Stop Chasing Celebrity Preachers
Big Names, Little Obedience
Nothing wrong with appreciating gifted preachers. Paul himself pointed people to his example. God gives the church pastors and teachers for a reason. But there's a dangerous pattern we need to call out.
Every church has them. The folks who light up when a visiting preacher comes to town. Who drop names of famous pastors like they're collecting trading cards. Who can tell you all about the big conferences they've attended, the well-known preachers they've heard, the books they've read by the theological celebrities.
But ask them about Brother Brown who's faithfully taught Sunday School for thirty years? Blank stare. What about Sister Susan who prays for the church every morning? They never noticed. The associate pastor who visits the sick and heads up the nursing home ministry? Can't even remember his name.
They love the big names. They ignore the little names. And when your enthusiasm for distant ministries exceeds your investment in local saints, you've confused celebrity for Christianity.
Jesus said it plainly in Matthew 23:11-12
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
God's math is different than ours. We count platforms—He counts faithfulness. We measure crowds while He measures character. We get excited about reach. He's looking at obedience.
The Local Church Isn't Your Waiting Room
People selfishly think to themselves: "Well, I'm here at this small church until God moves me somewhere bigger. I'll make it work until I get discovered. I'll stay until I can minister alongside people who really matter."
Meanwhile, the people who really matter—the ones God put in your life right now, in your actual local church—get treated like extras in your story instead of "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).
Remember, Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, not from a platform. He told them:
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ... that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
Striving TOGETHER. Not striving to get away from each other until you find better Christians to strive with.
Pride Dressed Up as Discernment
You didn't accidentally end up at your local church. God placed you there—with those specific believers, under that pastor, in that community. And those 'little names' you're ignoring? They're the ones God intends to use to help sanctify you.
Hebrews 10:25 doesn't say:
"forsaking the assembling of ourselves together unless you find a church with better-known leadership."
Hebrews 10 says don't forsake it. Period. Be faithful. Be present. Be emotionally invested. Don't be the 'hawk-eye' perched in the back corner judging everyone, like you're the spiritual discernment giant.
That senior saint who shares that testimony you've heard twice before? God's showing you what endurance looks like. The young believer asking basic questions about the Bible? God's giving you somebody to serve. The pastor who'll never be famous? God gave you a shepherd who actually knows your name, cares about your soul, and is willing to spend time with you and your family.
The Root Is Pride
If this stings, good! So what do we do about it?
Call it what it is: name-dropping is pride. Getting excited about famous preachers while ignoring faithful saints? That's pride too. And constantly looking elsewhere instead of serving where you are—more pride.
We're not impressing God with our theological connections. We're just showing how spiritually immature we are.
1 Corinthians 3:21-22 says:
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas... all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Stop glorying in men—famous or otherwise. Glory in Christ. And then faithfully serve the local body He's given you without constantly wishing you were somewhere else.
The 'little names' in your church? God loves them the same as the 'big names' you're chasing. Same blood. Same Spirit. And they're probably more faithful in obscurity than you are in your discontent.
But God offers something better: you can start fresh today. Learn that Sunday School teacher's name. Ask that prayer warrior about his or her life. Honor your pastor's labor. God doesn't need impressive. He needs faithful. And He needs it from you right now, in the church where you are.