The Chief End of Man
A Sermon on John 4:13-14
Originally preached Oct. 30, 1966
Scripture
13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting …
Sermon Description
What is the chief end of man? While this question is often asked, few answer it as Jesus Christ does. Jesus Christ tells that each and every one was made to worship God in spirit and in truth. This is humanity’s purpose but the great tragedy is that many do not worship God rightly. Even in the church, many turn worship into nothing more than emotion or reduce it to a bare intellectual exercise. These stand in opposition to true worship that is concerned not only with the form of worship, but also with the heart in worship. Only those who can worship rightly are those who have been saved from sin and made inheritors of God’s kingdom. In this sermon on John 4:13-14 titled “The Chief End of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that before the church can evangelize the world, it must first undergo a revival as it is only a church that worships God rightly that can be a light in the world for Christ. This sermon calls all to ask themselves if they know God and worship Him rightly as this is the chief end for which humanity was created.
Sermon Breakdown
- The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman shows us the hindrances that stand between us and realizing what is offered in John 4:13-14.
- The blessing offered is new life as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. This is the fundamental message of John's gospel.
- The state of the church today can be explained by failing to realize this fullness of life offered in Christ.
- A revived church evangelizes effectively. God starts revival in his people, then the world comes to hear the message.
- Do we have this well of water springing up in us? If not, why not? We must consider the hindrances.
- Wrong ideas of worship and wrong ideas of God are two hindrances suggested in John 4:19-24.
- Nothing is more important than worship. It is the ultimate end of salvation - to bring us to God.
- This woman shows the inadequacy and wrongness of her ideas about worship and God. Jesus shows her, her ideas are valueless.
- Our worship is often thoughtless, ignorant, governed by habit, custom, tradition and prejudice like this woman.
- We must ask if we know what we're doing in worship. Do we know what worship is? Have we asked God to teach us like the disciples did?
- Much of our worship is hypocritical because of thoughtlessness, ignorance, and being governed by habit, custom and prejudice.
- The devil works to prevent our worship. We must watch for his devices.
- One device is thinking worship is confined to certain places, like "this mountain" or the temple. But Jesus says true worship is in spirit and truth, not confined to places.
- Another device is having our worship determined and controlled by places - acting differently in different buildings. But it should be the same, as it's the same God.
- Another device is only worshipping at particular times, like the Pharisees. But biblical worship isn't confined to set times. It should be continual.
- Another device is thinking worship is merely external like posture, forms, ceremonies or ritual. But true worship is in spirit and truth.
- Another device is thinking worship is purely intellectual - just hearing sermons. But worship should lead to and promote worship, not just be hearing sermons.
- Another device is a purely psychological notion of worship - thinking it's about feeling good through beautiful services or positive thinking. But worship is about God, not us.
- Another device is taking up religion but confusing it with worship. Some attend worship from fear, to gain merit, or as insurance. But true worship is of God.
- Wrong ideas of God also hinder us. Our ideas of God are often vague, pagan, of a force or power, the absolute, creator only, terrorizing, or presumptuous.
- We must ask what our thoughts of God are, especially in times of crisis. That reveals what we really think of God.
- The need is to know the living God. This is eternal life - to know the only true God and Jesus Christ. Do we know and worship him?
Sermon Q&A
What Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About True Worship of God?
What is the main theme of this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
The main theme of this sermon is true worship of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines how wrong ideas of worship and wrong ideas of God are major hindrances that prevent Christians from experiencing the fullness of Christian life described in John 4:13-14. He explains that the ultimate purpose of Christianity is not merely to make us happy but to bring us into a right relationship with God through true worship.
According to Lloyd-Jones, what is the "well of water" Jesus refers to in John 4?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the "well of water springing up into everlasting life" that Jesus offers represents the full Christian experience - a life of spiritual abundance and satisfaction. He explains that Jesus offers us "new life, which will be in us like a well of water springing up into everlasting life, that having this, we shall never thirst." This represents the fullness of spiritual life that satisfies our deepest spiritual needs.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the most urgent need of the church today?
Lloyd-Jones identifies revival as the most urgent need of the church today, not evangelism. He states: "To me, the most urgent need of the hour is not evangelism. It is revival of the church because it is a revived church that evangelizes in the most effective manner." He explains that throughout church history, God's way of evangelism has been to start a work in His own people by transforming "formal, lifeless people" who then attract the world to the church.
What are the two main hindrances to true worship that Lloyd-Jones addresses?
The two main hindrances Lloyd-Jones addresses are: 1. Wrong ideas of worship - when worship becomes mechanical, confined to certain places, limited to specific times, or reduced to external forms 2. Wrong ideas of God - when our concept of God is vague, pagan, or we see Him merely as a distant creator, a terrifying force, or an indulgent father
He emphasizes that these two hindrances are intimately related yet distinct, and both prevent us from experiencing the fullness of Christian life.
How does Lloyd-Jones describe thoughtless worship?
Lloyd-Jones describes thoughtless worship as worship performed mechanically without realizing what we're doing. He says: "Haven't you often found yourself doing that? You've got on your knees by the side of your bed. And you have said your prayers. And you haven't realized what you were doing. You are thinking about something else. While you are actually uttering the words." He calls this "the most terrible thing of all that it is possible for our worship to be quite thoughtless."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about worship being confined to certain places?
Lloyd-Jones critiques the idea that worship should be confined to specific places like churches or chapels. He points out how many people imagine they can only worship in church buildings, as if "they couldn't get into contact with God out in the open air or somewhere else." He also notes how some people's behavior in worship changes completely depending on the type of building they're in, showing their worship is "controlled by this accident of place" rather than by the Spirit.
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast "saying prayers" with true prayer?
Lloyd-Jones draws a sharp distinction between "saying prayers" and truly praying. He states: "Saying prayers is not praying." He describes how many people approach prayer as a mechanical duty, something they do at set times as part of their routine, without genuine engagement. True prayer, by contrast, involves a real communion with God rather than merely reciting words or going through motions as an external duty.
What psychological approach to worship does Lloyd-Jones criticize?
Lloyd-Jones criticizes a purely psychological approach to worship where people seek "beautiful services" for aesthetic pleasure or emotional comfort. He describes those who measure worship by whether they "feel better" afterward rather than by whether they've truly encountered God. He mentions specifically the concept of "positive thinking" and those who promote "five minutes a day for health's sake" as their concept of prayer, which he says is merely "psychological treatment masquerading as worship."
What does Lloyd-Jones say is the test of our true thoughts about God?
Lloyd-Jones says the time of crisis is the true test of what we think about God. He states: "You can go on with your habit and custom and tradition, with your forms and ceremonials or your intellectualization. It's all right as long as everything's going well. But the moment you're in trouble, that's the test. What are your thoughts of God then? What you feel at that moment? That's the test always."
How does Lloyd-Jones define what true worship is?
While Lloyd-Jones focuses more on what true worship is not in this sermon (promising to address true worship in his next sermon), he does indicate that true worship involves knowing the living God in a personal way, approaching Him with reverence and godly fear, and worshiping "in spirit and in truth." He emphasizes that true worship is not mechanical, confined to places or times, or merely intellectual, but involves a living communion with God that transforms our daily lives.
The Book of John
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.