From the MLJ Archive

In this sermon, the first of two sermons preached at the opening of Zion Evangelical Baptist Church (Rippon, England) on December 7th 1965, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the critical importance of understanding the doctrine and true nature of the Christian church. He argues that many of the problems and divisions within the church stem from a lack of clarity about what the church really is and its function in the world. With the rise of the ecumenical movement and the increasing confusion in society about the church's message, Dr. Lloyd-Jones asserts that it is imperative for Christians to go back to the New Testament to rediscover the church's true identity and purpose. He warns against merely defending the status quo or attempting to modify existing structures, instead urging believers to faithfully study and apply the biblical teaching on the church.