MISSION AT ST, MATTHEW’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 16

MISSION AT ST, MATTHEW’S

YESTERDAY’S SERVICES In continuing the mission which he is conducting at the St. Matthew’s Church, the Rev. W. B. Bentley preached yesterday on the “Reality of the Unseen.” In the afternoon he addressed a large gathering of men on “The Responsibility of Life,” and last evening he spoke on “God’s Idea of His Church.” In last evening’s address he said that the various Protestant denominations were dealing with a diluted Gospel, and were gradually losing ground in consequence. “The greatest need of our time is the reunion of Christendom, and we must all come back to the Divine idea before the world can be reached and saved,” he said. Mr. Bentley will preach this evening on “The Relations of Repentance and Conversion.” CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH MT. ROSKILL SERMON At the Mount Roskill Congregational Church last night, Pastor Reuben E. Dowle spoke on “Christ the Son of the Living God,” basing his sermon on Matt, xvi., 15-16. Mr. Dowle said it may be asked, was this confession of St. Peter’s inspired, or reasoned out? It was both, inspired and reasoned. Here one had a glimpse of the humanity of our Lord. He was human, too the text would suggest, for Jesus really wanted 1 to know the effect of I-lis teaching on . the Jews and the opinion of His own chosen disciple^. Jesus had been performing many wonderful miracles*. ITe had satisfied I 4,000 people with seven loaves and a | few small fishes, taking up after the feast seven baskets full. Was it any wonder that Jesus should ask, “Whom do men say that I am” and, also, the opinion of His own chosen disciples? The disciples said the people thought Him to be one of the prophets. It was Peter who exclaimed in answer to Christ’s all-searching question, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” There was in this incident something that made Christianity different from all other religions. Those of pagan antiquity were clearly seen \o be mere systems of philosophy. Christ alone claimed to be the Divine Son of God. He was, He says, “the light of the world.” Then again there came a conviction of sin into Peter’s mind. There were two stages of truth, it was stated, “When we grip the truth and when the truth grips us.” Peter felt his innermost being opened unto the Son of the living God. The avenue of the mind was not the only avenue by which truth enters.