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How then Shall we Preach?

St Martin-in-the-Fields

Each week, Revd Dr Sam Wells sits down with Jolley Gosnold to discuss the upcoming lectionary readings, offering insight and top tips on how to preach from them.

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  • 23 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 31 min
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • S1 · E23
    Wednesday · 32 min

    Safeguarding and 2nd Sunday before Advent (Year A) - 15 November 2026

    For Safeguarding Sunday, Sam and Jolley explore what it means to preach the Gospel as the church reflects on its responsibility to protect the most vulnerable. Together, they also interrogate the lectionary readings for the 2nd Sunday before Advent. Readings: 1 Corinthians 13 (Safeguarding suggested reading) Zephaniah 1.7, 12-end 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 Matthew 25.14-30 Notes Sam's Sermon on Matthew 25: https://chapel.duke.edu/sites/default/files/documents/sermons/2005/051113.pdf How to Preach by Sam Wells: https://canterburypress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781786225214/how-to-preach

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  • S1 · E22
    October 28 · 30 min

    Remembrance and 3rd Sunday before Advent (Year A) - 8 November 2026

    Sam and Jolley tackle Remembrance Sunday and explore its significance in the Church of England and the broader implications of sacrifice in war. For our international listeners, they take a look at the readings for the 3rd Sunday before Advent. Readings: Amos 5.18-24 1 Thessalonians 4.13-end Matthew 25.1-13

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  • S1 · E21
    October 21 · 31 min

    All Saints' Day (Year A) - 1 November 2026

    Sam and Jolley sit down to talk about all things All Saints'! As well as addressing a listener question on atonement theories, Sam explores different approaches for preaching on the Feast of All Saints and considers the linked readings. Readings: Revelation 7.9-end 1 John 3.1-3 Matthew 5.1-12 Further Resources Good Friday Sermon (Atonement Theory): https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/sermons/love-so-amazing-so-divine-what-is-happening-on-good-friday/ Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/28940.Behind_the_Scenes_at_the_Museum

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  • S1 · E20
    October 14 · 26 min

    Last Sunday after Trinity (Year A) - 25 October 2026

    Join Sam and Jolley as they discuss the readings for the Last Sunday after Trinity on 25 October. Together they explore preaching on disability, justice and loving your neighbour as yourself. Readings: Deuteronomy 34.1-12 Leviticus 19.1-2, 15-18 1 Thessalonians 2.1-8 Matthew 22.34-end

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  • S1 · E19
    October 7 · 28 min

    Trinity 20 (Year A) - 18 October 2026

    Join Sam and Jolley as they discuss the lectionary readings from the twentieth Sunday after Trinity (Year A) for 18th October. Readings: Exodus 33.12-end Isaiah 45.1-7 1 Thessalonians 1.1-10 Matthew 22.15-22

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  • S1 · E18
    September 30 · 29 min

    Trinity 19 (Year A) - 11 October 2026

    APOLOGIES! Due to a scheduling error - this podcast did not reach your ears first thing this morning, but you can enjoy it now! Join Sam and Jolley as they discuss the Lectionary Readings for 11 October 2026. Notes: Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey - https://spckpublishing.co.uk/jesus-through-middle-eastern-eyes-pb

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  • S1 · E17
    September 23 · 29 min

    Trinity 18 (Year A) - 4 October 2026

    Jolley and Sam are back together in London to discuss the readings for 4th October 2026. Jolley shares the Ten Commandments of preaching he learned in the States before they tackle the actual Ten Commandments together! For those celebrating Harvest Festival, Sam also shares his thoughts on how to approach preaching for that too. Readings: Exodus 20.1-4,7-9,12-20 Isaiah 5.1-7 Philippians 3.4b-14 Matthew 21.33-end

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  • S1 · E16
    September 16 · 29 min

    Trinity 17 (Year A) - 27 September 2026

    Maddie Naisbitt steps in to cover for Jolley this week and asks Sam all about the readings for Sunday, 27th September. Readings: Exodus 17.1-7 Ezekiel 18.1-4, 25-end Philippians 2.1-13 Matthew 21.23-32

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  • S1 · E15
    September 9 · 31 min

    Trinity 16 (Year A) - 20 September 2026

    Join Sam and Jolley as they discuss the lectionary readings for the 16th Sunday after Trinity on 20 September, and offer some suggestions to kickstart your preaching preparation. Readings: Exodus 16.2-15 Jonah 3.10-4.11 Philippians 1.21-30 Matthew 20.1-16

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  • S1 · E14
    September 2 · 32 min

    Trinity 15 (Year A) - 13 September 2026

    Join Sam and Jolley as they discuss the lectionary readings for the 15th Sunday after Trinity on Sunday, 13 September. Together, they explore the differences between preaching in the United States and the UK and engage in some nuanced, at times challenging readings. Readings: Exodus 14.19-end Genesis 50.15-21 Romans 14.1-12 Matthew 18.21-35

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  • S1 · E13
    August 26 · 39 min

    Trinity 14 (Year A) - 6 September 2026

    On this week's episode of How then Shall we Preach? Sam and Jolley unpack the lectionary readings for 6 September, including how to approach the marking of "Creation in Christ" and its ecological and theological roots, before addressing liberation from slavery, "being with" rather than "fixing" those who are struggling, a teleological vision of love, and a verse often taken out of context. Readings: Exodus 12.1-14 Ezekiel 33.7-11 Romans 13.8-end Matthew 18.15-20

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  • S1 · E12
    August 19 · 34 min

    Trinity 13 (Year A) - 30 August 2026

    This week Sam and Jolley tackle a listener question about the Northern Saints, Sam explains why the Burning Bush passage from Exodus is one of the best readings to preach from, and they explore Paul's 'first draft' of his famous words about love. If you are watching this rather than listening, please excuse the slightly blurry picture. You don't need your eyes testing... it was our mistake! Readings: Exodus 3.1-15 Jeremiah 15.15-21 Romans 12.9-end Matthew 16.21-end

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  • S1 · E11
    August 12 · 23 min

    Trinity 12 (Year A) - 23 August 2026

    Join Sam and Jolley as they discuss the readings for the 12th Sunday after Trinity on 23 August. Readings: Exodus 1.8-2.10 Isaiah 51.1-6 Romans 12.1-8 Matthew 16.13-20

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  • S1 · E10
    August 5 · 33 min

    Trinity 11 (Year A) - 16 August 2026

    This week, Sam helps Jolley decide which passage he will preach on for Sunday, 16 August. Together they explore inclusion, purity, providence, and the permanence of God's promise. Readings: Genesis 45.1-15 Isaiah 56.1,6-8 Romans 11.1-2a,29-32 Matthew 15.[10-20] 21-28

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  • S1 · E9
    July 29 · 33 min

    Trinity 10 (Year A) - 9 August 2026

    This week Sam is in Washington DC but still makes time to sit down with Jolley to discuss the upcoming lectionary readings for 9 August 2026. Together they explore the meaning beneath the surface of the Joseph story in Genesis, the opportunity for a vocation sermon based on that famous Elijah passage, how to reclaim and reimagine a verse from Romans 10, and why the Gospel is all about trust. Readings: Genesis 37.1-4, 12-28 1 Kings 19.9-18 Romans 10.5-15 Matthew 14.22-33

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  • S1 · E8
    July 22 · 28 min

    Trinity 9 (Year A) - 2 August 2026

    In this week's episode of 'How then Shall we Preach?', Sam and Jolley discuss the challenges of preaching during summer holidays, the significance of Jacob's struggle, the political implications of Isaiah 55, the theological complexities of Romans 9-11, and the theme of abundance vs. scarcity in the feeding of the five thousand.

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  • S1 · E7
    July 15 · 30 min

    Trinity 8 (Year A) - 26 July 2026

    In this week's episode of 'How then Shall we Preach?' Sam and Jolley discuss preaching on current affairs in politics or popular culture, as well as diving into the readings for Trinity 8 where they find deceit in Genesis and leadership in 1 Kings. They reclaim a passage from Romans 8 and reimagine how to read parables.

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  • S1 · E6
    July 8 · 33 min

    Trinity 7 (Year A) - 19 July 2026

    In this episode of How then Shall we Preach? Sam and Jolley explore the lections for 19 July 2026. Sam confronts the two anxieties most people have about God: Does God exist? Is God on our side? He uses Romans to explore both adoption and ecology. And... argues that the whole of American 20th-century foreign policy comes from our Gospel reading. Readings: Genesis 28.10-19a Isaiah 44.6-8 Romans 8.12-25 Matthew 13.24-30,36-43

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  • S1 · E5
    July 1 · 31 min

    Trinity 6 (Year A) - 12 July 2026

    In this episode of 'How then Shall we Preach?' Sam and Jolley look at the lectionary readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity on 12 July 2026, and answer a listener question about 'Sea Sunday'! Readings: Genesis 25.19-end Isaiah 55.10-13 Romans 8.1-11 Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23 Mentioned in this episode: Make Me an Island - Lucy Walker https://open.spotify.com/track/6iY6d4Juet8YhwZXD8qeon Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/77411.Binding_the_Strong_Man

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  • S1 · E4
    June 24 · 34 min

    Trinity 5 (Year A) - 5 July 2026

    In this episode of 'How Then Shall We Preach?', hosts Jolley Gosnold and Revd Dr Sam Wells dive into the readings for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. They talk about 4th July, Sin, the Holy Spirit and a very memorable wedding ceremony! We are exploring the lectionary readings for Trinity 5 (Year A): Genesis 23.34-38, 42-9, 58-end Song of Solomon 2.8-13 Zechariah 9.9-12 Romans 7.15-25a Matthew 11.16-19, 25-end

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Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes