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The right way to open air preach

evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Was out witnessing Saturday and observed a man open air preaching. iPad in one hand as he open aired. I approached him to ask a question and he ignored me and all others that tried to stop him. Ignoring people is the wrong way to open air!! When I opened air last weekend I spoke with people that approached me even to a major heckler! I had another guy shouting at me and I even addressed him when I was preaching.

I have had sincere listeners approach me to ask a question or others whom were repentant and close to salvation. Ignoring people that want to get saved is not the way to open air preach!
 
Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Evan,
I have a question for you - and this is off OP -
So I started a new thread,
Would like to see your thoughts on it.

Keep in min that my question is valid, and not meant to argue, ect.


Thanks,
Salty
 
O

OldRegular

Well-Known Member
evangelist6589 said:
Was out witnessing Saturday and observed a man open air preaching. iPad in one hand as he open aired. I approached him to ask a question and he ignored me and all others that tried to stop him. Ignoring people is the wrong way to open air!! When I opened air last weekend I spoke with people that approached me even to a major heckler! I had another guy shouting at me and I even addressed him when I was preaching.

I have had sincere listeners approach me to ask a question or others whom were repentant and close to salvation. Ignoring people that want to get saved is not the way to open air preach!
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I thought preachers were illuminated or inspired by GOD! How can there be a wrong way????????????
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
evangelist6589 said:
Was out witnessing Saturday and observed a man open air preaching. iPad in one hand as he open aired. I approached him to ask a question and he ignored me and all others that tried to stop him. Ignoring people is the wrong way to open air!! When I opened air last weekend I spoke with people that approached me even to a major heckler! I had another guy shouting at me and I even addressed him when I was preaching.

I have had sincere listeners approach me to ask a question or others whom were repentant and close to salvation. Ignoring people that want to get saved is not the way to open air preach!
Click to expand...
What is important in evangelism, IMHO, that we do all things for the sake of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:19-23). This assumes being prepared, doctrinally correct, etc. But it also means that you, Evan, should do all things for the sake of the gospel even if that iPad evangelist is doing things differently. He should have the same attitude. Perhaps he is not adequate to engage in question, or perhaps he is there for another reason….maybe to say a word that one single person hears in passing but that word sinks into their soul. Who knows? We judge teachings against Scripture, and we try to correct these errors even here among brethren….but when it comes to the OP, I have to lean on “who are we to judge the servant of Another?

We've spoken about my concerns with "open air preaching," and I've expressed apprehension in some of the justifications you and others have used for the method. But insofar as you standing there preaching the Word of God, I've always said that I admire your zeal and heart for reaching the lost. Your method would not be my method, but that does not mean my method should be yours. Who are we to judge the servant of Another? To their own master they will stand or fall.
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
JonC δοῦλος said:
What is important in evangelism, IMHO, that we do all things for the sake of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:19-23). This assumes being prepared, doctrinally correct, etc. But it also means that you, Evan, should do all things for the sake of the gospel even if that iPad evangelist is doing things differently. He should have the same attitude. Perhaps he is not adequate to engage in question, or perhaps he is there for another reason….maybe to say a word that one single person hears in passing but that word sinks into their soul. Who knows? We judge teachings against Scripture, and we try to correct these errors even here among brethren….but when it comes to the OP, I have to lean on “who are we to judge the servant of Another?

We've spoken about my concerns with "open air preaching," and I've expressed apprehension in some of the justifications you and others have used for the method. But insofar as you standing there preaching the Word of God, I've always said that I admire your zeal and heart for reaching the lost. Your method would not be my method, but that does not mean my method should be yours. Who are we to judge the servant of Another? To their own master they will stand or fall.
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I agree. Perhaps he was not prepared to answer questions, but its not like anyone was listening to him anyways. He was preaching to the side and his voice was not very loud. However I give him credit for at least trying and that is far better than most christians and most on this board whom will not engage not only in open air, but street evangelism in general. When I began to preach immediately the hecklers and challengers came so I knew people were listening to me.
 
Sapper Woody

Sapper Woody

Well-Known Member
I saw an open air troupe last week here at UALR. They were Pentecostal, but were giving a clear presentation of the Gospel. A large crowd had gathered to heckle them. The police were there, keeping order.

I pulled one of them aside and asked where they were from. They consider themselves missionaries to college campuses across America.

I wished them luck, and tried to encourage them. They began taking questions from the crowd, and it quickly degenerated into a mocking session. People were sitting obscenities, and even brought out some contraceptive devices and blew them up like balloons.

They were here for roughly three hours. As near as I can tell, not one person was lead to Christ. Maybe the seed was planted. I hope so, but can't tell.

What I know for certain is that I heard a young man say, "If all Christians talk down to people like that, no wonder they're dying out." Now, about the dying out, I don't believe that's accurate. But, I do know that these people weren't talking down to anyone. That was just his perception.

All in all, I personally believe that open air preaching session did more harm than good. Not to bash you, Evan, but even you gave admitted that your preaching has never lied someone to Christ. I think people need to take a look at their evangelism methods.

I am not a proponent of lifestyle evangelism, which is a lazy, "look at how I live" style of evangelism. But I do live by the maxim, " People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. "

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Sapper Woody said:
I saw an open air troupe last week here at UALR. They were Pentecostal, but were giving a clear presentation of the Gospel. A large crowd had gathered to heckle them. The police were there, keeping order.

I pulled one of them aside and asked where they were from. They consider themselves missionaries to college campuses across America.

I wished them luck, and tried to encourage them. They began taking questions from the crowd, and it quickly degenerated into a mocking session. People were sitting obscenities, and even brought out some contraceptive devices and blew them up like balloons.

They were here for roughly three hours. As near as I can tell, not one person was lead to Christ. Maybe the seed was planted. I hope so, but can't tell.

What I know for certain is that I heard a young man say, "If all Christians talk down to people like that, no wonder they're dying out." Now, about the dying out, I don't believe that's accurate. But, I do know that these people weren't talking down to anyone. That was just his perception.

All in all, I personally believe that open air preaching session did more harm than good. Not to bash you, Evan, but even you gave admitted that your preaching has never lied someone to Christ. I think people need to take a look at their evangelism methods.

I am not a proponent of lifestyle evangelism, which is a lazy, "look at how I live" style of evangelism. But I do live by the maxim, " People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. "

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk
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God will draw his elect to salvation at his timing. A successful evangelist will continue to preach the word but trust in the sovereignty of God in salvation. Who am I to say who is the elect?
 
blessedwife318

blessedwife318

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
evangelist6589 said:
God will draw his elect to salvation at his timing. A successful evangelist will continue to preach the word but trust in the sovereignty of God in salvation. Who am I to say who is the elect?
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Maybe if you actually did what God tells us in the Great commission you might be blessed to be the means in which God draws the elect to Himself. As long as you are saying that making disciples is not what you are commanded to do even though that is what is clearly commanded in the Great Commission it is no surprise that you have never been blessed to be the means in which God draws the elect to Himself. Hiding behind Calvinism is a copout out in this case.

18 And Jesus came and said to them,“All authority inin heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matt 28:18-20

evangelist6589 said:
Look I am all for discipleship but God has to draw a disciple for me to disciple.
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The Great Commission is not a passive thing, and for you to say that it is, makes you no better then the hyper-calvinist who won't preach the gospel because God will save them anyways.

I eagerly await to see what animal i get to add to my collection :)
 
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