Questions and Answers about Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on the True Nature of the Christian Church

What were the defining characteristics of the early church according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the early church was characterized by several key attributes:

1. They had an insatiable desire to gather together - they met "daily" and "continued steadfastly"
2. They prioritized the apostles' doctrine/teaching above all else
3. They enjoyed genuine fellowship based on their shared salvation
4. They regularly participated in the breaking of bread (communion)
5. They devoted themselves to prayer
6. They experienced great joy and singleness of heart
7. They praised God continually
8. They shared with one another according to need
9. They met not out of duty but out of delight

As Lloyd-Jones emphasizes: "They didn't meet in a formal manner, they didn't merely meet occasionally, they met daily, they continued steadfastly, they did so gladly, they did so willingly, they rushed to be together."

Why do people stay away from churches today according to the sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, people stay away from churches today largely because of what they see in those who claim to be Christians. He states:

"I can tell you why the majority of people in this country are outside the church tonight. It's not going to be a pleasant thing I'm going to say, but it's absolutely certain. They are outside very largely because of what they see in us who are inside."

Specifically, he points to:

1. The lackluster attendance and attitude of many churchgoers, who treat church as a duty rather than a delight
2. The contrast between the excitement people show for entertainment (like sports) versus their lethargy toward church
3. The lack of genuine transformation and passion in those who profess to be Christians
4. The church's attempts to entertain rather than teach solid doctrine
5. The absence of authentic Christian living that would make the world curious

Lloyd-Jones argues that superficial solutions like new Bible translations, films, or entertainment in services will not draw people in.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the proper order of priorities in the church?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that the proper order of priorities in the church should be:

1. Doctrine/teaching first
2. Fellowship second
3. Breaking of bread (communion)
4. Prayer

He strongly criticizes modern movements that reverse this order, particularly pointing to the Ecumenical Movement and parts of the Charismatic Movement that prioritize fellowship or experience over sound doctrine. He states:

"I am just showing you, in passing, that that is something which is entirely contrary to the New Testament emphasis. It is quite false, according to the New Testament teaching."

Lloyd-Jones explains: "It is doctrine that determines fellowship... You can't mix light with darkness or black with white, the thing is monstrous, and it's time that we all realized it and said it and acted upon it."

He argues that the early church put doctrine first because it is essential for testing spirits, building up believers, avoiding dangers, and equipping Christians to share their faith with others.

Why did the early Christians gather together so frequently according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the early Christians gathered together frequently for several reasons:

1. They shared the same salvation experience - "They had become members of the same family because they'd been born of the same spirit, and had got the same life in them."

2. They had been separated from the world - "They've seen that the world is under the wrath of God and is heading for destruction. They'd never seen that before, but they've seen it now."

3. They had the same outlook, experiences, desires, and hopes - "People of the same outlook get together. They like to share experiences and to talk about these things."

4. They were all focused on the same person (Jesus) - "Above all, they were all interested in the same person... they've got a common saviour and a common leader. And they want to meet together to talk about him and to praise his name."

5. They genuinely delighted in gathering - "It is quite clear that this became the big thing and the central thing and the controlling thing in their lives."

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this was not forced: "You see these people came together and met as the church, not as a matter of duty, not because they were pressed to do so... they did so gladly, they did so willingly, they rushed to be together."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the true nature of Christian fellowship?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that true Christian fellowship is much deeper than social interactions. He states:

"Fellowship is not just a polite shake of hands at the end of a very formal institutional service, that's not fellowship, neither is just eating buns and drinking tea fellowship."

Instead, true Christian fellowship is:

1. Based on shared spiritual life - "We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren."

2. An immediate spiritual recognition and connection - "You meet a man you've never met in your life before, you feel you know him at once, there's something in his very eye, there's something about him, you know he's a brother."

3. A preferential love for God's people - "I'd sooner be with you here tonight than in the greatest palace in this country with unbelievers, there's nobody on earth like God's people."

4. Not dependent on social status, intelligence, or education - "You don't care who they are, they may be very poor, they may not have a great brain, they may not have read much, but oh they're saints, and it does you good to be in their presence."

5. Superior to what the world offers - "Even just sitting with them sometimes saying nothing, it's superior to all the world has got to give."

Lloyd-Jones quotes David: "I would sooner be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticize the modern church's approach to evangelism?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes the modern church's approach to evangelism for several reasons:

1. Relying on superficial methods rather than authentic Christian living: "Some people say it is because they can't read the authorised version of the Bible. That's why we had to have a new translation... Others say that it's our antiquated methods and so on, and that we must have films and a bit of excitement and modern theatre and so on, and pop singing in our services. You're familiar with that kind of nonsense."

2. Misunderstanding why people stay away from church: "They are outside very largely because of what they see in us who are inside... if they see us every Sunday morning preferring to stay in bed rather than go to worship this great God in whom we say we believe, well, they say to themselves, well, they talk a lot, but evidently they don't believe it very much."

3. Emphasizing unity and fellowship over doctrinal truth: "The whole emphasis there is this, that you must put fellowship first. They say, don't put your doctrine first because doctrine always divides."

4. Focusing on entertainment rather than spiritual transformation: "The Christian church today is doing that sort of thing [entertainment], and still thinks she's the Christian church. She's not. And the world looks on and says, I needn't go to that place called a church to get that, I can get that in the world, and I can get it done very much better in the world."

Lloyd-Jones insists: "The only thing that is going to rouse the people of this country is to see a live Christian church, is to see a body of men and women like this who wouldn't miss this for anything."

What role does doctrine play in the Christian church according to the sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, doctrine plays a central and foundational role in the Christian church:

1. It should be the first priority: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, teaching, is put first. There is something again that needs to be emphasized tremendously at this present time."

2. It is essential for testing spiritual experiences: "You test it all by the doctrine, by the teaching, by the Word of God. It is the only way you can do it, and therefore you must put your doctrine before fellowship and anything else."

3. It is necessary for spiritual growth: "It is by teaching and doctrine alone that we can be built up, established in the faith... It's the only way to grow, and we're meant not to remain as children."

4. It protects from error and deception: "Believe not every spirit, but test the spirits... The devil, says Paul, can turn himself into an angel of light, and so he can deceive people."

5. It equips believers to share their faith: "Be ready at all times to give a reason for the hope that is in you."

6. It reflects the work of the Holy Spirit: "The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth... It is the Holy Spirit who is the real author of all the New Testament epistles."

7. It is definable and can be stated: "It is something that can be defined, it can be known, it can be defined, it can be stated... The New Testament tells you exactly what it is."

Lloyd-Jones strongly rejects the modern notion that doctrine cannot be defined, calling it "tragic" and "plotted in Nile of the New Testament."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe true prayer in the Christian church?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes true prayer as far more profound than mere ritualistic practices. According to him, prayer is:

1. Talking to God - "What is prayer, well it's really talking to God you know, it's not just getting on your knees and thinking beautiful thoughts, it's not just repeating the Lord's prayer mechanically."

2. A sacred audience with the divine - "Prayer, it's going into the holiest of all, it's entering into the presence of the eternal."

3. Something to be approached with reverence - He laments how some treat prayer casually: "The glib way in which they say it, if they speak like that about going to have an audience with the Queen of England in Buckingham Palace, I should think not, but that's how they speak about having an audience with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords."

4. A privilege - "What a privilege, what greater privilege can there be than that a number of us should be going together into the audience chamber of heaven, that's a prayer meeting."

5. An experience of boldness and joy - "For the first time they've known and discovered how to do it, and they do it with boldness, and they do it with rejoicing, and they know that they're speaking to God."

6. Not "dry, dull, boring" but "marvellous, wonderful, the highest of all privileges."

7. Something believers naturally desire - "That's why they did it, and they did it every day, they kept on, you couldn't stop them."

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that true prayer is something the early Christians treasured and practiced continually, not out of obligation but out of delight.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the three marks of the true church?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies three essential marks of the true church, drawing from the Protestant Reformers:

1. The true preaching of doctrine: "It is a place where the true doctrine is preached." This means the church faithfully teaches the apostolic doctrine found in Scripture, particularly regarding Christ's person and work.

2. The proper administration of sacraments: "Where the sacraments are regularly administered." This refers to baptism and the Lord's Supper (communion) being practiced according to biblical teaching.

3. The exercise of church discipline: "Where discipline is observed." Lloyd-Jones explains: "In other words, anybody can't come into this, only believers are admitted to this table, discipline, a man must live a life that corresponds or he's going to do harm to this cause, and especially to the harm of this great saviour, so you exercise discipline."

He affirms these three marks are present in the description of the early church in Acts 2:42-47, stating: "In a scriptural way, I've been reminding you of the three marks of the Christian church, as the protestant reformers used to put them."

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that these marks point to the essential spiritual nature of the church rather than institutional structures: "The church is not an institution, the church is not just great buildings, the church is not just a number of clever men arguing about philosophy... this is the church, that's what she was at the beginning."