Revitalizing Preaching: The Legacy of Dr. Lee Jones
Summary
Dr. Lee Jones was a remarkable figure whose legacy as a preacher and influence on the London Theological Seminary is profound. His life and work were deeply intertwined with the seminary's mission, which was established to produce preachers, not merely academics. This vision was born out of a recognition of the decline in preaching and the need to revitalize it for the sake of the gospel. Dr. Jones's preaching was the catalyst for the seminary's creation, and his influence continues to shape its purpose and methods.
Dr. Jones was not just a preacher; he was a man called by God, leaving a promising medical career to answer a divine call to ministry. His concern for people was evident in his transition from healing physical ailments to addressing the spiritual needs of souls. This concern was a driving force behind his preaching and his establishment of the seminary. He believed in the power of preaching as the primary means through which God saves souls, a conviction that is foundational to the seminary's ethos.
The seminary was designed to be more than an academic institution; it was to be a place where students were taught to think for themselves, equipped with a deep understanding of the Bible, doctrine, and church history. Dr. Jones emphasized that academic qualifications alone do not qualify one to preach the gospel. Instead, a genuine call from God and a high view of the gospel are essential.
Dr. Jones's view of the gospel was high and centered on the Holy Trinity. His preaching consistently pointed to the cross, emphasizing the power of God unto salvation. He was a man without pretensions, focused solely on the truth of the gospel. His influence turned back the tides of liberalism and pseudo-evangelicalism, making a significant impact on the spiritual landscape of Britain.
In summary, Dr. Lee Jones was a man of God for evil days, whose preaching and vision for the London Theological Seminary continue to inspire and equip preachers to this day.
Key Takeaways:
1. Dr. Lee Jones's legacy is deeply tied to his calling as a preacher, which led to the establishment of the London Theological Seminary. His life exemplifies the power of a divine call, leaving a successful medical career to preach the gospel, demonstrating that true ministry is born out of obedience to God's call. [11:38]
2. The seminary's mission is to produce preachers, not just academics. Dr. Jones believed that academic qualifications alone do not equip one to preach the gospel. Instead, a genuine call from God and a deep understanding of the Bible are essential for effective ministry. [05:24]
3. Dr. Jones's concern for people was a significant factor in his ministry. He transitioned from healing physical ailments to addressing spiritual needs, driven by a deep compassion for souls. This concern was a driving force behind his preaching and the seminary's mission. [14:31]
4. The power of preaching was central to Dr. Jones's ministry. He believed that God saves souls through the "foolishness of preaching," a conviction that is foundational to the seminary's ethos. This belief challenges modern trends that prioritize other forms of ministry over preaching. [09:42]
5. Dr. Jones's high view of the gospel was centered on the Holy Trinity and the cross. His preaching consistently pointed to the power of God unto salvation, emphasizing the centrality of the cross in all aspects of ministry. This high view of the gospel is a model for preachers today. [18:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:19] - Introduction to Dr. Lee Jones
- [00:47] - Connection to the London Theological Seminary
- [01:31] - Dr. Lee Jones as a Preacher
- [02:27] - Influence on Literature and Seminary
- [03:13] - Vision for Preaching
- [04:16] - Establishing the Seminary
- [05:04] - Purpose Beyond Academia
- [06:06] - Criteria for Seminary Admission
- [07:05] - Teaching Students to Think
- [08:24] - The Foolishness of Preaching
- [09:42] - Dr. Jones's Spiritual Qualifications
- [11:38] - His Divine Calling
- [14:31] - Concern for Souls
- [17:21] - High View of the Gospel
- [21:10] - Impact on Evangelicalism
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:21 - "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
Observation Questions:
1. What was Dr. Lee Jones's primary motivation for leaving his medical career to pursue preaching? [11:38]
2. How did Dr. Lee Jones's view of preaching influence the establishment of the London Theological Seminary? [02:47]
3. What were the key qualifications Dr. Lee Jones believed were necessary for someone to preach the gospel effectively? [05:04]
4. How did Dr. Lee Jones's concern for people manifest in his ministry, both physically and spiritually? [14:31]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "the foolishness of preaching" challenge modern trends in ministry that prioritize other forms of outreach? [09:42]
2. In what ways did Dr. Lee Jones's high view of the gospel, centered on the Holy Trinity and the cross, shape his preaching and ministry? [18:22]
3. How might Dr. Lee Jones's belief that academic qualifications alone do not equip one to preach the gospel be relevant to today's church leaders? [05:24]
4. What does Dr. Lee Jones's transition from medicine to ministry suggest about the nature of a divine calling? [11:38]
Application Questions:
1. Dr. Lee Jones left a successful career to follow a divine call. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to make a significant change? What steps can you take to pursue this calling? [11:38]
2. The seminary's mission was to produce preachers, not just academics. How can you ensure that your own faith journey prioritizes genuine understanding and application of the Bible over mere academic knowledge? [05:24]
3. Dr. Lee Jones had a deep concern for people's spiritual needs. How can you cultivate a similar compassion for the spiritual well-being of those around you? [14:31]
4. Reflect on the idea that God saves souls through the "foolishness of preaching." How can you incorporate this belief into your own approach to sharing the gospel? [09:42]
5. Dr. Lee Jones's preaching consistently pointed to the cross. How can you ensure that the message of the cross remains central in your personal faith and when you share your faith with others? [18:22]
6. Consider Dr. Lee Jones's emphasis on a high view of the gospel. How can you deepen your understanding of the Holy Trinity and the cross in your daily life? [18:22]
7. Dr. Lee Jones's life exemplified obedience to God's call. What practical steps can you take this week to be more obedient to what you believe God is calling you to do? [11:38]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Calling and Obedience
Dr. Lee Jones's life exemplifies the power of a divine call, leaving a successful medical career to preach the gospel. His story is a testament to the transformative power of obedience to God's call. When he felt the divine nudge, he did not hesitate to leave behind a promising career in medicine to pursue ministry. This decision was not made lightly, but it was driven by a deep conviction that God had a greater purpose for his life. His journey reminds us that true ministry is born out of obedience to God's call, and it challenges us to consider what we might be called to leave behind in order to follow God's leading. [11:38]
"Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'" (Jeremiah 1:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God might be calling you to step out in faith? How can you begin to take steps toward obedience today?
Day 2: Beyond Academia: The Heart of Ministry
The London Theological Seminary's mission is to produce preachers, not just academics. Dr. Jones believed that academic qualifications alone do not equip one to preach the gospel. Instead, a genuine call from God and a deep understanding of the Bible are essential for effective ministry. This perspective challenges the modern emphasis on academic credentials and reminds us that the heart of ministry lies in a personal relationship with God and a commitment to His Word. The seminary's approach encourages students to think for themselves and to develop a deep, personal understanding of the Bible, doctrine, and church history. [05:24]
"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." (Proverbs 1:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the Bible beyond academic study? What steps can you take to ensure your ministry is rooted in a genuine call from God?
Day 3: Compassion for Souls
Dr. Jones's concern for people was a significant factor in his ministry. He transitioned from healing physical ailments to addressing spiritual needs, driven by a deep compassion for souls. This concern was a driving force behind his preaching and the seminary's mission. His life challenges us to consider how we can address the spiritual needs of those around us, recognizing that true healing comes from a relationship with God. His example encourages us to look beyond the surface and to see the deeper spiritual needs of those we encounter. [14:31]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is in need of spiritual support or encouragement? How can you reach out to them today with compassion and love?
Day 4: The Power of Preaching
The power of preaching was central to Dr. Jones's ministry. He believed that God saves souls through the "foolishness of preaching," a conviction that is foundational to the seminary's ethos. This belief challenges modern trends that prioritize other forms of ministry over preaching. Dr. Jones's emphasis on preaching reminds us of the transformative power of the spoken word and the importance of proclaiming the gospel with clarity and conviction. His life encourages us to value preaching as a vital means of sharing God's truth with the world. [09:42]
"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21, ESV)
Reflection: How can you prioritize the role of preaching in your own ministry or spiritual life? What steps can you take to ensure that the gospel is proclaimed with clarity and conviction?
Day 5: A High View of the Gospel
Dr. Jones's high view of the gospel was centered on the Holy Trinity and the cross. His preaching consistently pointed to the power of God unto salvation, emphasizing the centrality of the cross in all aspects of ministry. This high view of the gospel is a model for preachers today, reminding us of the importance of keeping the message of the cross at the center of our faith and ministry. Dr. Jones's life challenges us to examine our own understanding of the gospel and to ensure that it is rooted in the truth of God's Word. [18:22]
"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that the message of the cross remains central in your life and ministry? What practical steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the gospel?
Quotes
Dr. Lee Jones was pre-eminently a preacher. It was his preaching that made him such a power in the Christian Medical Fellowship and it was his preaching that made him such an influence among students. His preaching was responsible and is responsible for the literature for the books that have now reached a million sales throughout the world. [00:01:39]
The purpose of the seminary is to produce preachers. It has no other function whatsoever and its origin lies in what we saw and heard in Dr. Lee Jones over these many years. We could see something of the decline of preaching in our land and the devaluing of it that was going on throughout the world. [00:02:56]
The seminary would not be concerned with turning out teachers or providing religious education, but rather the only people to be accepted were those who could give us some credible evidence, confirmed by their churches if at all possible, of having been called to preach the gospel. [00:06:20]
Dr. Lee Jones believed in the foolishness of preaching. He believed that statement that we have in the First Epistle of the Corinthians, the first chapter, that it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believed. And that needed to be emphasized; it needs to be emphasized in our day and time. [00:08:37]
His vital qualifications were the qualifications of a preacher; they were spiritual qualifications. I want to note those briefly because I do not see how we can rightly give thanks to God for the doctor and for his ministry if we do not acknowledge and recognize those spiritual qualifications that he had. [00:10:56]
He was called of God. He left the medical school to enter the pulpit as a result of a call from heaven. That's the only explanation. I remember the headlines of the newspapers in 1927 announcing that a man from Harley Street was coming down to a small little Church in an industrialized community in Wales to take up the ministry of the gospel. [00:11:33]
His concern for people was a very significant factor in that call itself. He told me more than once that he was helping men and women with their physical diseases and yet it was staring him in his face that they had souls that were going to a lost eternity. [00:14:31]
His view of the gospel involved the Holy Trinity. I always noted the way that he referred to the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Holy Trinity. Inevitably, the Blessed Holy Trinity. And again and again, I heard him preaching here Sunday morning, Sunday evenings, Friday evenings. It was God's plan, it was the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:17:21]
He had that high view of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I came to the Apostle Paul of old who thought of it as the power of God unto salvation to every one that believed. Whether he was preaching to Saints on a Sunday morning, preaching to sinners on a Sunday night, expounding the Epistle to the Romans on Friday evenings. [00:18:14]
Whenever you enter the pulpit, pitch your tent on Calvary's Hill, he said, with a view of that cross. Pitch your tent on Calvary's Hill within view of the cross. Again and again, I thought of that statement down through the years here in Westminster Chapel. [00:19:23]
He had no hobbyhorses, no pretensions, no compromise. This high view of the gospel, it superintended and controlled him at all times whenever he entered the pulpit. [00:20:55]
Dr. Lee Jones was God's man for evil days. When I came out into the ministry in 1946 in Wales, I don't know, but I somehow feel that you could have counted out-and-out evangelical preachers of the gospel on two hands. The situation in Wales today is vastly different, and it is vastly different in Britain too. [00:21:10]
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