In this final moment with his students, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses their questions. The lecture contains a wide variety of topics such as hosting a Q&A after the sermon, Sunday school, multi-denominational meetings and societies, children sermons, professionalism, and announcements during the service. In this lecture titled “Questions & Answers (2),” listen to this dialogue as Dr. Lloyd-Jones interacts with these men in a caring and casual fashion. Primary themes from his “Preaching and Preachers” lecture series are emphasized. The power of the Holy Spirit must be evident, not only in the preacher, but also upon the listener. Dr. Lloyd-Jones wants nothing that will detract from this. As preaching must be central, Sunday schools, and other supplementary meetings, are subservient yet strengthened by the solid proclamation of the word. Dr. Lloyd-Jones is an advocate of meeting with ministers across denominational lines and gives practical tips on hosting these meetings. Amidst the variety of topics addressed, his love for the proclamation of God’s word, and his belief that nothing should become a distraction from the centrality of preaching rings again and again. He closes by encouraging his students in these challenging days: theirs is a great and magnificent opportunity to preach God’s word in this most difficult time.
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Questions & Answers (1)
As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones finishes his lectures on preaching and preachers, he answers student questions. In this first part titled “Questions & Answers (1),” Dr. Lloyd-Jones responds to the following questions: If he is preaching God’s word, why would a preacher ever cease to be gripped by his sermon? Why use illustrations from Scripture as opposed to modern-day situations? Is the preacher synonymous with elder? Reflecting on these questions and more, he warns against the repetition of sermons becoming mechanical. Addressing illustrations, he emphasizes the benefits of using Scripture. On the question of preaching and elders, Dr. Lloyd-Jones appeals to the use of multiple preachers and multiple preaching opportunities within the church. This leads to a question on the modern day use of the term “spirit-filled” and charismatic gifts. The power for preaching, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, is the anointing of the Spirit on a person for service and preaching. Spirit-filled preaching, therefore, is preaching that is clear, pointed, and comes with the forcefulness of truth. Listen in as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones interacts with his students in a winsome and humorous manner, emphasizing and summarizing important points from his “Preaching and Preachers” lecture series.
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The Spirit and The Power
What is the power in preaching? Is it in the preacher’s own preparation and scholarship? If it is, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that they are to be most miserable. In this sermon titled “The Spirit and the Power,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds upon what he believes to be the most important ingredient in preaching: the unction, or power, of the Holy Spirit. Consider the apostles: they had all of the teaching and preparation, but this was not enough. The Holy Spirit must come and give these men power to preach the gospel. In one’s own strength, the preacher is filled with only fear and trembling. He is a weak man; an “earthen vessel.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones tells of a minister who went to bed feeling utterly incapable, and awoke the next morning feeling like a lion ready to preach. What happened? This man was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This power in preaching gives the preacher clarity of thought and speech. It gives assurance and confidence in their proclamation of God’s word. This power, however, is not something the preacher can conjure up. It is a gift of God. Unction is something that comes upon, and takes hold of, the preacher. Listen as he encourages his students to pray for this power in their preaching.
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Pitfalls and Romance of Preaching
Should a preacher repeat his sermon? What are the dangers in doing so? Is it ever appropriate for a preacher to preach another person’s sermon? In this sermon titled “Pitfalls and Romance,” these questions are handled as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones lectures under the topic of preaching and preachers. A sermon takes on a personality of its own. As the preacher comes to know his sermons, there are certain benefits in preaching them again and again. Yet there are pitfalls. The preacher who is no longer moved by his sermon turns the act into a mere performance. The same applies to preaching another person’s sermon. While it may be useful on occasion, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the dangers in this habit. He emphasizes, however, that there is nothing like waking into one’s own pulpit with a fresh sermon. There is an uncertainty to the service and the preacher doesn’t really know what’s going to happen. Referencing this as the “romance” of preaching, he talks of times when his first point became its own sermon in the pulpit and the remaining points became a series. While repeating sermons may be useful, what a great privilege for the preacher to remain for many years in the same pulpit, preaching fresh sermons to a congregation.
The MLJ Trust presents original audio recordings of the sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981). Dr. Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture. Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John.
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