Common Questions about Preaching and Pastoral Ministry According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Should a church have meetings to discuss the sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones expresses caution about regular meetings specifically to discuss sermons. He states: "I'm only hesitating about the discussion of the sermon. I have only one reason for saying that. I'm all out, of course, for people who have a genuine difficulty or perplexity, having access to the preacher." His concern is that such meetings might produce "a congregation of examiners" who listen critically rather than coming under the power of the Word. Instead, he favors:

"Another type of meeting which I not only approve of, but which I would encourage very much. And that is that the congregation or the church should meet together for mutual edification, in this way that they meet together in terms of a fellowship of believers. And there they can consider together the problems of the Christian life."

How should a preacher conduct fellowship meetings for believers?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes his method for fellowship meetings:

1. Begin with Scripture reading and prayer
2. Ask if anyone has "a problem or a difficulty or some remarkable experience" to share
3. Put the question to the members for discussion rather than immediately answering it yourself
4. Guide the discussion through occasional questions and cross-examination
5. Sum up the discussion, applying Scripture and giving an answer

He notes: "That was one of the most profitable meetings imaginable. It does so many things at one and the same time. It prevents people from taking a too theoretical view of the Christian life. It's very practical, and yet it's at the same time scriptural as well as being experimental."

Should preachers encourage note-taking during sermons?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones generally discouraged note-taking during sermons, unlike his predecessor Dr. Campbell Morgan. His reasoning:

"It's a part of my whole conception of preaching. My case is this, that while preaching does deal with and proclaim particular truths, the whole is much more important than the collection of the submission of the parts."

He explains: "The preachings, the sermons that affected me most of all are ones about which I can tell you very little in detail. It was their total effect upon me that mattered, not so much the particular statement." He draws a distinction: "In lectures, take notes, but not in sermons."

What is the role of Sunday School in church ministry?

Despite his emphasis on preaching, Dr. Lloyd-Jones affirms the importance of Sunday School: "I'm a believer in Sunday schools." He explains that Sunday School should focus on teaching children the facts of Scripture "so that later on, if they happen to be listening to a preacher who chooses illustrations from the scriptures, they'll know what he's talking about."

He notes the historical significance: "Until about the end of the last century, the Sunday school was the university of Wales." However, he cautions against preaching to children or pressuring them to make decisions, focusing instead on Scripture instruction.

How important are ministerial fellowships?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones was a strong advocate for ministers meeting together regularly for fellowship and mutual encouragement:

"The minister can be a very lonely man... This is where meeting with his brethren and having [problems] brought out and hearing others, it's quite remarkable... A man will get up and state a problem that had been almost crushing him... Then they get up one after another, and they're amazed to hear this man putting this question, because that's exactly their position."

He notes two important qualifications: the fellowship should be limited to evangelical ministers, and ministers should be recommended by current members rather than simply walking in.

Should preachers give children's sermons?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones was firmly against children's sermons. His reasons included:

1. Personal inability: "I found I couldn't do it. I was very bad at it."
2. Speaking to children is "a very definite gift" that not all preachers possess
3. The greatest need is preaching to adults: "I almost resent any of that time being taken in a children's address."
4. Children's sermons are a recent innovation: "This children's sermon only came in last century."
5. Children can understand more than we think: "We underestimate the capacity of children for understanding."

He concludes: "I would take my stand as giving the whole time to the full preaching of the gospel to the adults. And I would grudge any time taken out of that."

How can preachers avoid professionalism when reading Scripture?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges this as "the biggest problem of all in the ministry." His advice:

1. "Realize the danger" - awareness is the first step
2. Be mindful of "the importance of your own spiritual state and condition"
3. "Never read the scriptures without praying"

He adds: "If you are praying to be made a more able minister and to serve God better and to know him better, you will then be in a spiritual state and condition that is most likely to prevent you dropping into that particular trap."

Should preachers acknowledge their sources during sermons?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones recommends acknowledging sources primarily when your interpretation differs from major commentators:

"If your own understanding and interpretation is found to be the one that is agreed to by the commentators, well, you needn't refer to them at all. But if you've arrived at an interpretation which, to your surprise, you find does not agree with what some well known commentators have said on this verse or passage... it is the right thing to say in passing."

He notes that excessive source attribution can interrupt the flow of the sermon.