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JOHN: Intro

Good morning from Cornerstone Church in Nottingham; it鈥檚 a delight to welcome you to worship with us today. I鈥檓 John Russell the lead minister of Cornerstone, 听a large multi-cultural church in the centre of the city.听听 . Introducing this morning鈥檚 service along with me is Kathryn Jackson one of our Directors of Ministry.

Let鈥檚 begin in prayer 鈥�

KATHRYN: Prayer

Song: Christ Our Hope In Life And Death

JOHN: This morning we will be reflecting on the courage and hope that Christians can have, even amidst trials, because our God is a refuge and help. Later we will be hearing from a missionary from this church who teaches in a theological college in Ukraine and of course our thoughts are very much with the people of Ukraine this morning.

KATHRYN: Scripture reading

Our first scripture reading comes from Paul鈥檚 letter to the church at Philippi, Chapter 4 and beginning at verse 4.

JOHN: Scripture reading

Song: We Have An Anchor

KATHRYN: Interview

We鈥檙e going to hear now from a couple of members of Cornerstone who are going to share with us some of their experiences of suffering

Interview between Kathryn and Claire.

Song: He Will Hold Me Fast

John Russell introduces recorded item with Alaster Torrens

JOHN: Let鈥檚 pray for some of the needs in our world:

Kathryn: Prayer

JOHN: Congregational Prayer

Solo Song: We Have A Lamb

JOHN: Intro to Bible reading

Our second reading comes from Psalm 46.

KATHRYN: Bible reading

JOHN:听 Intro to song

In a moment, Colin Webster, one of our Minister鈥檚 will be speaking on that passage, but before he does our congregations sings: It is well with my soul.

Song: It Is Well With My Soul

COLIN: Sermon

A friend of mine went to see the famous musical Singing in the rain.听 It contains a well-known song and dance routine. Where the cast sing and dance, as rain pours down upon the stage.

My friend told me, that as soon as the music and rain started, everybody in the theatre joyfully sang out the words: 鈥淚鈥檓 singing in the rain, just singing in the rain.鈥�听

But at the end of the performance, when the audience stepped outside, real torrential rain began to fall on them. (And guess what?)听 No-one was singing anymore!听

Whilst in the comfort of a warm theatre they sang their hearts out. But once the real storms of life hit them, they were silenced.听

Friends, anyone can sing, when life is going well.听 But what about when life takes a turn for the worst and your world is shaken?

What do you rely upon when your future looks bleak and uncertain?听 Or, as we heard from Claire earlier, where is your hope when your struck down with cancer?听 Where do you turn to when the real storms of life break upon you?

Well, throughout history, God鈥檚 people have taken comfort from psalm 46.听 It鈥檚 a song written during times of great hardship. When Jerusalem was under siege and the safety of its鈥� inhabitants looked very uncertain.

Yet, in the midst of their adversity, they were able to sing

a song that reminded them, that their security lay within God himself.听 He has been the anchor-point for his people, whatever the storms of life threw at them.

As the opening words from the Psalm remind us

God is our refuge听and strength,
听听听听an ever-present听help听in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,听though the earth give way
听听听听and the mountains fall听into the heart of the sea

The image the psalmist paints here, is of a world in turmoil.听 Hence the powerful imagery of mountains, shaking and falling into the heart of the sea.

I鈥檓 reliably told by people who have experienced real earthquakes 鈥�- that they don鈥檛 know of anything else that makes a human being feel quite so helpless. Because there鈥檚 simply no place to run to!听

But this psalm reminds us, that even when people face earth shattering events in their life and there doesn鈥檛 appear to be a place you can run to - there still remains a person you can run to. God himself!听

God remains a refuge and strength for his people in our troubles, not that He will exempt us from our troubles.

He alone can provide the spiritual strength, and peace 鈥� whilst you鈥檙e living in turbulent times.

That鈥檚 why Jesus could say to his distressed disciples on the night before he died 鈥� 鈥淧eace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid鈥�.听

I remember, as 6 year old boy, walking down a dark country lane with my father. As the night grew darker - I became sensitive to every noise around me. Suddenly, I became aware of something following us and breathing heavily. And I was afraid. But then, sensing my fear, my father reached out his hand and held onto mine.

And in placing my hand in his, I felt His strength. And my fears subsided. For I knew that whatever unknown creature was out there in the dark - my father wasn鈥檛 afraid of it.听 And so my heart gained strength, from his strength.

I later discovered, the heavy breathing came from a heard of cows 鈥� following us!

Friends, I don鈥檛 know what uncertainties or fears, you鈥檙e facing right now. But I can assure you God is not afraid of what you are facing. And when you truly place your hand into the hand of God, you will find his presence will strengthen you.

For we gain little comfort if we look to our own resources alone. We need someone who dwarfs the fears we face. Whose strength is everlasting, and whose arms are strong enough to carry the weight of a world鈥檚 fears, as well as our failures.

The Bible points us towards the ultimate place of refuge. It鈥檚 found in the person of Jesus Christ. For our greatest fear is death. 听And none of us can avoid that appointment. 听听

But the good news of the Bible is that death for the Christian need not be fearful, because Jesus Christ has conquered death.

Jesus is the risen, living saviour who died on the cross for our sin and rose from the dead, for our salvation.听 So that all who come to him in repentance and faith can be forgiven and have a share in his eternal kingdom. Knowing his peace and his presence in their daily life.听

Those who place their trust in Jesus Christ as their refuge, have nothing to fear. He is the Rock of Ages. He is our saviour who can forgive all our sins. He alone is our eternal security, our safe refuge. He is our strength and shield both in life and in death鈥�

But you have to enter the shelter to benefit from its safety鈥�.So, whoever you are, whatever burden you carry, or storm you are facing, Jesus issues this invitation to you:

鈥淐ome unto me all you who are weary and heavily burdened and I will give you rest for your souls.鈥� 听

He is your refuge鈥�.. So come to Him!

KATHRYN: Prayer

KATHRYN: Intro to closing song

Our final song this morning is My hope is built on nothing less.

Closing Song: Cornerstone