St Helen's midweek talks podcast

William Taylor - They murdered Jesus because he claimed to be God - and every argument against him failed. What about ours?

William Taylor - 'Religion' that God loves is not only remarkably simple, but also profoundly freeing – and good. Jesus is at the heart of it, and he has been enthroned by God.

William Taylor - The Incas and Pharoahs mummified their dead for eternal life. Mufasa taught Simba that the dead are amongst the stars in the 'Circle of Life'. Bertrand Russell insisted 'When I die, I rot'. Jesus teaches resurrection. It is altogether more credible.

William Taylor - Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God', has been described as among the most significant phrases in Western literature - it is also among the most misunderstood.

Paul Williams - Explore Jesus' surprising picture of the kingdom of heaven—not as restrictive or dull, but like a joyful, lavish wedding feast you and your colleagues won't want to miss.

William Taylor - Who wants to live in a world without forgiveness or redemption? The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ tells us that we don't need to live our lives or face our deaths unforgiven by God.

William Taylor - Is God's patience endlessly inexhaustible? What happens when it runs out? When God's patience does run out, is there any hope for anyone? Hear what Jesus says in Matthew 21:33-46.

William Taylor - What right does a person have to say what they say or do what they do? Jesus' claims and actions were sufficiently extravagant for those around him regularly to question his authority. Their questions and his response reveal not only the truth about him – but also about them, and us!

William Taylor - Power both fascinates and appals us. Power is the issue when Jesus enters Jerusalem. Most particularly the abuse of religious power. Jesus, in divine power, both exposes and pronounces judgment on abusive power.

Paul Williams - Those in leadership can make decisions that reverberate around the world, as we've seen time and again. Often we feel that leaders fail us by misusing the authority their position gives them.

Paul Williams - We often hear that 'a civilisation is measured by how it treats its weakest members'. It's a value our culture proudly affirms and we see it being embraced by major corporations in the City—but where did it really come from, do we consistently live it out, and are we blind to our failures?

Paul Williams - Explore the breathtaking heart of Jesus' leadership: 'The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' In a world obsessed with status and authority, come and discover the beauty of servant-hearted sacrifice—and why it changes everything.

William Taylor - The lavish and undeserved generosity of God brings delight and humble gratitude to the true believer — but to those who fail to recognise their own sin and debt, it provokes grumbling. Explore what Jesus means when he says, ‘the last will be first, and the first last’.

William Taylor - Jesus insists that his disciples are to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. The question on every disciple’s lips: Is it worth it? Yes—the compensation is out of this world!

William Taylor - Jesus’ teaching to the self-righteous rich makes for painful listening. In Matthew 19:16–26, Jesus shows that the rich are especially prone to self-justification and often think they can 'find a way.' Yet alongside challenge, Jesus offers encouragement: 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'

William Taylor - Jesus insists that the state of marriage in a nation is a key indicator of spiritual health. Adultery is a sure indicator of idolatry. Given the evidence, is there any hope?

William Taylor - Marriage is God's invention. God knows how we work best. But marriage is about far more than human flourishing. The state of marriage in a nation is an indicator of the spiritual state of the nation. Whether married or single, Jesus' teaching on marriage will help every one of us to navigate this key area of life.

Paul Williams - It's a new year—and not everyone feels hopeful about it. If the promise of a 'fresh start' already feels unrealistic, you're not alone. In this talk we look at where real hope and lasting change can be found—not through trying harder, but through encountering Jesus as he's introduced at the very start of John's Gospel.

William Taylor - By the end of Genesis 1–11, the outlook for humanity seems grim—but one vital promise changes everything. God’s promise of mercy offers the only real hope, and Genesis 12 shows us where to find that hope and what it will look like.

William Taylor - Why is it that the great projects and plans for global union and human advance appear so frequently to end in tears? God explains why - and gives us an enduring world-wide project in which to be involved.

William Taylor - The Bible’s portrayal of our broken world is compelling in its clear-eyed realism about humanity and life. It is equally captivating in what it reveals about God—nowhere more so than in the aftermath of the flood. God’s word makes sense of God’s world.

William Taylor - What is needed to fix the problems of this world? Multiple suggestions have been made - the author of Genesis has God's answer.