Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

How can something be one and yet many different things? This is the nature of the church where each member is different, but part of one body. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:20–22 titled “Built Together by the Holy Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones probes into how this can happen and who produces it. First, Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a distinction between individuals and being individualistic. The former is, as he notes, a beautiful aspect of the church. Each stone is hewn differently—every Christian is different—but each stone does not pursue isolation. Each stone needs the others to be a temple. The differences in the church, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, spotlights the nature of a living God. However, who is the one responsible for the unity in the diversity? As he observes from Ephesians, the builder of the temple is the Holy Spirit (vs 22). As Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, the church is a miracle. The Holy Spirit must bring all to the conviction of their depravity and sin in order to shape and mold them into stones for the temple. Also, the Holy Spirit is the one who opens eyes to the truth of the gospel, gives understanding, produces the same fruit, and gives different gifts to members of the church. No one is able to do anything apart from Him.

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, every Christian is a part of “something more”—the church. This church is described as a “temple” in Ephesians 2:21. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:20–22 titled “The Growth of the Church,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones dives deeper into this illustration given by Paul and helps the Christian understand the privilege and responsibility that comes with being a part of the church. He notes that in temple construction the stones would be hewn before they were brought to the temple structure and from this he draws several principles. One, there is work done by the Holy Spirit prior to entrance to the church—the Holy Spirit saves the soul. Each Christian has been fashioned spiritually by God and in a way that won’t make sense to the watching world. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this is not because Christianity is irrational but because it is supra-rational. Also, the church is not simply a group of stones thrown together but a group of stones fashioned together by the builder. The church consists of believers and Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that God is not interested in a big church, but a holy church. He’s not interested in how many are on the church rolls, but how many “believe right doctrine and live accordingly.”

What is the most important part of a building? Some may think the walls or the floor, but it is always the foundation. In the church, it is no different. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:20–22 titled “Fitly Framed Together,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues teaching a further understanding of the nature of the church and the application that truth has for the Christian. Previously, Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounded on the importance of the foundation (apostles, prophets, and Christ being the cornerstone), but he turns to the stones being placed on the foundation—the church. First, each stone must be “truly and rightly related to that foundation” and to each other. Each stone (or church member) is different, but is still inseparably tied to the rest of the building. Also, each stone must be connected to the foundation. Ultimately God is the builder, but as Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, God uses pastors (1 Cor 3:10-15). Dr. Lloyd-Jones issues a warning for pastors that they are careful what they build the church with. Ploys can be used to build big churches, but only those who have a “vital union” with the foundation—Jesus—will last. God is building His church to be “harmoniously fitted together” with true believers of every type of person.

If a foundation is bad, the building will collapse. Therefore, one must ask, “What is the foundation of the church?” By the grace of God, the church has a stable foundation in the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone. In this sermon on the foundation of the church from Ephesians 2:20–22 titled “The Only Foundation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the nature and importance of that foundation. He argues that the church is a miracle. Paul argues that the unthinkable has happened: Jews and Gentiles are brought together in Christ. The foundation of the church is found in two statements: 1) “the apostle and prophets,” and 2) “Jesus Christ himself being the cornerstone” (verse 20). According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the first is referring to the people themselves, but also the doctrines that they set forth. The second refers to Jesus and means that everything is held together by Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that nothing can be added to or taken away from that foundation and there can be no unity apart from this foundation. One cannot be a Christian if they deny the person and work of Christ. Therefore, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to question what they believe about Jesus, if they know Him, and if they are in Him.

In his continued exposition of the analogies that are used for the church, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones comes to what he views as the deepest analogy of them all—a temple of God. In this sermon on building the temple of God from Ephesians 2:20–22 titled “A Habitation of God,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to the two themes of unity and privilege. Unity can be seen by the closeness and necessity of each brick of a building. Each brick can be different, but if one begins to take away bricks, the building will start to fall apart. The privilege of the church can be seen by the nearness to God. “God dwells within her” and this is the greatest privilege. Also, this is a temple being built by God, not by people, and it is a vital building. He exhorts grabbing hold of the nature of the church because a false view leads, and has lead, to issues in the church.