Andrew S M Clark

In every generation, God raises up men and women whose lives burn brightly for His glory—individuals whose devotion to Scripture and unwavering faith ignite a passion for truth in others. Among such heroes of faith stands Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981), a man whose preaching, scholarship, and deep spiritual conviction continue to impact Christians across the world today. I first came across Lloyd-Jones during my time at Glasgow Bible College. The principle there at the time, the Rev Dr Tony Sergeant, wrote his doctorate on the preaching of Lloyd-Jones and the importance of the ‘unction’ of the Spirit on the preacher.

Before entering the pulpit, Lloyd-Jones was a highly respected medical doctor in London, serving as the assistant to the royal physician, Lord Horder. Yet, despite his success, he became increasingly aware of the deeper sickness of the human heart—a condition that no medicine could cure. His growing conviction that only the gospel of Jesus Christ could meet humanity’s greatest need led him to leave a promising medical career for the ministry. It was a decision that shocked many, but it was a step of obedience that would shape modern evangelicalism for decades to come.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s preaching was marked by deep biblical exposition, theological clarity, and spiritual power. He was not content with shallow sermons or emotional appeals; instead, he sought to bring listeners face to face with the majesty of God and the authority of His Word.

For nearly 30 years at Westminster Chapel in London, Lloyd-Jones opened the Scriptures week by week, challenging believers to think, to repent, and to live fully under the lordship of Christ. His preaching carried a sense of gravity—what he called “logic on fire.” It was this combination of reasoned truth and Spirit-filled passion that made his ministry so transformative. Though often associated with doctrinal precision, Lloyd-Jones was equally a man of revival longing. He believed deeply that true Christianity is not mere intellectual assent but a living encounter with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. He studied past revivals, prayed for awakening, and urged the church to seek a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit.

To him, revival was not an emotional frenzy but the sovereign work of God reviving His people and drawing sinners to Himself. His heart’s cry was for a new visitation from heaven—a call that still resonates in our spiritually dry times. Throughout his ministry, Lloyd-Jones remained steadfastly faithful to Scripture. He was unashamed to stand for truth, even when it was unpopular. His separation from the ecumenical movement in the 1960s stemmed not from arrogance but from conviction: he refused to compromise the gospel’s purity for institutional unity. I really identify with this! The only grounds of real unity in the church is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Such integrity cost him dearly, yet it also revealed the depth of his commitment to Christ alone. He modelled what it means to fear God rather than man. Among his many contributions, Lloyd-Jones’s sermon series on Romans and Ephesians stand as monumental works of exposition.

• His Romans series, preached over a span of more than a decade, dives deep into the gospel of grace, unpacking the very heart of Christian theology. Each sermon is a masterclass in biblical reasoning and pastoral application.
• His Ephesians series is a spiritual feast, exploring the riches of our identity in Christ and the glory of God’s eternal purposes for His church.

These sermons, later published in multiple volumes, remain timeless resources for pastors, students, and lay believers who desire to grow in sound doctrine and vibrant faith.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s life reminds us that true greatness in the kingdom of God is not measured by fame or numbers, but by faithfulness to the Word and the presence of the Spirit. He exemplified what it means to preach Christ with conviction, to live with integrity, and to yearn for revival in an age of compromise. In a time when the church is often tempted to trade depth for relevance, Lloyd-Jones calls us back to the essentials: the power of Scripture, the necessity of the Holy Spirit, and the glory of God. His voice, though now silent, continues to speak through his writings and recordings—a faithful herald pointing us ever to Christ. Search for him on YouTube and have a listen – many of his sermons are there!

“I can forgive a man for a bad sermon, I can forgive the preacher almost anything if he gives me a sense of God, if he gives me something for my soul, if he gives me the sense that, though he is inadequate himself, he is handling something which is very great and very glorious, if he gives me some dim glimpse of the majesty and the glory of God, the love of Christ my Saviour, and the magnificence of the Gospel. If he does that I am his debtor, and I am profoundly grateful to him.”
— Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones