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  • Can we trust God's protection? - Psalm 91 (David Bacon)

    Can we trust God's protection? - Psalm 91 (David Bacon)
    2026/08/23
    This talk was given by David Bacon, at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 23 August 2026. The reading was Psalm 91, and the talk also draws on Matthew 4, the book of Job, and Romans 16. Psalm 91 is one of the best-loved passages in the Bible, promising that God is a refuge and fortress for those who trust in him. But it also raises an honest question: if God promises that "no harm will overtake you", why do faithful people still suffer? This talk explores how to read Psalm 91 well — looking at the power of the Psalms as a lifeline for prayer, the discomfort they can cause, and the deep comfort they offer when read in the light of the whole Bible and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. David encourages us to pray the Psalms daily, bringing every emotion to God — praise, anger, confusion and grief — without filtering anything out. He shows how Jesus himself resisted a misuse of Psalm 91 in the wilderness, how the book of Job warns us against blaming those who suffer, and how the psalm points ultimately to our resurrection hope, when God's protection will be experienced in full. Along the way, he shares the remarkable story of how St Jude's itself was spared during the Blitz. Whether you are new to the Psalms or have prayed them for years, this talk offers a thoughtful and pastoral way into one of Scripture's richest prayers.
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    24 分
  • How and why should we praise God? – Psalm 150 (Jack Cross)

    How and why should we praise God? – Psalm 150 (Jack Cross)
    2026/08/30
    This talk was given by Jack Cross, at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 30 August 2026. The reading was Psalm 150, bringing to a close the church's series on the Psalms. Psalm 150 is the final psalm in the Bible, and this talk explores it as a comprehensive picture of praise and worship: Where we worship (everywhere, on earth and in heaven), why we worship (because God is worthy, for both his mighty deeds and his character), how we worship (with every sound, instrument and gift we have – the psalm's seven instruments suggesting completeness), and who worships (everyone who has breath). Jack also draws attention to two things the psalm deliberately leaves out: Personal circumstances and personal preference. We are not told to praise God only when life is easy, or only when the music suits our taste – we are simply told to praise him. Drawing on the example of Paul and Silas singing in prison (Acts 16), the talk gently challenges us to worship God in hard times as well as good, and to remember that worship is for God rather than for us. It closes with an invitation to bring energy, honesty and thankfulness to our praise – not to earn anything from God, but because he is worthy. A warm and practical encouragement for anyone thinking about what worship really means.
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    19 分
  • Filled with the Spirit: God's Empowering Presence – Acts 2 (Steve Clarke)

    Filled with the Spirit: God's Empowering Presence – Acts 2 (Steve Clarke)
    2026/09/13
    This talk was given by Steve Clarke at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 13 September 2026. The reading was Acts 2:1–21, the account of the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost. It is part of a series exploring the church's vision and values. The talk explores what it means to be a church filled by God's Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit, and why do Christians still pray "Come, Holy Spirit" two thousand years after Pentecost? Drawing on Acts 2, John 20, Romans 8, Ephesians 5 and the creation accounts in Genesis 1–2, Steve explains the biblical language of wind, fire and breath, and describes the Spirit — in theologian Gordon Fee's phrase — as "God's empowering presence". Rather than a mysterious force reserved for special people, the Holy Spirit is presented as the presence of Jesus within us: a person we can know and relate to, just as Jesus himself was filled with the Spirit at his baptism. The talk speaks honestly about times when life "knocks the wind out of us" — through loss, disappointment or exhaustion — and offers the hope that God longs to breathe new life into us again and again. It closes with a gentle time of prayer, inviting listeners to wait on God and receive his Spirit afresh. Whether you are new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, this is a warm and accessible introduction to the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
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    24 分
  • What remains? Faith, hope and love – 1 Corinthians 13 (David Bacon)

    What remains? Faith, hope and love – 1 Corinthians 13 (David Bacon)
    2026/09/20
    This talk was given by David Bacon, a church wardens at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 20 September 2026. The reading was 1 Corinthians 13. The talk explores Paul's well-known chapter on love, written to the church in Corinth, and connects it to St Jude's vision: To make Jesus the heart of Southsea through growing faith, offering hope and sharing God's love. Drawing on 1 Corinthians 13:13 — "these three remain: faith, hope and love" — David considers what has endured through 175 years of the church's history, and what truly lasts in the Christian life. David makes three points: Faith and love go together, because faith without love is worthless, however impressive our gifts; hope and love go together, because patient, kind, persevering love offers real hope to people who have rarely experienced it; and eternity and love go together, because while prophecy and knowledge will pass away, love never fails. He closes with St Jerome's story of the elderly Apostle John, who simply repeated, "Little children, love one another," and with an invitation: Whether your faith feels like it is flickering, your hope feels dead, or your love feels defective, come to Jesus — the ultimate example of faith, hope and love. A thoughtful listen for anyone reflecting on what really matters, whether familiar with church or not.
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    23 分
  • Growing Faith in a Faithful God – Hebrews 10 & 11 (Jane Portlock)

    Growing Faith in a Faithful God – Hebrews 10 & 11 (Jane Portlock)
    2026/09/27
    This talk was given by Jane Portlock at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 27 September 2026. The readings were Hebrews 11:1–12 and Hebrews 10:22–25. What does it mean to trust God when you can't see what's coming next? Drawing on Hebrews 10 and 11, this talk explores how faith grows even when the future is unclear — whether we're facing a difficult decision, worrying about someone we love, or waiting on a long-held prayer. Jane looks at the famous "faith in action" passage in Hebrews 11, with its examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, and connects it to three invitations in Hebrews 10: draw near to God, hold firmly to hope, and encourage one another. Beginning with a story of waiting at Portsmouth and Southsea station — trusting a voice on the phone before seeing the person — Jane shows how confidence in God rests not on knowing the whole plan, but on knowing the One who calls us. She frames the talk around three steps of discipleship at St Jude's: being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing the things Jesus did. Along the way she handles honest questions with care, including what faith means when prayers go unanswered and life stays hard. The talk closes with a simple, practical challenge: choose one manageable step this week — a time to pray, or a person to encourage — because we can take the next step knowing God is faithful.
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    23 分
  • Where can we find hope? – 1 Peter 1:1–12 (Andrew Walker)

    Where can we find hope? – 1 Peter 1:1–12 (Andrew Walker)
    2026/10/04
    This talk was given by Andrew Walker, one of the lay ministers at St Jude's Church, Southsea. The reading was 1 Peter 1:1–12. The talk is part of a series on faith, hope and love, exploring the church's values and vision. This week the focus is on hope: not the vague, wishful hope of everyday speech, but the sure and certain hope that the Bible describes as an anchor for our whole lives. Drawing on Peter's opening words about a "living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ", Andrew explores three themes: hope in trials, hope in salvation, and hope in fulfilment, touching along the way on Elisha in 2 Kings 6 and the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. With warmth and honesty, Andrew acknowledges that Christians are not exempt from difficulty — from everyday pressures to the persecution faced by believers around the world today. Yet, he suggests, trials can refine faith rather than destroy it, and the resurrection of Jesus transforms how we see everything. Beginning with the word "hopeless", the talk ends with a simple, memorable image: the cross crossing out the "less", leaving hope — hope in Jesus. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time or have believed for many years, this is a thoughtful and encouraging listen.
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    23 分
  • What does it mean to share God's love? – 1 John 4:7–12 (Richard Portlock)

    What does it mean to share God's love? – 1 John 4:7–12 (Richard Portlock)
    2026/10/11
    This talk was given by Richard Portlock at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 11 October 2026. The reading was 1 John 4:7–12, and the talk is the third in a series exploring the church's vision of making Jesus the heart of Southsea, following earlier talks on growing faith and offering hope. The word "love" is used in many ways in popular culture, but what does the Bible mean by it? Looking carefully at 1 John 4, Richard explores the New Testament idea of agape love: a settled, determined will to put the good of another person first, even at great personal cost. He considers three questions: what is the content of the love we are called to share, who are we to share it with, and how do we model it? Along the way he draws on John 3:16 and the background to John's letter, written to churches facing false teaching. At its heart, this is a talk about a God whose very nature is love, shown supremely in sending Jesus as an atoning sacrifice so that we might have life and relationship with Him. Richard reflects honestly on how hard it can be to love our fellow Christians, and suggests that the way believers treat one another is itself a powerful witness to the world. Whether you are a regular churchgoer or simply curious about the Christian faith, there is much here to ponder.
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    23 分
  • What does it mean to be salt and light? – Matthew 5:13–16 (Steve Clarke)

    What does it mean to be salt and light? – Matthew 5:13–16 (Steve Clarke)
    2026/10/18
    This talk was given by Steve Clarke at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 18 October 2026. The reading was Matthew 5:14–16, in which Jesus tells his followers, "You are the light of the world." The talk concludes a series on the church's vision and values, exploring Jesus' teaching on being salt and light from the Sermon on the Mount. It considers what salt meant to Jesus' first hearers — both a disinfectant and a fertiliser — and what that suggests about how Christians are called to live: gathered together as a distinctive community, and dispersed out into everyday life to help the world around them flourish. Drawing on Matthew 5, Psalm 119 and 1 Corinthians 13, it asks what it might mean to be "a church with glass walls" — a community others can see into, and which looks outward to its neighbourhood. With warmth and honesty, Steve reflects on the rhythm of gathering and going: meeting together to worship and pray, then being sent out into work, family and community life. Along the way there are reflections on the history of St Jude's as a beacon for returning ships, the music of Ezra Collective, and C.S. Lewis on faith as the light "by which I see everything else". The talk closes with a simple encouragement: to love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived — and an invitation to anyone, whatever their background, to come and see for themselves.
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    26 分