Associated With The King
A Sermon on Acts 6:1-4
Originally preached May 22, 1966
Scripture
1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not …
Sermon Description
Why is it so important to look at the early church and its practices? In this sermon on Acts 6:1–4 titled “Associated With the King,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives a very important reason. By looking at the early church, one can better understand what the message of the church is and is not. The apostles saw their task as preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a fallen world. This is not to deny that they believed in the importance of taking care of the poor and widows, but they saw their main task as preaching the message of Jesus. The modern church and world have failed to understand that the church’s essential mission is to preach the gospel as the only salvation for sinners. Many Christians are willing to talk about anything other than the message of Jesus Christ coming and dying so that sinners can be saved, but the message of the gospel is one that no one can afford to ignore. Christians must all believe that Jesus Christ is who God has proclaimed Him to be. This sermon calls all to examine themselves and see if they truly believe in this message of salvation through Christ and Christ alone as this is the only means of salvation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The church faced a crisis that threatened to distract it from its primary purpose.
- The apostles recognized that serving tables (meeting physical needs) was secondary to preaching the Word of God.
- The Word of God is the primary task of the church. Nothing should come before it.
- The Word of God is a clearly defined message, not vague or indefinite. It can be known.
- The content of the message is God himself, man's relationship to God, and the fact that the world's problems stem from not knowing God.
- The message begins with who God is, not with man's problems. It starts with God.
- The message reminds us that we are all under God and accountable to him.
- The message proclaims that there is an escape, a way of salvation and deliverance in Jesus Christ alone.
- Jesus Christ alone can save because he is the only savior. All other religions and philosophies have failed.
- Jesus Christ alone can save because God's way of salvation is in him alone. He is God's provision.
- Jesus Christ alone can save because only he can solve the real problem: the guilt of our sin against God.
- Jesus Christ alone can save because only he, as both God and man, could bear our punishment and represent us before God.
- The message is to believe in Christ, not live a better life or join a church. We are justified by faith alone.
- The message offers peace with God and escape from condemnation through faith in Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Priority of Preaching the Word?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon from Acts 6:1-4, here are key questions and answers about his teaching on the priority of preaching:
What was the crisis facing the apostles in Acts 6?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the apostles faced a critical decision when complaints arose that Greek-speaking widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. The crisis was whether the apostles should devote their time to this charitable work or continue their primary task of preaching. They concluded, "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables," showing that while charitable work was important, the preaching of God's Word must take priority.
Why did Lloyd-Jones believe the preaching of the Word must be the church's primary task?
Lloyd-Jones emphasized that while charitable work and social concerns are good and necessary, the church's primary responsibility is to preach God's Word. He stated, "The primary task of the christian church is to preach this word. Nothing must come before this." He argued that the church should not be "dabbling with politics and social questions" when its core mission is preaching the gospel message that alone can save souls for eternity.
What did Lloyd-Jones teach about the exclusivity of the Christian message?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones taught that the Christian message is exclusive because it is God's way of salvation, not man's invention. He stated, "All other teachings and all other proposals are only of men. All other religions are men made. This is of God." He emphasized that Christianity is not just another religion or philosophy but God's supernatural intervention in human history. This exclusivity means salvation comes through Christ alone, as only He could solve the fundamental problem of sin.
How did Lloyd-Jones define "the Word" that must be preached?
Lloyd-Jones defined "the Word" as the message that starts with God, not with human problems. It is revelation, not human thinking. It is clearly defined, not vague or indefinite. Its content focuses on humanity's fallen condition before God, our guilt of sin, and God's solution through Christ's death and resurrection. The Word proclaims that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as humanity's fundamental problem?
According to Lloyd-Jones, humanity's fundamental problem is not primarily sickness, unhappiness, or personal problems, but the guilt of sin before God. He states: "The first great problem of every human being is the problem of the guilt of our sin." Sin is rebellion and an insult to God's honor, glory, justice, and righteousness. Our primary need is not psychological improvement but deliverance from sin's guilt and reconciliation with God.
How did Lloyd-Jones explain salvation through Christ?
Lloyd-Jones explained that salvation comes through Christ alone who, as both God and man, was uniquely qualified to save humanity. He bore our punishment on the cross, satisfying God's justice. Salvation is received not by joining a church or trying to live better, but by faith alone in Christ's finished work. He stated: "All you and I have to do is to realize that we are sinners... and that Christ, the son of God, has died for us and borne our punishment. And that here and now, just as we are, without doing anything, we simply believe in him and trust our eternal future to him."
The Book of Acts
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His 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. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.