Kyneton Guardian (Vic. : 1870 - 1881; 1914 - 1918), Tuesday 30 June 1914, page 2


THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

- . liv

"VALEDICTORY SERVICES.

On Sunday evening there was not a seat to spare in the Freemasons Hall, where the local Church of Christ hold their scrviccs, the larg<v congregation having assembled to do hT°"?)r to their popular preacher, Mr. J. K. Combridgc. who, after four >e.irs faithful labor in Kyncton, is, tor

health reasons. t0 Horsham, i Mr Combridgc will be succccdcd by

Mr Shipway, of Stawell. who arrives i in a fortnight. The communion table was prettily decorated with chrysanthemums, and Mrs. Combridgc presided at the organ. Mr and MissHarman sang the duct "Look Lp to Christ." Miss Nina Harman accompanying them on the piano.

Mr Combridgc prefaced his sermon by thanking the congregation for their kindness to him during his stay ni Kyncton, and by expressions of regret at leaving. At Drummond that morning the members of the church had evidenced their affection for him and Mrs Combridgc by making them a presentation of a silver scuttle for sugar and a silver butter dish. He felt deeply grateful for all that had been done for him and his. At Drummond. too, he had had the joy that morning of knowing that one more had decided to join the Church of Christ. He had intended to preach to them a valedictory sermon, but on second thoughts he felt that as theirs was a homely work, a homely tallf upon a homely subject would be more* practical and acceptable: therefore lis had chosen as his subject John 8-12: "I am the Light of the World: he that followcth Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." These words contain a beautifully clear and precise statement of Christ's claim, the condition under which men can share that claim and His promise. If in the religious world the emphasis was laid upon the word "me"-he that iolloweth "Me"-there would be no need to rally men round certain creeds: but there would be a wholehearted desire to share Christ's ambition, namely, to bring nicn to follow him. Jesus Christ should be more upheld in the Christian pulpit; then men and women would more readily recognise Him as the Light of the World, and all Christians as one body, recognising one head, and walking with Him in light. Before Moses gave God's law to man they were blindly groping after God, as they are to-day; in heathen lands. Moses revealed to them their condition of hatred and unbelief and non-desire to escape from sin, their false ideals, and gave them instead true rules to follow. He pointed them to God. Men live on earth without God. lives apparently worthy of respect, successful in the world's eves, failures in God's. It was the coming of the bridegroom that revealed to the foolish virgins that their lamps lackcd oil. and so is man's helplessness revealed to him as the. light from Heaven breaks upon his soul and shows the great darkness within. He cannot walk in the light without accepting and being submissive- to God. No one can inherit, under the terms of the great Testament left by Christ Jesus except those that believe that Jesus was the light of the world. In the religious world many live and even do religious work .in darkness; they have terrible times of depression and doubt and darkness. All this would vanish if they made their religious convictions and practices coincide with the law of the Bible, if they truly believed the Psalmist's words. "Thy word is a lamp to my feet.'* Jesus' life and death were all to point men the way to eternal salvation; "The aim and object of his preaching, ' continued Mr Combridge, "had been not to produce grand homeletic sermons, but in simple, homely language to draw attention to the.everlasting truths and rules of conduct laid down in God's word, and he could truthfully say that he had neither added anything to the word nor taken anything away. He was now going forth to carry the message to other men and women, and he trusted that God would Mess not onlv those he

behind but those to whom he was

sent."

The _ congregation sang "God be ith \ ou Till We Meet Again,"' and

the service closed.