Is open air preaching biblical way? question

[awakenwithin]

I was talking with some guys in my Church they told me that they think taht open air preaching has been done, but not biblical way, in the word it show no place of going and talking in front of people, But that paul was alway ask to come and speak. I really don't much on this. Could you hel understand how open air is Biblical and in the word? Or other pastor in the past who did it?
I really don't, I just wondering why you do it and your biblical reaso behind it, maybe it would help understand it all a little better
Thanks
charlene

[awakenwithin]

I was really wondering what you all thought? anyone? why you do what you do?
I am not asking to say anyone is wrong I truly I am seeking how bible and history play in this? I really want to hear some thoughts... verse other preacher.. Whatever just a differnt veiw then what i have heard so far. thanks again
charlene

[4him]

Hi Charlene,

I have only open air preached once- and that but for a few minutes. I think as far as the scriptural foundation for open air preaching, the apostles such as Peter and Paul often preached to large numbers of people. Peter must have, for after his 'Pentecost message' the book of Acts records that 3000 people got saved. This pattern of sharing the gospel has been around ever since and open air preaching made up a large part of the evangelism that took place in revivals, over the years.

Some people believe that new methods are needed for our new modern age, and for sure, other methods of evangelism are valid as well. I think generally, the important thing is that the genuine gospel of Christ is preached and after that, exactly how it is done is possibly a little less important. What do you think ?

In Jesus,
John

[awakenwithin]

one question when peter and open air preached where they ask to speak to them. Is it not biblical to preach to people who didn't ask them to be there? Iagree with the gosple being preached. did all old father preach only in a Churchs they were ask to come to. Was paul ask to preach where he was? I have been thinking about a lot, I reminder a man at paul washer Church who went out and did open air preaching, I have never had a second thought about it, until talking with these guys. Maybe there are right and wrong ways to open air preach?
I do desire a better understanding.. thanks
charlene

[Eli Brayley]

Hi Charlene,

Thanks for the great question. There's several different reasons why I believe open air preaching is a powerful and valid form of evangelism.

The main reason I believe in open air preaching is because it is Biblical. Not only in the New Testament, but also in the Old Testament, did men of God preach open air. The opposite of preaching open air is preaching indoors, like at synagogues or church buildings or conference halls. We find the prophets speaking open air (Jeremiah 7:2, 17:9), and we find the apostles speaking open air (Acts 2:14, Acts 17:17). The word for "marketplace" is agora in the Greek, which is the public gathering place or town square. We learn that Paul preached daily at the agora; he knew the strategic place to go and herald Christ, and it was because of this that he caught the attention of the philosophers which opened up the opportunity for him to speak at Mars Hill. That's what it often does: open air preaching opens up opportunities to share the gospel in even greater ways. George Whitefield and John Wesley had the same vision as Paul; they preached at strategic gathering places and saw many won to Christ. Jesus also preached open air on occasion (Luke 11:29, John 7:37), and taught in the temple square. Likewise the early church would meet in the temple square as well, teaching and preaching the Scriptures.

Another reason why I believe in open air preaching is because it is logistical. It's cost effective (costs nothing!) and reaches not only multitudes of people, but also the types of people who would not normally be reached otherwise. Many people won't go to church to hear the gospel preached, and Christ commanded us to "Go" to the lost, not wait for them to come to us. Open air preaching is bold, and contrary to what many think, the world longs for boldness and meaning in an age of apathy and meaninglessness. While I know open air preaching is not the only way to share the gospel, logistically it is one of the greatest.

I also believe in open air preaching because I have personally witnessed God's blessing upon it, as God has blessed it all throughout the ages. The proclamation of the cross is God's chosen means of saving souls (1 Corinthians 1:21) and we have seen God save souls by the Word simply being preached. Paul preached across the Roman world and won tens of thousands to Christ. We have seen the history of open air preaching since the very beginning which has brought countless souls to Christ, from John the Baptist to the apostle Paul, from St. Francis of Assisi to John Knox, from George Whitefield to William Booth, from Leonard Ravenhill to Ray Comfort. Millions have heard the gospel through open air preaching, and millions have been brought to Christ through open air preaching. That's why I'm excited to proclaim the gospel publicly in our day today.

Charles Spurgeon wrote a history of open air preaching called "Open Air Preaching: A Sketch of Its History and Remarks Thereon" found here: www.gospeljohn.com/spurgeon_openairpreaching.htm

John Duncan, a modern day open air preacher, has written a more in-depth study of the Biblical basis for open air preaching, as well as a short history of open air preaching, found here: www.gospeljohn.com/method.htm

I think you'll find those resources helpful.

And yes, with all that being said, there definitely are right and wrong ways to open air preach. May the Lord give us grace and teach us wisdom in speaking the truth in love to the world around us, because there's definitely is a lot of bad open air preaching going on these days, as well as a lot of good.

With love in Christ,
-Eli

[awakenwithin]

Thanks so much this look very helpful I will read over it. I and two others wanted to out, my friend would sing and guy was going to preach, and I was going to read part of bible, But I was told this was not the best thing to do, but go each person and speak to them that way. This is good,
thanks
In christ
charlene

[4him]

As I mentioned earlier, I've only open air preached once, although I've had a chance to share Christ in a group setting a few times, at the street mission I've volunteered at. I have some interesting memories of the time I did street preach. A friend and I had set up a speaker system in downtown Kitchener, Ontario (near Toronto), where I used to live. This was a spot designated for free speech, known as 'Speakers Corners'. The title of my mini sermon was 'The Big Lie' and it was based on Romans 1 which talks about mankind repressing the knowledge of God and 'worshipping the creature rather than the creator'. So the big lie is that we as humans are meant to be worshipped, while the glorious truth is that God alone is meant to be worshipped. Overall, I can't remember a lot of how my talk was received. But I'll never forget one lady who walked up to me with an intense look on her face. She put her hand over my bible and said, "Let's see you preach without this book." To this, by God's grace, I calmly replied, "These words are more important than my words." Thankfully, this seemed to satisfy her, and she moved on.

By the way, here's a cool chart I came across, which describes the content of the gospel message, each time the gospel was shared by the apostles, as recorded in the book of Acts :

www.loveintruth.com/amf-docs/gpia-appendix.htm

In Jesus,
John

[Eli Brayley]

That's a cool chart, John, thanks for posting it.