St Helen's Sunday talks podcast

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 challenge for 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 love their enemies, those opposing Jesus's disciples. Disciples are to giving without expecting anything in return, in contrast to the selfish love of the world. Jesus gives three motivations to do this, the heavenly reward, being children of our heavenly Father, and having received his mercy.

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?'