How To Be A Great Man
By Dr. Bill Rains, Senior Pastor | June 21, 2026
Father, thank you for this great host assembled in this place today... Lord, please deal with our hearts and help us all. Help all the fathers particularly... to want to be great men for their families and for their nation in Jesus name. Amen.
On June 21, 2026, Dr. Bill Rains preaches How To Be A Great Man from Matthew 11. Jesus declared that among those born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist—yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. This Father's Day message calls men to pursue true greatness through stability, separation, and spirituality.
1. A Stable Personality
Jesus asked the multitudes, “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?” John was not unstable or double-minded. To be stable means to be deep-rooted, established, steadfast, reliable, strong, and unwavering. Like the sage grass that blew over with every wind in Pastor Rains’ childhood fields, many men today are easily swayed by the winds of culture, trouble, and opinion. But John stood firm his entire life—biblical, a preacher of truth, even confronting the king. “And ye fathers...” (Ephesians 6:4) are called to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, stable in the home, in conviction, and in the house of God (Hebrews 10:25). We need men who will not be shaken.
2. A Separated Man
Jesus continued, “But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” John wore rough camel’s hair garments—he was visibly different, set apart from the world. Separation is seen in actions, attitude, and even attire. The styles of Christianity must be distinct from the styles of the world. Pastor Rains challenged, “The more you live like the world, the more you lose the blessings and the protection of God.” Fathers, can people tell you are different? “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” True greatness requires refusing to conform to the world’s patterns.
3. A Scriptural and Spiritual Man
John was more than a prophet—his entire life was ordered by Scripture, from birth to ministry, garments, and preaching. He was a spiritual man who declared in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Even facing execution, John walked peacefully to the block, having run his race and kept the faith. Spiritual greatness is not measured by numbers or worldly success but by making much of Christ. Pastor Rains shared that even in his later years, he has found deeper greatness by saying from the heart, “Lord, You must increase; I must decrease.” This is the height of earthly existence—when it is all about Jesus.
Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist... yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. May the Lord help every man, especially every father, to strive to be great in the eyes of Christ.
Fathers, let us determine today to be stable, separated, and spiritual men for the glory of God, our families, and our nation. Follow John’s example and the Lord Jesus Christ. He must increase—we must decrease.