Tribute to Dr. Lloyd-Jones by Fred Catherwood
Scripture
Sermon Description
In this moving tribute, Sir Fred Catherwood shares personal memories and insights from his 28-year relationship with Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, first as a member of his congregation, then as his son-in-law. With warmth and reverence, Catherwood reveals the lesser-known dimensions of the renowned preacher's character—his intellectual brilliance as a theological teacher, his warm family relationships, his generosity of time and resources, and his vision for Christian ministry. Beyond the austere pulpit presence that many knew, Catherwood paints a portrait of a man whose theological depth was matched by genuine human warmth, whose reformed convictions were inseparable from passionate spirituality, and whose diagnostic precision in medicine transferred seamlessly to spiritual matters. This intimate glimpse into Dr. Lloyd-Jones' life and ministry demonstrates how his influence extended far beyond Westminster Chapel into international student movements, personal mentorship relationships, and family life—always characterized by a remarkable gentleness that belied his powerful public persona.
Sermon Breakdown
- Fred Catherwood first recalls coming to Westminster Chapel in 1948 with his family as a 23-year-old and not expecting Dr. Lloyd-Jones to accept an invitation for a holiday from his father. However, Dr. Lloyd-Jones did accept and showed an enthusiastic side beyond just preaching.
- Fred Catherwood explains that Dr. Lloyd-Jones' teaching style focused on making the audience work to find the answers from Scripture themselves. He would ask probing questions to lead them to the right verse and have them reason through it. This style of teaching was impactful and made lessons memorable.
- Fred Catherwood describes how Dr. Lloyd-Jones was skilled at leading discussions and handling objections or irrelevant points. He had a vast knowledge of theology and arguments on doctrinal topics which allowed him to navigate discussions. He also had a gift of discernment to detect truth or error in arguments.
- Fred Catherwood explains that Dr. Lloyd-Jones called the church back to reformed theology and wove it together with love and passion for God. He emphasized both were essential. His preaching style seemed austere but he was a warm and caring man.
- Fred Catherwood recalls Dr. Lloyd-Jones accepting his request for his daughter's hand in marriage in a warm and welcoming manner. He was devoted to his family and generous with his time in helping others work through problems. He gave generously of his money and resources to help those in need.
- Fred Catherwood remembers that Dr. Lloyd-Jones enjoyed discussing and debating politics though he didn't believe there was a distinctly Christian view of politics. He was more interested in the personalities and judgments of politicians. He objected to hypocrisy more than private lives. He had a wide range of interests and kept up with current events his whole life.
- Fred Catherwood describes how Dr. Lloyd-Jones had a gift of prophecy and vision. He saw the potential for ministry to students early on and helped steer the Inter-Varsity Fellowship and International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. These organizations have had far-reaching impact.
- Though skeptical of television, Dr. Lloyd-Jones eventually used the medium to spread his message. He was able to draw large crowds and was not intimidated by famous interviewers. His message was unchanged to suit the times.
- Fred Catherwood's lasting memory of Dr. Lloyd-Jones is his gentleness. Though a strong leader with bold views, he was gentle, helpful, and peaceful. He would join in family activities and then pray for everyone at the end of the day, showing his care and trust in God.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers About Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Based on Christopher Catherwood's Memories
Who was Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and what was his role at Westminster Chapel?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a powerful Christian preacher and teacher at Westminster Chapel. According to the transcript, he drew thousands of people to hear him preach, with around 2,000 people attending his church regularly. He led Westminster Chapel and was known for his authoritative preaching style, wearing a Geneva gown in the pulpit, and delivering sermons with a weight of authority that left a strong impression on his listeners.
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones approach teaching the Bible in his Friday night discussions?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones had a unique teaching method during the Friday night discussions at the institute hall. He would make the audience work out the Christian attitude to questions they had raised themselves. His teaching was always scripturally based, guiding listeners to find answers by asking: "Which letter of Paul might address this? Which chapter? Which verse?" He would then place the verse in context and compare it with other parts of the Bible on the same subject. This approach taught people not just what to think but how to think through biblical problems themselves.
What contribution did Dr. Lloyd-Jones make to evangelical theology?
According to the transcript, Dr. Lloyd-Jones "almost alone stopped the retreat in the face of liberal humanism, which the church had not dared to meet head on." He led the evangelical wing of the church back into the center of theological argument by reviving reformed theology, which had been weakened since Spurgeon's time during the "downgrade controversy" of the late 19th century. He integrated this strong reformed theological tradition with evangelical teaching, offering a more intellectually robust alternative to what the speaker described as "pietistic evangelicalism" and "muscular Christianity."
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones balance theological rigor with personal warmth?
Despite appearing austere in the pulpit, Dr. Lloyd-Jones was described as "the most human of men" and "the most warm hearted of men." He balanced strong Calvinist theology with charismatic warmth, teaching that both strands were essential parts of Christian belief. The speaker noted that "strength and warmth, warmth and strength, never one without the other" characterized Lloyd-Jones' approach. He demonstrated this warmth in his personal interactions, spending hours on the phone counseling ministers with problems and giving his undivided attention to anyone seeking his help.
What was Dr. Lloyd-Jones' involvement with student ministry?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones was highly involved in student ministry and had remarkable foresight regarding its potential. During the war, he served as president of the InterVarsity Fellowship (IVF), working closely with Dr. Douglas Johnson. They guided the movement away from shallow evangelicalism toward stronger doctrinal foundations. After the war, Lloyd-Jones was one of the founders of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), which expanded to 75 countries. The speaker suggests this international student work "may well be far more reaching in the end than anything he's actually done here [in Britain]."
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones handle personal wealth and finances?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones was described as being "very careful with his money," but also extremely generous. He regularly gave away his ministerial salary and whenever he received additional income from inheritances or book royalties, "he at once started to ask who needed it." The speaker mentions that Lloyd-Jones provided a loan to help his daughter and son-in-law buy their first house. The thought of spending money on himself "just never seemed to occur to him," and he was equally generous with his grandchildren.
What was Dr. Lloyd-Jones' approach to politics and social issues?
While Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejected the idea of a "social gospel" (the notion that salvation comes through politics), he remained fascinated by the political process. He regularly watched political debates on television and knew many politicians personally, including Lloyd George, Stafford Cripps, Ernest Marples, and Welsh politicians like George Thomas (who later became Speaker of the House of Commons). For Lloyd-Jones, politics was primarily about people and their capacity to make good judgments rather than about specifically Christian political positions.
What personal qualities made Dr. Lloyd-Jones effective as a counselor to those in need?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones possessed several qualities that made him an effective counselor: his vast range of knowledge (both secular and spiritual), his "inspired common sense," his medical diagnostic skills, and his ability to give people his undivided attention. When counseling someone, "he was thinking of you entirely, never remotely about himself." He had "total commitment, until the problem had been sorted out to his satisfaction and to yours." His medical background gave him a "superbly analytical and logical mind" that helped him untangle complex personal problems.
Tributes to Dr. Lloyd-Jones
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.