The Call to Preach
A Sermon on the Call to Ministry
Scripture
Sermon Description
Who is to preach? What is the call to ministry? These questions come naturally to any man who rightly feels the weight of delivering the word of God to the people of God. Can any man stand in the pulpit and preach? Are there problems with the increasing number of churches relying on lay preachers? In this lecture on the call to ministry, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tackles this controversial topic from his series on “Preaching and Preachers”. More than this, he challenges preachers to think deeply about the notion of calling. While the idea of calling is often used by Protestants, sometimes it remains ambiguous in meaning and empty, and without specifics on how to apply the idea in a concrete manner. With great clarity Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines not just a definition of calling but how a man can begin to test his own calling. Dr. Lloyd-Jones considers further the training of preachers. He discusses various departments of theology such as systematic theology, the use of biblical languages, and church history. Listeners may find with Dr. Lloyd-Jones a surprising alternative to the dominant training model for homiletics. This lecture will benefit the listener whether they are a lay person in their church, a man testing his calling to preach, or a seasoned pastor trying to help other men discern their calling.
Sermon Breakdown
- The preacher is called by God through an inner conviction and external confirmation by the church. A call to preach is not something that is self-appointed or chosen as a profession.
- A call to preach is accompanied by a sense of unworthiness and inadequacy due to the weight of responsibility. The preacher is delivering God's message to save souls.
- The preacher requires training and preparation through gaining life experiences, education, knowledge of scripture, theology, church history, and languages. However, preaching itself cannot be taught and is a gift of God.
- The preacher should not focus on the mechanics or performance of preaching. Preaching should be natural and the preacher unselfconscious. The preacher should focus on loving God, loving others, knowing the truth, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- The preacher will face difficulties and discouragement. Reading about historical revivals and great preachers of the past provides encouragement.
- The preacher must preach the whole counsel of God's word, not just parts. He must preach systematically and logically, not just throw out disconnected thoughts.
- The preacher must be accurate and precise in his preaching, which requires knowledge of the biblical languages and training. However, the preacher's goal is to convey the message to ordinary people, not just scholars.
- Lay preaching, where any Christian can preach without a call or proper training, should be avoided. Preaching is a solemn task that requires a call from God and the church.
- The preacher is primarily a speaker, not just a writer. He must have the gift of speech and be able to communicate verbally. If a person cannot speak well, they are not suited to be a preacher.
- The preacher must have strong character, wisdom, patience, understanding of people, and spirituality. Natural abilities are secondary. Godly character and spiritual maturity are primary.
Sermon Q&A
Who Should Preach According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Who does Martyn Lloyd-Jones believe should be allowed to preach?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, not all Christians are meant to preach. He makes a clear distinction between every Christian being able to give a reason for their faith (as Peter mentions in 1 Peter 3) versus actual preaching of the gospel. He strongly opposes the concept of "lay preaching" where just any Christian man can take up preaching as a part-time activity. Lloyd-Jones believes that preaching should be done by those who are specifically called by God and confirmed by the church, and who can devote their full time and attention to this sacred task.
What biblical distinction does Lloyd-Jones make about sharing the faith versus preaching?
Lloyd-Jones points to Acts 8:4-5 to illustrate the biblical distinction between all Christians sharing their faith versus formal preaching. He notes that in the original Greek, two different words are used: "They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching [gossiping/conversationally sharing] the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached [heralded] Christ unto them." He explains that every Christian should be capable of conversationally sharing the faith, but only certain people are called to the official heralding of the message as preachers.
What are the signs of a true call to preach according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, a true call to preach includes:
- An internal spiritual pressure - something that happens to you rather than something you choose
- Often confirmation through others who may approach you about preaching
- A genuine concern about the spiritual state of others
- A sense of constraint where you feel you cannot do anything else
- A sense of diffidence, unworthiness, and inadequacy (like Paul who mentioned "weakness and fear and much trembling")
- Confirmation by the church that recognizes the call
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the greater the preacher, the more hesitant they have usually been to preach, showing appropriate reverence for the task.
What qualifications should the church look for in confirming someone's call to preach?
The church should look for:
- An unusual degree of spirituality (being filled with the Spirit)
- A settled assurance of faith (not constantly doubting or changing positions)
- Godly character and walk
- Wisdom, patience and understanding of human nature
- Mental ability to properly handle and divide the word of truth
- The gift of speech - since a preacher is primarily a speaker
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that while abilities matter, they should not be put first. Character and spiritual qualifications must precede considerations of talent.
What does Lloyd-Jones think about formal training for preachers?
While Lloyd-Jones believes in proper training for preachers, he emphasizes certain priorities:
- A thorough knowledge of the Bible and its message
- Knowledge of original languages for accuracy (though this is only a means, not an end)
- Sound systematic theology
- Church history (especially to understand heresies and revivals)
- Minimal emphasis on homiletics (sermon construction techniques)
He strongly opposes what he calls the "mechanics" of preaching instruction, such as sermon classes, critiquing gestures, or teaching "pulpit deportment." He states, "Preachers are born, not made," though they can be improved a little with the right kind of help.
Lloyd-Jones concludes that "the chief thing is the love of God, the love of souls, a knowledge of the truth, and the Holy Spirit within you. These are the things that make the preacher."
Sermons: Preaching and Preachers
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.