How then Shall we Preach?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

In this episode of 'How Then Shall We Preach?', hosts Jolley Gosnold and Revd Dr Sam Wells dive into the readings for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, tackling that challenging Abraham and Isaac passage, considering what it means to be a constructive prophet, exploring how to preach on slavery, and whether it is ever right to preach about football!

They explore the lectionary readings for Trinity 4 (Year A):

Genesis 22.1-14
Jeremiah 28.5-9
Romans 6.12-end
Matthew 10.40-end