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Sermon #PP01

Primacy of Preaching

A Sermon on Preaching

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Sermon Description

After 42 years in ministry, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims the most urgent need in the church today is that of preaching. The world says it is outdated, but to Christians, it is the way God intended His word to be taught through the ages. Without question, there are things in the church that are wrong, such as traditionalism and institutionalism. However, preaching is still its primary task. In this sermon titled “Primacy of Preaching,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the key reasons why preaching has suffered a serious downgrade in the church today. He begins recounting those who make light of the orator’s ability, suggesting that if a man is a great speaker, then he is not honest. Another reason preaching has suffered is that with all the availability of information through radio, TV, and books, there is less perceived need for preaching. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that it is one thing to be a master of fine phrases, but not the master of the sacred text. Essays are not sermons, and eloquent oratory can be the form replacing the substance. He further points out how the emphasis on entertainment has damaged the power of the pulpit saying, “So much time is spent creating the atmosphere that there’s no time to preach in the atmosphere.” This downgrade impacts those outside the church. Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims that Jesus did not come into the world to heal the sick; He came to save sinners. The world did not stop Christ from doing miracles, but they crucified Him for His preaching. The preacher’s priority is not to serve tables, but to do the ministry of the word and prayer. Renewed preaching always heralds the dawn of reformation.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. There is a decline in preaching and its importance in the modern church. This is due to general attitudes in society and specific issues within the church.
  2. In society, there is a distrust of eloquence and oratory. People prefer plain speaking and regard oratory as dishonest or manipulative. There is also an emphasis on reading over listening.
  3. Within the church, there has been a loss of belief in biblical authority and doctrine. Preaching has declined as the church has turned to moralism and ethics.
  4. There has also been a reaction against the "pulpitiers" of the 19th century who were focused on oratory and professionalism over truth. Their style has brought preaching into disrepute.
  5. The wrong view of the sermon as an essay or literary work has also contributed to the decline in preaching. The focus has been on form over substance.
  6. The increased emphasis on the formal elements of worship like liturgy, ritual, and music has led to a decrease in preaching. Preaching is seen as less dignified.
  7. The use of entertainment and testimonies has replaced preaching. Preaching is seen as unattractive while entertainment and stories are more appealing.
  8. Personal counseling and social work have also replaced preaching. Preaching is seen as ineffective for modern problems. Social work and relationships are seen as more helpful.
  9. Some argue the church itself is an obstacle to faith and should be abandoned for social work and relationships. Preaching and the church are seen as outdated.
  10. However, preaching is the primary task of the church according to the Bible and church history. Jesus and the apostles focused on preaching and teaching over other works.
  11. When the church has declined, it has been due to a lack of preaching. When it has reformed or revived, it has been through a renewal of preaching. Strong preaching marked the Reformation and other revivals.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Primacy of Preaching: Questions and Answers

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones consider to be the most urgent need in the Christian church today?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the most urgent need in the Christian church today is preaching. He states explicitly: "I would put it like this, that the most urgent need in the Christian church today is that of preaching. And as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world that is outside." He considers preaching to be "the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called."

What are the main factors that have contributed to the decline of preaching according to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several factors that have contributed to the decline of preaching:

  1. The loss of belief in the authority of the Scriptures
  2. A reaction against the "pulpiteers" (especially Victorian-era preachers) who focused more on showmanship than substance
  3. A wrong conception of what a sermon really is (literary essays rather than true preaching)
  4. A shift toward emphasizing the "address" or "talk" instead of the sermon
  5. An increased emphasis on ceremonial aspects of worship and liturgy
  6. The growth of entertainment elements in church services
  7. The rise of personal counseling and "personal work" at the expense of preaching
  8. Modern technology like tape recordings

He notes: "As preaching went down, personal counseling went up" and observes that many churches have physically moved pulpits from the center to make way for altar-like structures.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to the idea that social action should replace preaching?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones firmly rejects the notion that social action should replace preaching. He references Acts 6:1-2 as a crucial biblical example, where the apostles faced a social need (widows being neglected in food distribution) but declared: "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables."

Lloyd-Jones states: "Now there you've got your priorities laid down once and forever. This is the primary task of the church, the primary task of the leaders of the church... And we must not allow anything to deflect us from this, however good the cause, however great the need."

He doesn't dismiss social action as unimportant but considers it "secondary at best" compared to the primacy of preaching, following Christ's example who performed miracles but primarily came as "the light of the world" to teach and preach.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones view the relationship between church history and preaching?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones sees a direct correlation between the vitality of the church and the quality of preaching throughout church history. He states: "The decadent periods and eras in the history of the church have always been those periods when preaching had declined."

Conversely, he observes: "What is it that always heralds the dawn of a reformation or of a revival? It is renewed preaching, not only a new interest in preaching, but a new kind of preaching, a revival of true preaching."

He points to historical examples like the Protestant Reformation (Luther, Calvin, Knox, Latimer, Ridley), the Puritan era, and the 18th-century revivals (Edwards, Whitefield, the Wesleys) as periods when great movements of God were accompanied by great preaching. This historical pattern confirms his belief in the primacy of preaching in the church's mission.

What biblical examples does Lloyd-Jones use to support the primacy of preaching?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses several biblical examples to support the primacy of preaching:

  1. Jesus Christ's ministry - While Jesus performed miracles, Lloyd-Jones notes these were "secondary" and "signs." Christ described himself as "the light of the world" and prioritized teaching.

  2. Christ's rejection of kingship - After feeding the 5,000, Jesus withdrew when people wanted to make him king (John 6:15), showing he rejected political solutions as primary.

  3. Christ's refusal to be a judge - When asked to settle an inheritance dispute, Jesus replied, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" (Luke 12:14).

  4. The apostles' priority after Pentecost - They immediately began preaching (Acts 2), and continued this emphasis throughout Acts.

  5. The apostles' response to social needs - In Acts 6:1-4, they appointed others to serve tables while they devoted themselves to "prayer and the ministry of the word."

  6. The scattered church - In Acts 8:4-5, when persecution scattered believers, "they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word."

  7. Paul's instructions to Timothy - "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2) and to train others who can teach (2 Timothy 2:2).

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.