Show Notes
In this bonus episode of Affinity Talks Gospel Podcast, Lizzie Harewood and Adam May host an interview with Graham Nicholls on his new book, ‘Reasoning in the Public Square’, emphasising the importance of engaging with diverse audiences through street preaching, politics, and media. The conversation encourages innovative approaches to sharing the gospel and fostering connections within communities. Graham shares his motivation behind the book – aiming to reach individuals not typically connected with through traditional evangelistic efforts. He stresses the importance of engaging with people outside established circles through avenues like street preaching, politics, and media, emphasising the need for simplicity in answers to common questions and practical ways to connect with others. The concept of ‘reasoning in the marketplace’ is explored, drawing inspiration from Paul's approach in engaging diverse audiences in Athens (Acts 17), highlighting the privilege of sharing the good news and addressing hesitancies in evangelism. The discussion shifts to the relevance of street preaching in today's society, where Graham initially questioned its effectiveness but later realised its potential impact in reaching individuals of all backgrounds, particularly young people. Graham reflects on his own experiences with street conversations and door-to-door visits, emphasising the significance of consistent outreach efforts and personal connections. Strategies for overcoming awkwardness in engaging with strangers are discussed, underlining the evolving culture that provides more opportunities for such interactions. The interview also delves into the topic of prayer and evangelism, with Graham sharing insights on people's openness to prayer in the face of societal pressures. The challenges evangelical churches face in engaging with the larger UK population are highlighted, along with strategies like asking engaging questions and utilising social media for broader outreach. The conversation stresses the importance of thoughtful and engaging content on social media to make a meaningful impact, cautioning against seeking fame over genuine engagement. We explore the balance between self-promotion and genuine motivation to positively impact others, emphasising authenticity and intentionality in communication. They discuss the complexities of addressing difficult questions with humility and trust, acknowledging the limitations of knowledge while striving to communicate effectively. Practical advice on engaging in conversations about faith and apologetics is provided, along with details on accessing the book discussed in the interview and opportunities for further engagement with the content. Overall, the conversation encourages listeners to consider new approaches to sharing the gospel message and building meaningful connections with others in their communities, leveraging tools like social media to extend the reach of their faith. More information about the book can be found here: https://www.affinity.org.uk/reasoning-book/
More from Affinity Talks Gospel Podcast
Affinity podcast hosts Graham Nicholls and Lizzie Harewood sit down with Martin Gliniecki from SASRA (The Soldiers' and Aviators' Scripture Readers Association) to talk about: his history with the armed forces and how he became a Christian during his time serving with the army; the different ways human beings can respond to extraordinary evil; what SASRA does and why, as well as its amazing recent growth; growing individualism in Britain and its impact on and contrast with the armed forces; morale in the armed forces and the many spiritual opportunities; how churches can serve veterans as well as those currently in the military; how to find out more about and support SASRA (https://sasra.org.uk/) Read the transcript in full on our website affinity.org.uk/podcast/podcast-seeing-god-at-work-in-our-armed-forces/
Affinity podcast hosts Graham Nicholls and Lizzie Harewood sit down with Collin Hansen from The Gospel Coalition (TGC) to talk about: Collin's current role with TGC, as well as his previous experience and family background; his published works, particularly Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation (2023); his current project (which he'll speak further on at the Affinity Theological Study Conference in March 2027) comparing and contrasting C.S. Lewis and Winston Churchill; the post-Christian era and its connections to the Second World War and its immediate aftermath; the concept of people being either 'somewhere' people or 'anywhere' people; the differences between ministry perspectives at national, regional, local and parish levels; the role of Christianity in Britons' understanding of their own cultural identity; the contrasting impacts of established and independent churches. Tickets for the Affinity Theological Study Conference 2027 are £279 (early bird rates apply until 12 Nov 2026) and £199 for students/concessions. Book on today at https://www.affinity.org.uk/studyconference/ The transcript for this episode is also available at affinity.org.uk/podcast/podcast-understanding-britain-now-with-help-from-britain-then/
In this latest episode of Affinity Talks Gospel Podcast, Graham Nicholls and Lizzie Harewood sit down with CARE's James Mildred to talk about: why Christians should care about politics; the significance of passages such as Genesis 9, Mathew 22 and Romans 13 for helping us to understand what governing involves and how we should relate to our government; the importance of churches being willing to speak about political theology and encourage genuine discussion; the current state of British politics (as of 13 May 2026) and the historical stepping stones that have helped us get here; what Christians can be praying about politics and political leaders; and whether it is appropriate/useful for Christianity to retain the privileged status it's historically had in the UK. You read the transcript in full on our website at affinity.org.uk/uncategorised/podcast-why-being-a-christian-means-being-political/
In this episode of the Affinity Talks Gospel podcast, hosts Graham Nicholls and Lizzie Harewood sit down with Martin Dickson from Wycliffe Bible Translators. They discuss: Martin's role at Wycliffe and his pre-Wycliffe story; the extraordinary number of people who don't yet have the people in their heart language; Wycliffe's approach to translation; Wycliffe's current projects and prayer points. You can also read the transcript in full on our website: affinity.org.uk/podcast/podcast-the-1-5-billion-still-waiting-for-a-bible-with-martin-dickson/
In this episode of Affinity Talks Gospel, host Graham Nicholls sits down with Jim Sayers from Praise Trust and Grace Church Didcot to talk about: the story of Grace Church Didcot and the blessings of being a smaller church; Jim's life-long love of Christian music; the role of Praise Trust and its criteria for including a song in its collection; current trends in Christian music; what makes a Christian song timeless; biblical areas which tend not to feature in Christian music; helps for congregational singing.