In the first lecture Lloyd-Jones made the argument preaching is the primary task of the church—and therefore the primary duty of the minister. In the second lecture he extends that thought a bit further. As he says, “the ultimate justification for asserting the primacy of preaching is theological.”
Given the nature of the gospel and man’s greatest need it doesn’t take much to realize that the greatest need then is for man to be preached the gospel. Lloyd-Jones then takes on several arguments which argue against his main point.
First, man’s trouble is not a mere sickness. His problem is that he is spiritually dead. And how do the Scriptures say that God fixes this disease? It is by bringing men to a knowledge of the truth. And the Church alone who can bring men to a knowledge of the truth. Though there are several other things a church could do well this is what makes her unique, this is her calling, and therefore this is what should be the primary business of the church.
It’s interesting that the arguments given in the 1960s sound very similar to the arguments of today. Look at the trajectory of those who were promoting the ideas Lloyd-Jones was speaking against in the 60s. Did it work? Or did they eventually abandon the gospel and try to solve the worlds problems through other means? It was the latter. This is why we should heed Lloyd-Jones’ words even today. We must not get away from the fundamental task of the Church.
Tweet Note for Chapter Two:
At the end of every chapter I like to put together what I call a Tweet Note. A simple 140 character or less summary of the chapter. Here is the Tweet Note for chapter two:
Regardless of changing times, proclaiming the gospel is still the primary business of the Church.
Quotables:
Sentences change lives. I always read with a pen in hand and underline money quotes that I hope to go back to. Underlining helps my brain store the quote. Here are some of the things I underlined in chapter two:
- There are so many people trying to diagnose the human situation; and they come to the conclusion that man is sick, man is unhappy, man is the victim of circumstances. They believe therefore that his primary need is to have these things dealt with, that he must be delivered from them. But I suggest that that is too superficial a diagnosis of the condition of man, and that man’s real trouble is that he is a rebel against God and consequently under the wrath of God.
- The moment we realize man’s true need and see the only answer, it becomes clear that only those who are in possession of this understanding can impart this message to those who lack it.
- …by palliating the symptoms you can conceal the real disease.
- When you depart from the primary task of the Church and do something else, though your motive may be pure and excellent, [harm to the Church] is the result.
- The Church has been trying to preach morality and ethics without the Gospel as a basis; it has been preaching morality and ethics without the godliness; and it simply does not work. It never has done, and it never will. And the result is that the Church, having abandoned her real task, has left humanity more or less to its own devices.
Discussion Questions:
- In your reading of Lloyd-Jones, what similarities does the modern liberal church have with that which Lloyd-Jones dealt with in the 60’s? How is it different?
- What things tempt churches to get distracted? What about you personally? How do you go about giving the time needed to this primary task?
- Do you agree with Lloyd-Jones’ conclusion on the primary task of the church? What would you say is the primary task of the church?
- In your experience has “true preaching saved a great deal of time for the pastor”?
- If anyone is familiar with the ministry of Richard Baxter, it would be interesting to compare and contrast his philosophy of ministry with MLJ.
- “If a man is not a Christian you cannot give him spiritual help.” Agree or disagree?
- Lloyd-Jones believed that preaching was the primary need of the Church. Also consider his words on the nature of the visible church in the section “But Aren’t There Other Ways?”. Putting these two things together would MLJ support the influx of online preaching? Would he be for or against multi-site?
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