"I have not heard such preaching for years" - Dr. Wilbur Smith
Spirit-anointed Proclaiming of Eternal Truths
Reflecting on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's preaching one evening, American theologian Dr. Wilbur Smith said the following:
"I have not heard such preaching for years. One thing I determined in my own soul. I would never be satisfied again, as long as I live, with preaching anything but the very best that I have in deadly earnestness and, pray God, in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is preaching." 1
Such were the words of Dr. Smith after hearing Dr. Lloyd-Jones preach a sermon from Jeremiah 17:14-15 entitled "The Unbeliever " on Sunday evening, July 17, 1955. Dr. Smith, who was known for his scholarly work in defending biblical inerrancy, had been visiting London and made it a point to visit Westminster Chapel one of the Sundays during his stay.
Listen: "The Unbeliever - A Sermon on Jeremiah 17:14-15"
This powerful testimony speaks to the profound impact that Dr. Lloyd-Jones had on those who heard him preach, even fellow theologians and biblical scholars. His sermons were known not merely for their intellectual depth, but for their spiritual power and earnestness—qualities that deeply moved even seasoned preachers like Dr. Smith.
1 Iain H. Murray, The Life of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Volume 2 (1899–1981) (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1990), 330.