A Burning Heart
A Sermon on Luke 24:25-26
Scripture
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Luke 24:25–26 titled “A Burning Heart,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches from the New Testament passage regarding the two men walking to Emmaus. The gospel author uses four words to initially describe these men: “their hearts were sad.” Later, however, they undergo a massive emotional change as they end up with their “hearts burning within them.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones says there is nothing more important than this change because when people claim to be Christians and yet have a heavy heart, they are a poor witness: “Masses of people are outside the church today because they look at us and see what we are.” Are Christians making the gospel attractive to people? Are they, as Paul instructs them to be in 2 Corinthians 2:16, a sweet-smelling aroma? For many believers, it is still a struggle to live in the joy that is theirs in Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that the remedy for this is to pray and ask the Spirit to open one’s eyes to the truth and to enlighten them so that their heart rejoices. Sincere joy in the Lord will aid the Christian’s testimony.
Sermon Breakdown
- The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were sad and dejected.
- They were communing and reasoning with one another about Jesus' death.
- Jesus calls them "fools" and "slow of heart" for not believing what the prophets said about the Messiah suffering and being glorified.
- Their sadness and slowness of heart was due to focusing too much on Jesus' death and burial instead of also believing in His resurrection, as the prophets foretold.
- An illustration of a man who couldn't stop focusing on a traumatic event from his past shows how this mindset leads to sadness and ineffectiveness.
- The disciples didn't recognize Jesus because they were expecting a triumphant Messiah, not one who would suffer, die, and rise again. They only believed parts of the prophets' teachings that matched their expectations.
- Jesus explained from Moses and the prophets how the Messiah was to suffer, die, and rise again. As He did, their hearts began to burn within them.
- Recognizing the risen Jesus caused their hearts to burn even more and filled them with joy and zeal to tell others the good news.
- We can have burning hearts too by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us through the Scriptures, not through seeking visions and experiences.
- Having a burning heart comes from understanding and believing all of Scripture, not just selected parts that match our preconceptions.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About Having a Burning Heart for Christ?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon, here are key questions and answers about developing a vibrant Christian faith:
What was the main issue with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that these two disciples had hearts that were "sad" and "slow" rather than "burning." Despite the resurrection having occurred, they were dejected and focused entirely on Christ's death, unable to grasp His resurrection. They were so fixated on the tomb that they couldn't see beyond it, much like many Christians today who live as though Christ is still in the grave rather than risen and victorious.
Why does Lloyd-Jones believe many people stay outside the church today?
According to Lloyd-Jones, people remain outside the church because they look at Christians and "don't want what we've got." When comparing the enthusiasm of people attending sporting events versus the reluctance and lack of animation many show in attending church, he notes that Christians often give the impression that faith is merely a duty rather than a joy. Our sad countenance and lack of enthusiasm fails to attract others to Christ.
What was Christ's diagnosis of the Emmaus disciples' problem?
Christ diagnosed their condition with three key observations: 1. They were "fools" - not using their minds properly 2. They were "slow of heart" - having a spiritual lethargy 3. They failed "to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken" - picking and choosing which scriptures to believe rather than accepting the whole testimony about the Messiah
How did the disciples' hearts change from "sad" to "burning"?
Their hearts began to burn when Jesus explained the Scriptures to them - even before they recognized who He was. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this crucial point: "You can get the burning heart without having a literal vision of the Lord Jesus Christ." The burning heart came through Christ opening the Scriptures to them, showing how everything pointed to Him, including His suffering and glory.
What is Lloyd-Jones' prescription for Christians with "sad" or "slow" hearts?
Lloyd-Jones offers this practical advice: 1. "Don't wait for some ecstatic experience. Go to the scriptures." 2. "Plead with the Spirit to enlighten you, to unfold Him, to reveal Him." 3. "Don't give way to your feelings, your moods, your states, your conditions." 4. "Rouse yourself. Don't be a fool. Use your mind. Begin to think." 5. "Shake off dull sloth and lethargy and melancholy."
He concludes that as we properly engage with Scripture under the Spirit's guidance, Christ will manifest Himself to us, and our "happiness and slowness and dullness and sadness will vanish and disappear," being replaced with "this burning, glowing, radiant heart."
Itinerant Preaching
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.