Episodes
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1 Corinthians 14:23-25 — What creates many problems in church? In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 14:23–24 titled “The True Church,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states that what causes so many problems in church is that Christians do not know what the church is. Because they do not know what the church is supposed to be, they have conflict and divisions. Throughout this letter, the Apostle Paul addresses many of the issues by pointing them to what God has made the church to be. He tells them that the church is about the preaching of the word of God and the mutual building up of believers. When Paul comes to the issue of spiritual gifts, he tells them that as members of Christ’s body, they are to love one another and put each other first. This radical ethic of love ought to inform all Christians of how they live with one another, and how they are to love one another. Spiritual gifts are not for oneself; they are so that each person can help others and build up the body of Christ. This is a great message that is vital to all believers.
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Acts 8:4 — Christianity began as a small movement in a vast, often hostile Roman Empire. How did it grow? What factors contributed to it eventually becoming the dominant religion of the empire? Moreover, what can be learned from the early church as the culture reverts back to hostile paganism? In this sermon on Acts 8:4 titled “They Went Everywhere Preaching,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones highlights the vital importance of men like Peter, Paul, and the other apostles as they preached the good news around the empire. Interestingly, he notes the role persecution played in the spread of the gospel. However, Dr. Lloyd-Jones specifically points to the witness and testimony of ordinary members of the Christian church as being a means God regularly uses to spread the truth about Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones comments on how often the Holy Spirit uses ordinary Christians to preach the word. He emphasizes that the spread of the gospel comes by the preaching of the word, not just talking about oneself. Christians must consider today how God has used ordinary men and women in ordinary conversation, preaching the extraordinary message of Christ to evangelize the world. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches why “gossiping” the gospel is of such great importance.
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Episodes manquant?
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Acts 12:5 — What is the church’s greatest weapon? Some may say organizations or church events, but Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues in his sermon on Acts 12:5 that “our ultimate weapon is that of prayer.” The church has been through hard times since its existence, and Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that it is helpful to realize how the church has handled it in the past. In verse five, the answer is provided as to how the early church handled persecution — their prayer was made without ceasing. Dr. Lloyd-Jones seeks to deal with two aspects of prayer from Acts 12: “How does God answer prayer?” and “When does God answer prayer?” First, concerning the text, Peter was in prison during the last night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and therefore could not be put to death, but would be executed the next day. In light of this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones takes note of Peter’s ability to sleep— it was a gift from God. Also, God answered through the miraculous, as can clearly be seen by his escape. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the believer to have faith and expect answers to prayers. Second, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues from this text that God sometimes waits until the last moment to answer prayer in order to test and train.
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1 Corinthians 3:11 — What is the hope for humanity? It was once believed civilization would bring a utopian society. The world developed around the idea that philosophy, education, knowledge, culture, and housing would create harmony among humans. On the contrary, civilizations have produced greater and more violent wars. Civilization has ended not in utopia, but failure. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:11 tilted “The Right Foundation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores divisions in the Corinthian church. Unity is threatened as a popularity contest ensues. The apostle Paul is compelled to deal with the problem as it affects the cross. The Corinthian problem is found in their cracked foundation. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that if the foundation is not right, nothing is right. The right foundation deals with two fundamental questions. First, who is man? And second, who is God? The right foundation is laid, not by humans, but by God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without this foundation, life becomes completely meaningless, descending into chaos and division. What is the problem with humanity? The answer is not the lack of education, politics, or culture. The human problem is that humanity has built its own foundation on sand. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims Jesus Christ alone as the adequate foundation.
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Joshua 4:21 — In guilt and shame, where is salvation found? The history of the church is a story which reminds the listener that no one is without hope, because salvation is the work of God. In this message on Joshua 4:21 titled “What Means These Stones?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the testimony of stones. After four hundred years of enslavement, Israel was being led out of Egypt. The Egyptians believed they were going to conquer Israel, but God was going to conquer the Egyptians. Stones would be set a reminder for generations to come that it is God who saves. God saves through judgement and deliverance. Dr. Lloyd-Jones continues through the biblical narrative and two-thousand years of church history, demonstrating that the Christian’s story is a story of God’s action, not of any human. It is a story of God’s power, not humanity’s. The greatest danger, therefore, is to forget history and turn Christianity into a mere philosophy of teaching. On the contrary, God acts through history and the Christian proclaims and remembers His actions. Nobody is hopeless because God is mighty. He can regenerate the hardest heart. He will save and deliver. As these stones were meant to teach, listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the meaning of these stones to today’s generation.
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Acts 24:1-27 — Christians are heralds of good news and have been sent with a message. In this sermon on Acts 24:1–27, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses what this message is not. It is not entertainment or personal stories or testimony. The Christian life is not a mere social message against war, injustice, or poverty. It’s a message of righteousness and the reality that all will stand before God. As the book of Acts comes to a close, the Apostle Paul stands before the Roman governor, Felix, to explain the Christian message. He doesn’t address the ills of Rome or his wrongful imprisonment. On the contrary, Paul proclaims the reality of judgement and righteousness, boldly declaring the Christian message––the hope of Jesus Christ. Felix trembles, yet being disturbed is not enough. The hearer must respond to Christ in repentance. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies this narrative to the modern church and exhorts the church to faithfully proclaim the message delivered to the saints. Sinners must be ready to meet God face-to-face. The preacher must, therefore, prefer the opinions of God before the opinions of humanity, and the hearer must believe the gospel.
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Daniel 6:1-28 — Throughout daily living, how might a Christian best take the message of Jesus Christ to the lost? In this sermon on Daniel 6:1–28 titled “How to Take the Christian Message to the Masses,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the life and testimony of Daniel. Daniel’s God was displayed through his exemplary lifestyle and trust in the midst of difficult circumstances. Applying Daniel’s life to modern opportunities, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones questions popular notions behind personal witnessing and directs the listener to take heed to Daniel’s example. Should personal witnessing be relegated to a specific task at appointed times? Should it concern the Christian when witnessing becomes an event, yet one doesn’t witness at work? He argues that the Christian witness need not be organized, but must encompass one’s entire life. Christian witnessing must affect the way Christians work and study––they do their very best. When calamity strikes, Christians are a witness through a calm and quiet trust in God. The Christian faith must be shown to be the governing factor in their life. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges for the faithfulness of ordinary Christian people in the public sphere, attracting others to their life. And when others ask questions of their life and trust, Christians bear testimony to their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Matthew 7:13-14 — “Why are Christians so narrowminded?” This is a frequent charge against Christians, but according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the great danger is actually when Christians in the church become broadminded. In order to curry favor with “the man of learning,” the church is cutting and trimming the gospel message. Instead Christians must embrace the narrow way, and preach the whole truth of the gospel with holy boldness. In this sermon on Matthew 7:13–14 titled “The Narrow Way,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines the words of Jesus Christ who taught much on the soul during His years of ministry on the earth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives several examples of Jesus’s life and teaching where He focused on the human response to His message. The message of Jesus Christ is intimately narrow, and intensely personal so that every individual must face it alone. The narrowness of the gospel is seen most clearly in the saving work of Jesus Christ, because there is no other way of salvation. Jesus lived His whole life on earth by the narrow way, eventually leading to His death on the cross. But the narrow way ultimately leads to eternal life as seen in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. The wide way, however, leads to destruction.
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Exodus 33:1-23 — What should the church do when it is compromised and apathetic? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues effectively that the answer is revival. In this sermon on the backslidden church from Exodus 33:1–23 titled “Revival of a Backslidden Church,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives four essential steps to revival: 1) the church must identify with the state of the people; 2) it must separate to meet with God; 3) it must be urgent in prayer; and 4) it must want more of God. First, Moses saw the state of the people and reacted by standing in the gap and preached truth to the people, even if people did not react favorably. Today’s church must do the same. Second, he moved the camp out from the people, and those who are spiritually alive, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, must do the same. He notes the examples in church history such as the Wesley brothers, George Whitefield’s “Holy Club,” and others. Next, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues, “Orthodoxy alone will not win the battle” but Christians must urgently pray with faithful expectation. They must pray with “holy boldness.” Lastly, Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges the Christian not to settle, but to desire more of God. Moses desired more of God than he was given (lest Moses die), but the result was still a powerful manifestation of God.
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1 Thessalonians 1:5 — Does the passing of time necessitate a change in one’s method of evangelism? Does it mean the Christian must change the ways they communicate with a lost world? In this sermon on 1 Thessalonians 1:5 titled “The Problem of Evangelism,” Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones give an emphatic “no” in response to these questions facing the church today. Dr. Lloyd-Jones takes the listener to the apostle Paul’s words to the Thessalonians regarding evangelism and the power of the gospel. The problem Paul and the early church faced is the same problem before the church today. It is the problem of people worshipping idols rather than the Creator. It is the problem of people facing the wrath and judgment of God. But as Christians consider how to share the good news of Jesus who can redeem such a people, they must reject the modern idea that changing methods of evangelism is the solution. They must reject the idea that power, money, and advertising are necessary for gospel influence. When Christians proclaim the gospel, they do so out of confidence in the gospel to save. Be encouraged as Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that the New Testament shows all the necessary elements for effective evangelism today: preachers who proclaim truth and the testimony of changed lives. This is how the gospel was spread centuries ago and how it spreads today.
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Hebrews 2:1-4 — What does it mean to look forward to the heavenly kingdom of God? The Bible tells that all believers are pilgrims and sojourners waiting for the day that Christ will return and make all things new. Christ will complete the salvation that He has begun and all who believe will be finally and fully freed from sin and death. This is the most important truth for anyone because all are in sin and depravity. But God comes to sinners in grace and gives them freedom and adoption in Him. In this sermon on Hebrews 2:1–4 titled “How Shall We Escape?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches that all are in need of Christ. Human wealth and wisdom cannot compare with what God has given all His children, to the grace that has been freely bestowed up all who trust in His Son. The sermon calls the listener to lay aside pride and self-reliance, and trust wholly on God. It offers great encouragement to those who believe. To those who do not believe, it calls them to flee from sin and trust in God alone.
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Luke 24:25-27 — What do two hopeless disciples have to teach the church of today? In this sermon on Luke 24:25–27 titled “A Picture of the Church,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches how the disciples who met the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus were hopeless because they did not understand what the Messiah had come to do. They believed that when Jesus died, they thought that he had failed. The modern day church often trusts in the wrong things and misunderstands what Christianity is all about. The church becomes hypocritical, and this hypocrisy drives away those on the outside. What is the answer to this problem? The example of John Wesley has much to teach. He was evangelizing the lost while he was still cold and dead on the inside as an unregenerate man. Could the church be the same way? They are in sin and unbelief, trying to share the gospel. The answer to this is to come to Jesus Christ who saves and gives all a new heart and mind to love and serve Him. The answer to the sad state of the church and to the soul of everyone is to believe in Jesus who saves completely.
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Acts 2:42 — Unity for the sake of unity is a current cultural movement. The culture encourages unity, to avoid division, to love everyone, and let others live as they please. According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, this movement isn’t confined to secular spheres of influence. It is also present in local churches. There is a great movement underway among churches to be ecumenical; that is, to focus on fellowship, love, and unity across all denominations rather than focusing on doctrinal differences. It is the idea that fellowship must come before doctrine and this movement needs careful consideration. The foundational issue at stake concerns the teaching found in the Bible about the doctrine of the church. What is a church? What are its objectives and goals? What does it provide and how does it function? As Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines the early church in this sermon from Acts 2:42, he focuses on the importance of correct doctrine for the life of the church. Doctrine is held in high regard and is the most important feature of the biblical text. The apostolic teaching and focus on doctrine must have preeminence and then, following from necessity, comes fellowship within congregations. If fellowship is allowed to reign over doctrine, confusion and compromise is invited into its midst. This allows the thinking and desires of humanity to direct actions, rather than the supremacy of Scripture.
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1 Corinthians 2:1-16 — In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones explains three things about modern humanity that are worth noting. First, amidst all their problems, though baffled, the modern person will listen to any counsel but the Bible. Second, people today are hero worshippers, but have no interest in the greatest hero, Jesus Christ. Third, humanity is interested in great events, yet passes by the cross unconcerned by its magnitude. Through careful exegesis of a portion of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Dr. Lloyd-Jones exposes that before people are converted to God’s fold, humanity’s primary issue is that he approaches the world wrongly. He thinks that by observation, science, and philosophy that he can answer the questions of life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then reveals the splendor of the truth of God. God gives us the mind of Christ upon conversion and the Spirit that searches for the deep things of God. It is with this mind that we can become spiritually discerning, since it is given to us by the creator and inventor of these truths. The natural man does not understand the things of God and the world's eyes are darkened to these truths but if Christ is embraced, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, Christians must prepare to become “fools for Christ's sake.”
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