St Helen's Sunday talks podcast

Luke Cornelius - This sermon launches a term-long exploration of reform—not through politics or power, but through the word of the living God. Using the story of Elijah and a compromised Israel, we see how flirting with the world slowly leads to being conquered by it, and why the church's unfaithfulness leaves a darkened world without hope. Yet alongside judgment comes real hope: God reforms his people and rescues the world by speaking truth that exposes sin, provokes repentance, and even brings life out of death. As the story opens, we are left asking whether God's people will listen—and whether we will.

Aneirin Glyn - As the darkness of evil, idolatry, and death engulfs the land, where is hope to be found? Astoundingly, the living Lord God gives life through his word.

Gwilym Davies - What does it look like for the implanted word to establish deep roots in a Christian? What does it look like for a Christian man or woman to be shot through with the mercy of God? James' purpose in chapters 2–4 is to teach us to tell the difference between self-deceived 'faith' in the Lord Jesus and the real thing. And in 2:1–13, he begins his curriculum with partiality, and with the difference the gospel should make in the way we see one another.

Drew Balch - Favouritism feels small. James says it isn't. In James 2, we discover that showing partiality, even in subtle, respectable ways, makes us law-breakers and reveals how easily we adopt the world's values. We need the snobbery in our hearts to be exposed, to challenge both pride and reverse snobbery, which leads us to the only hope we share: the mercy of God that triumphs over judgment in Jesus Christ.

William Taylor - Man-made and imaginary agendas for Jesus all fail because they fail to take seriously the condition of humanity. Jesus insists that it is only through his death, resurrection, and enthronement that eternal life can be made available. And that eternal life only comes by his Spirit and through his word. The problem for us is that the concept of a crucified Messiah is, and always has been, deeply offensive.

William Taylor - Man-made and imaginary agendas for Jesus all fail because they fail to take seriously the condition of humanity. Jesus insists that it is only through his death, resurrection, and enthronement that eternal life can be made available. And that eternal life only comes by his Spirit and through his word. The problem for us is that the concept of a crucified Messiah is, and always has been, deeply offensive.

Phil Hudson - James wants to equip Christians to be firstfruits of God's new creation who bear fruit. So, how do Christians grow? James shows us it is by meekly receiving the Word which saves and by actively doing the Word we hear. And there's no other way!

Drew Balch - James warns us about the most dangerous lie of all: self-deception. James challenges us not just to hear God's word, but to do it. Hearing without obedience doesn't save. Disturbingly, it only deceives. True religion is truth that actually changes us.

William Taylor - Jesus insists that no one can come to him for eternal life unless God the Father draws them. This challenges the modern understanding of our human state to its core. But Jesus shows that it is not only logically inevitable, but also deeply liberating and reassuring.

William Taylor - Jesus insists that no one can come to him for eternal life unless God the Father draws them. This challenges the modern understanding of our human state to its core. But Jesus shows that it is not only logically inevitable, but also deeply liberating and reassuring.

Phil Hudson - What is the bedrock for single-minded faith in Jesus as we meet various trials? Assurance of the single-minded goodness of God.

Drew Balch - In a world full of voices, James warns us that the most dangerous deception doesn't usually come from outside; but from within. We must ask: Is God always good? Through trials, temptation, and suffering, we are prone to doubt God's goodness and even blame him for our sin. Yet James shows us a God who is utterly single-minded; unchanging, generous, and always good. As we fix our eyes on the Father of lights, we're called to remain steadfast, reject the oldest of lies, and trust the God who gives every good and perfect gift.

William Taylor - Some presentations of Jesus and of what it means to follow him are quite simply fake. They bear no relation to who he is and what he offers. Jesus exposes these as he defines his real identity and true work.

William Taylor - Some presentations of Jesus and of what it means to follow him are quite simply fake. They bear no relation to who he is and what he offers. Jesus exposes these as he defines his real identity and true work.

Phil Hudson - James writes to help us grow in mature, fruitful, faith. And his method is to expose and diagnose the danger of double-mindedness, and equipping us with the gospel for single minded faith and growth. And that includes responding to the trials of poverty and wealth.

Drew Balch - The double minded Christian attempts to serve God while still being shaped by the world. James exposes how both wisdom and wealth can subtly pull our hearts away from single-minded devotion to the Lord. James calls us away from worldliness and back to humble dependence on a generous God, who delights to give wisdom to those who ask.

William Taylor - It is easy for us to shape our own views of who Jesus is such that he becomes a comfortable figure who fits nicely into our agenda for him. In John 6 Jesus challenges such ‘plastic Jesus' images. He is greater and more wonderful than anything we could invent…and less cosy!

William Taylor - It is easy for us to shape our own views of who Jesus is such that he becomes a comfortable figure who fits nicely into our agenda for him. In John 6 Jesus challenges such ‘plastic Jesus' images. He is greater and more wonderful than anything we could invent…and less cosy!

Phil Hudson - James is calling the church, amid the pressures of the world, to a single-minded faith in Jesus as Lord, trusting in the grace of God. Because how we respond to the various trials we face has a real bearing on our faith and fruitfulness, James seeks to equip us to respond wisely.

Drew Balch - Joy in trials? Really? James opens his letter with a shocking command to 'Count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds'. Is that wisdom or madness? James 1:1–4 explores this paradox at the heart of the Christian life: why suffering is not pointless, how God uses trials to grow steadfast faith, and where that painful road is ultimately leading.

Andrew Markham - Where can we find blessing in 2026? God's law isn't the obvious place to look. But Psalm 1 persuades us to prioritise delighting and meditating on God's word.

Andrew Markham - Where can we find blessing in 2026? God's law isn't the obvious place to look. But Psalm 1 persuades us to prioritise delighting and meditating on God's word.

Carl Matthei - In Colossians 3:1–17, Paul shows us what it means to live out the new life we already have in Christ. Because we have been raised with him, the old self no longer defines us. Instead, we are called to put off what belongs to our former way of life and to put on the character of Christ, as his word shapes our hearts, our relationships, and our worship.

Carl Matthei - In Colossians 3:1–17, Paul shows us what it means to live out the new life we already have in Christ. Because we have been raised with him, the old self no longer defines us. Instead, we are called to put off what belongs to our former way of life and to put on the character of Christ, as his word shapes our hearts, our relationships, and our worship.

Carl Matthei - Christmas is often dressed up as neat, clean, and sentimental—but the first Christmas was messy, uncomfortable, and full of flawed people. According to the Bible, Jesus didn't come for the morally impressive or the spiritually sorted. He came for sinners. In this talk from 1 Timothy, we hear the shocking claim at the heart of Christmas: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Through the story of the Apostle Paul—and the gritty reality of the nativity—we see that Christmas is not about earning God's favour, but receiving mercy and grace we don't deserve. This is good news for ordinary, broken people. Because Christmas isn't for good people. It's for people like us.

Paul Williams - At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of a baby in a manger—but John's Gospel tells us something far more surprising. This baby is the one who made the world, yet when he came into it, the world did not recognise him. Why was God so easily overlooked? And why did he come at all? This talk explores the wonder and shock of Christmas: the Creator stepping into his creation, being rejected by it, and yet offering forgiveness, restoration, and adoption into God's family. In a broken and weary world, Christmas isn't about trying harder or being good enough—it's about receiving an extraordinary gift: becoming children of God.

Tim Sheppard - While many attempt to write the next Christmas number one, they rarely produce anything that gets to the heart of what this season is all about. Mary's famous words at the start of Luke's gospel show us the meaning of Christmas—explaining why it is a cause for great joy, and a challenging us to respond rightly to God's remarkable offer.

Aneirin Glyn - Jesus will return, but his coming will be delayed. In the meantime, the way we use what he has entrusted to us reveals what we truly think of the King and his kingdom.

William Taylor - In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly challenges responses that appear genuine at first glance. He insists that any expression of faith not grounded in his word is ultimately insufficient. Recognising this should profoundly shape both what we seek and how we live as Christians.

William Taylor - In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly challenges responses that appear genuine at first glance. He insists that any expression of faith not grounded in his word is ultimately insufficient. Recognising this should profoundly shape both what we seek and how we live as Christians.

Tim Sheppard - We all know that we need to build our lives on a solid foundation. Jesus' famous parable at the end of Luke 6 encourages us that to build on his words will 'future-proof' our lives. But it also issues a challenge: when we hear his words, do we do them? When we call him ‘Lord', do we mean it?

Nick Heeley - As Jesus draws his Sermon on the Plain to a dramatic climax, he challenges the crowds who hear to not just listen to his word but do what he says. By building on the firm foundation of his teaching, they will be safe on the Day of Judgement.

Phil Hudson - Why was Jesus in Samaria talking to a woman by the well? Jesus wants us to see that the age of the unstoppable, global in-gathering to eternal life has begun – 'the fields are white for harvest'.

Drew Balch - Though the disciples are focused on eating lunch and moving on from Samaria, Jesus remains there for two days—discovering a depth of faith in a place they least expect. Remarkably, this moment marks the beginning of God's unfolding work in the gospel of John, a work into which we ourselves are joyfully invited.

Tim Sheppard - Why is it so hard to find forgiveness in a world that claims to prize it? In Luke 6, Jesus makes a bold call to radical generosity—and also shows that only those with a gospel root can hope to bear such fruit.

Nick Heeley - As Jesus continues his sermon on the plain, he turns to address the issue of who we listen to. Are those we listen to helping us grow into his likeness, bearing good fruit, or causing us to bear judgemental, hypocritical fruit, like the religious leaders of his day, whose hearts were not transformed by God's mercy. Take care Jesus says that we don't follow blind guides.

William Taylor - A proper understanding of Jesus' death and resurrection radically challenges our understanding of worship. The way we think about worship will show whether we genuinely grasp who Jesus is and what Jesus has done or whether, like the woman at the well, we still have pre-Christian concepts of worship.

William Taylor - A proper understanding of Jesus' death and resurrection radically challenges our understanding of worship. The way we think about worship will show whether we genuinely grasp who Jesus is and what Jesus has done or whether, like the woman at the well, we still have pre-Christian concepts of worship.

George Diwakar - Jesus calls his disciples to radical love — a love that reaches even our enemies. Pointing to the self-giving mercy of God, shown supremely on the cross, he challenges us to reflect his compassion, responding to hostility not with retaliation but with the grace we ourselves have received.

Nick Heeley - In Luke 6:27–36, Jesus calls his followers to a love that goes beyond instinct and self-interest: loving enemies, giving without expecting anything in return, and reflecting the mercy of our Father. This radical way of living isn't optional—it's the hallmark of God's children. Why not consider where Jesus is inviting you to practice this countercultural love, why it feels difficult, and how the Father's mercy empowers you to obey?

William Taylor - Great sportsmen and women speak of the cliff edge moment which comes when, having triumphed, they are left asking ‘what's next'? The cliff edge moment comes to us all. Jesus offers life from God that never leaves a person lacking fulfilment or satisfaction. The shock comes in realising that Jesus offers this life to anyone, for free, no matter what their background or previous performance.

William Taylor - Great sportsmen and women speak of the cliff edge moment which comes when, having triumphed, they are left asking ‘what's next'? The cliff edge moment comes to us all. Jesus offers life from God that never leaves a person lacking fulfilment or satisfaction. The shock comes in realising that Jesus offers this life to anyone, for free, no matter what their background or previous performance.

George Diwakar - True happiness isn't found in wealth, success, or popularity but in following Jesus with humble faith. In Luke 6:17–26, the Saviour turns the world's values upside down, showing that those who are poor, hungry, and hated for his sake are truly blessed, for the kingdom of God belongs to them.

Nick Heeley - At the beginning of the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus assures the needy, opposed disciples that they are blessed and can rejoice now in the face of opposition as they have a secure heavenly reward. Jesus as the Son of Man has authority to bless, and he will also judge those who oppose his people. To the many in the crowd who heard Jesus, this begins Jesus' challenge to them throughout the Sermon on the Plain - 'Will you follow me by building your life on what I say and be blessed?'

William Taylor - John chapter 3 overflows with the love of God. This makes the concluding statement that God's wrath remains on those who reject Jesus a jarring conclusion. Why would the wrath of God be an appropriate response to those who will not obey the Christ?

William Taylor - John chapter 3 overflows with the love of God. This makes the concluding statement that God's wrath remains on those who reject Jesus a jarring conclusion. Why would the wrath of God be an appropriate response to those who will not obey the Christ?

George Diwakar - In a world of fake news and doubt, Jesus appoints twelve real men as the foundation of his true family. This sermon shows how their eyewitness testimony gives us certainty about Christ and confidence in the gospel—God's revolutionary plan to build a new people on a trustworthy foundation.

Aneirin Glyn - Jesus the king was a man of persistent prayer, who appointed twelve to be his apostles. What does this show us about Jesus and his kingdom? What are the implications for us today as members of Jesus' kingdom?

William Taylor - By recording Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, John the Apostle enables us to make sense both of our own and of other people's response to Jesus. We are shown both why we need to believe in him – and why we don't.

William Taylor - By recording Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, John the Apostle enables us to make sense both of our own and of other people's response to Jesus. We are shown both why we need to believe in him – and why we don't.

Luke Cornelius - The Pharisees want to catch Jesus out with Sabbath rules, when he is bringing true Sabbath rest! He comes to restore his kingdom of rest.