Associated With The King
A Sermon on Acts 6:1-4
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.
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.