Sermon Breakdown

1. The sermon focuses on Ephesians 2:20-22 which talks about believers being built into a holy temple for God.
2. Dr. Lloyd-Jones has looked at this passage 75 times before in previous sermons. He says there are riches and depth in this passage which is why he has spent so much time on it.
3. Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls attention to the last three verses of Ephesians 2 which talk about believers being built into a holy temple for God. This is a metaphor for the unity of the church.
4. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the apostle Paul was amazed at the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church. Paul used the metaphors of the church being a state, a family and a building to convey this.
5. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the passage teaches that to be a holy temple, believers must be "fitly framed together". This means believers must be united in both theology and practice.
6. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the first principle for being united is to think of yourself as part of the whole building, not just an individual stone. You have a role to play but you are part of something bigger.
7. The second principle is that although you are part of a whole, you still remain an individual. The challenge is to remain an individual without being individualistic.
8. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against the danger of being too focused on activity and "the thing to do" rather than being. He says you should not let others dictate what you should do. You must follow God's calling for your own life.
9. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against false notions of what believers should be doing. He says there are wrong ideas today about calling and vocation. Believers think God has a separate task for each person but this is not biblical.
10. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says believers must be careful not to be too activist in their faith. They must grow in their faith first before rushing into action. New believers should not be forced into leadership roles or public speaking before they are ready.
11. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says there is a danger of relying too much on technique and training rather than the Holy Spirit. Psychology and salesmanship techniques are being applied to evangelism and ministry in an unhelpful way.
12. Dr. Lloyd-Jones illustrates this point with a story of a young minister who approached marital counseling like a psychological case study. He had forgotten the human element. Technique should not replace natural relationships.
13. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says if training and technique were necessary for evangelism, how did the church exist for centuries without them? Evangelism should flow naturally out of a life filled with the Holy Spirit.
14. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says instead of rushing into modern methods of evangelism, believers should focus on growing in their faith, understanding the Bible and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Holiness leads to evangelism.
15. Dr. Lloyd-Jones lists several ways believers can serve God as "living stones" in the temple without formal ministry roles: attending church, giving financially, serving on committees, being kind and pleasant, listening to others, visiting the sick, defending the faith, prayer, living out their faith at work.
16. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says believers must think of themselves in relationship to others in the church. They should see others as fellow stones in the temple, recognize others have a role to play, not compare themselves to others, help others overcome difficulties and bear each other's burdens.
17. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by saying it is a privilege to be built into God's holy temple and to share in God's work in the world. God lives in and through his church.