Explore every episode of the podcast How then Shall we Preach?

In this episode of 'How Then Shall We Preach?', hosts Jolley Gosnold and Revd Dr Sam Wells introduce this new podcast and share their hope to help make the sermon-writing process a joy.

They explore the lectionary readings for Trinity 2 (Year A):

Genesis 18.1-15 [21.1-7]
Exodus 19.2-8a
Romans 5.1-8
Matthew 9.35-10.8 [9-23]

Sam provides insights on how to approach these texts in a meaningful way for contemporary preaching.

In this episode of 'How Then Shall We Preach?', hosts Jolley Gosnold and Revd Dr Sam Wells dive into the readings for the Third Sunday after Trinity, illustrating the Christological heart of the Hagar story, what it means to be united in Christ's resurrection, and what it feels like to be truly seen and loved by God.

They explore the lectionary readings for Trinity 3 (Year A):

Genesis 21.8-21
Jeremiah 20.7-13
Romans 6.1b-11
Matthew 10.24-39

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

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?' 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? 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 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 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.

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

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 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

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