My reason for preaching, writes the Doctor, “is that to me the work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. If you want something in addition to that I would say without hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also”
So, since the Together for the Gospel 2006 Conference was a gathering of preachers learning how to truly preach the Gospel, I am sure that it would have been right up his street!
I am confident he would have been proud of all the speakers, from what I have heard of their talks via the God bloggers, and would definitely have said “atta boy” to John Piper, who has consciously modeled his preaching ministry on the Doctor’s, who has been one of his biggest influences (not a lot of people know that!). The Doctor would have liked the quote I shared earlier from John Piper on preaching as worship as well.
When I heard that after Piper’s talk Lig Duncan said it made him wonder if he had ever preached a sermon before, I was stronly reminded of the Doctor’s assessment of his own preaching. Martyn Lloyd-Jones famously said he wouldn’t cross the road to hear himself preach, and that he felt that he had only ever preached as he ought to twice in his life! I can’t find the reference for either of those comments – so if anyone has them, and the exact text, I would be very glad to receive it!
But if preaching is a vital and serious task for which none of us are worthy, these words which I found in the title of one blogger’s round-up post for T4G encouraged me no end: “This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it“. These sounded as the very words of God to me – both relevant for me personally in the mission God has for ME to do, and for all the preachers of the global church. Because preaching is GOD’S task, HE will ensure that the church is supplied with high-caliber preachers in every generation. Because He is sovereign, the size of that supply can vary from generation to generation, but here’s praying that a conference like Together for the Gospel reflects a resurgence of real preaching for the future!
If this is your first visit to “Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Monday”, here are some links to previous posts where I quote the Doctor, many of which are somewhat longer than this one! As is usual, the most recent posts are listed at the top – which if you are not used to blogs may seem slightly strange!
God willing, there will be more here on this blog from the Doctor every Monday, and more from John Piper every Friday.
Blogging Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Doctor Martyn Lloyd-Jones Monday – Sealing of the Spirit: Experiences and Gifts
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Monday–A Dead Man Answers C. J. Mahaney!
MLJ Monday Our Only Boast: the Cross of Christ!
MLJ Monday: Sealed with the Spirit-Part 3
MLJ Monday Sealed with the Spirit #2
MLJ Monday – Sealed with the Spirit – Eph 1
2000 posts and a big thank you to The Doctor
Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the vital place of joy in the Holy Spirit
More from Lloyd-Jones on the baptism of the Spirit
Lloyd-Jones on Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Remembering Lloyd-Jones – the finest English Preacher of the 20th Century
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