough, when forgiveness is repeated but change is not? How does the Lord save the world when his church is utterly compromised? In 1 Kings 19, we begin that journey.
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