Date: 2/18/2021
<br>Author: Mike Kelley
<br>Title: Mike's Minute
<br><br>I have mentioned many times, both here in the Provider and in the pulpit, that I have a great appreciation for the Truth For Today Commentaries. They are written by the finest Bible professors and preachers that churches of Christ have to offer. I am currently reading the commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, which is written by Sellers Crain. In the application section from Matthew 3:11-14, Sellers writes about the humility of John the Baptist. He argues that Christians (in general) and preachers (in particular) should follow the example of John as it is presented in this text. Here’s how he says it:<br><br>Preachers need to be humble before God, recognizing their own sin. It has been said that preachers are “wounded healers.”  They are extending to others the grace they themselves have experienced from God. While Paul traveled all over the Roman Empire sharing the good news of Jesus, he never forgot that he was the “chief” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). <br><br>Preachers need to apply their message to themselves first. Jesus severely chastised the Pharisees because “they [did] not practice what they preach[ed]” (Matthew 23:3). A preacher will not be very effective if he is perceived as a hypocrite (Matthew 7:1-5).  <br><br>Preachers need to point people to Jesus, not themselves. By the very nature of the vocation, it is easy for a preacher to become the center of attention. However, Christ must have center stage; the preacher is simply the channel for the message. Paul said “We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). <br><br>When preachers imitate the attitude of John the Baptist, they will point others to Christ and will be more effective in their service to the kingdom of God. <br>