Why The Gospel Meeting Preacher Seems Better than Your Local Preacher

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Us preachers are used to the drill.  It happens almost every time there is a gospel meeting or seminar at your church.  It might even happen during the Summer series on Wednesday’s nights.

The visiting preacher comes in and delivers a wonderful lesson that challenges and uplifts the church.  Then the comments start,

“We haven’t heard preaching like that in years.”  

“That is old-fashioned preaching there, one of the best sermons I have ever heard.”

“I could just listen to him for hours, he has such a gift.” 

“That is the kind of preaching we need to hear.”

Sometimes it even leads to unrest in a church and elders trying to make preaching changes.

So I want you to consider why the gospel meeting preacher is better SEEMS BETTER than your local preacher.

1. He is preaching his best lessons.  When he came he chose some of his best and most powerful lessons to present.  These are lessons he has preached before, maybe even many times.
2. He is using all of his best illustrations.  He is able to use powerful illustrations that are fresh to you, may even be unusable back at home because of their personal nature, but they are powerful when used effectively.
3. He has everything at his disposal from his tool bag of sermons, illustrations, and stories to use.
4. He preaches without any emotional baggage or concerns.  He doesn’t know which couple is struggling.  He doesn’t think about how this will sound to the deacon he just had some tension with this past week.  He isn’t that worried who is offended by the truth of his message, because he is leaving town in a few days.  He isn’t focused on whether this unfaithful member he has visited this week will hear the message and respond.  He is just focused on delivering God’s word.  He can preach with more boldness and less anxiety.
5. He is often more educated and experienced.  Typically the guest speaker is a seasoned preacher who has had more years of study.  He may be speaking on a specialty field that is his expertise gained through years of study and experience.
6. He is speaking at a special occasion focused on his presentation of the Word of God and most listeners are more emotionally and mentally engaged in his presentation because it is special. 
7. He uses different mannerism, gestures, voice tone, and sermon style than your local preacher.

I am sure there could be more reasons of why the guest preacher seems better than your local guy, but it may just be that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence!  He is new and different!  Maybe you have some frustration at your local preacher, his lessons may have grown stale to you, or your feelings have been hurt by him.

The point of this post is that you shouldn’t expect your local preacher to be equally as powerful in his speaking on a weekly basis as the visiting preacher.  This is the reason we do special speakers and programs to give an added boost of encouragement.  Think of the disadvantages he has compared to the visiting brother.  You have heard his best illustrations.  You are familiar with his style, mannerisms, gestures, and voice.  He carries with him to the pulpit the emotional and spiritual burdens because of his love and concern for church members.  He is gifted in different ways from the visiting preacher.

So as the song goes, “love the one your with.”  Determine to appreciate and encourage the local preacher you have.  He is the man in the spiritual trenches with the congregation.  His skill set may be different, but he has much to offer the church with your love and support.  And by the way, be realistic and know that the visiting preacher has warts too!  If you sent your guy to do a meeting at his church they likely would be thinking the same things!