Brother Who?

Written by

Christopher Mentzer

If I were to ask you to name the preacher who travels around the country with his crusade, your answer would be Billy Graham. If I were to ask you to name the preacher who hosts the 700 Club, your answer would be Pat Robertson. If I were to ask you to name the preacher who spent a year preaching lessons on The Book of Revelation for the local congregation in Fort Worth, Texas, you would say, “Uh…” And I would say brother Jeff Smith of course. And your reply would be, “Brother Who?”

Jeff Smith is our guest speaker this week and he’s practically unknown in Arizona. Is that a bad thing? No. Jeff is a strong gospel preacher and is willing to stand for the truth. Is that a good thing? Yes! What this means is people will come to hear the gospel preached by Jeff. They won’t be coming to hear Jeff preach the gospel. Its sounds the same but it’s more of a matter of emphasis.

Oftentimes congregations bring in a well-known preacher to hold a meeting to encourage members and even outsiders to attend. Nothing is wrong with this considering the preacher is sound in the truth. But the motive used could be all wrong especially when people want to see the man and not hear the plan. Five years down the road you might go up to someone and ask them about that famous preacher that held a meeting there and they’ll replied, “Yes. I got to see him preach!” You might ask them also what this famous preacher talked about, and their answer might be, “I don’t recall the lessons. But I was there and he shook my hand!”

Take that same five years in the future after people have listened to Jeff Smith preach and inquire about him. They may not recall his name but they will most likely recall his lessons or an illustration he used to make application. This is what really counts. No offense to Jeff but a preacher should be remembered more by the lessons he brings than how much he paid for his suit or how many hands he shook.

People may not know Jeff now and may not remember him after the meeting but God does know him and others. In 2 Tim. 2: 19 the apostle Paul wrote, “Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” The reason he writes this is just a couple verses earlier he mentions two of the brethren who have erred concerning the truth. We may not know every preacher or every Christian in the world today but God knows who is standing for the truth and who isn’t.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15. even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10: 14-15) Those who are of the fold will hear the voice of the shepherd and will immediately respond. There will also be those who are not of the fold and will attempt to heed the voice of the shepherd. They will be part of the flock until Judgment Day when the flock is separated into sheep and goats (Matt. 25: 31-46).

As we go into the meeting, let’s remember the lessons that were taught and the applications that can be made in our own life. We can share these with others and encourage them to come. Being a name dropper and claiming how great a speaker they are is not the correct way to win souls to Christ.