Where can we put our hope?

Does life feel unfair or overwhelming? Do prayers seem unanswered? Is your repose robbed by regret? Let Psalm 43 speak into your soul. Its writer feels rejected, oppressed and distressed. Yet he neither denies his feelings nor surrenders to despair. Instead, he challenges his troubled soul with a couple of questions: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Then he declares, “Put your hope in God” (Psalm 43:5). He turns his eyes from his trials to his trustworthy God, whose light leads him and whose love sustains him. His circumstances may not have changed, but his confidence rests in the Lord, his Saviour and his God.

All Saints’ Day is a Christian observance dating back to the early centuries of the Church, when believers remembered and gave thanks for faithful believers who had gone before them. By the eighth century, the observance was established on 1st November in the Western Church. It reminds us that we belong to a family of faith spanning generations and traditions. We honour the witness of those who have lived for Christ, not because they were perfect, but because God's grace sustained them. Their lives point us beyond themselves to Jesus, who conquered sin and death and promises eternal life to all who trust in him. Our hope is not wishful thinking, but a living hope in the risen Lord, as we look forward to the day when faith becomes sight.

Apostle Paul calls God “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1). He knew hardship yet discovered that God meets us in our suffering. Sometimes God changes our circumstances; sometimes he changes and strengthens us within them. His comfort equips us to comfort others. Paul learned not to rely on himself, but on God, “who raises the dead” (v9). What firmer foundation could we have? The God who raises the dead can sustain us through today's trials and tomorrow's uncertainties. He often strengthens us through the prayers, presence and practical care of fellow believers.

Whatever weighs heavy upon your heart, bring your fears, failures and questions to the Lord. You need not pretend to be strong when you can depend upon the One who is strong. The God who comforts, the Saviour who rose, and the Spirit who strengthens remain our sure and steadfast hope.

Where can we put our hope? In God alone! “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.” (Psalm 43:5)

Revd Michael Hogg

Click on the links below to see previous messages

Remembering those gone before Read more	Psalm 3: Jesus Foreshadowed Read more	All shall be well Read more	Do we need to plead? Read more	Holidays Read more	Trusting when Troubled Read more
A Book To Die For Read more	Written Warnings Read more	Will your anchor hold? Read more	Dolphins Read more	Facing the Future Read more	Water in the Bible Read more

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
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Planning your Visit

New to Church?

Here at Brighton Road Baptist Church, you will always be welcome. So it doesn’t matter whether you’ve never been to church before or have been going all your life and want to try something different.

No-one cares how you're dressed, what you believe (or don’t believe), whether you’re over 60 or under 6, or something in between - you're welcome to join us if you're searching or just browsing.

Whatever your circumstances BRBC is a safe place to discover God's love.

We are an extended family made of all ages and a variety of backgrounds. We are single, married, divorced, widowed, happy, sad, confused, motivated, those with time on their hands and those with no time at all. The one thing we have in common is that we want to know more about the God who welcomes us all into his family. We look forward to welcoming you.

What to expect on a Sunday morning:

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10.30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will offer you a copy of our weekly newsletter.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits after the service. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in the main foyer.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10.30am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. We share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. Following this we have a time of sung and spoken worship. We typically have 2 or 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Often a person will pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. There is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

What about my kids?

For children under three, we have a Creche. Children under 6 months are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/grown-up at all times.
For kids from 4-11, we have our Kid's Club, BRBK. Activities vary but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play.

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. Part way through the service, the leader will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups.

Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

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Getting Connected

Housegroups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our housegroups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Housegroups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

If you want to get in touch, or have any further questions, please contact us!