Open-air preaching, street preaching, or public preaching is the act of evangelizing a religious faith in public places. It is an ancient method of proselytizing a religious or social message and has been used by many cultures and religious traditions, but today it is usually associated with evangelicalProtestant Christianity. Supporters of this approach note that both Jesus[1] and many of the Old Testament prophets often preached about God in public places.[2] It is one of the oldest approaches to evangelism.[1]
One of the earliest open-air preachers of Christianity, according to the gospels, was Jesus Christ, whose first specifically recorded sermon was the Sermon on the Mount,[1][2] which took place on a mountainside in the open air.[3] In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 6:17–49), it was recorded that Jesus also gave an open-air sermon known as the Sermon on the Plain.[2] In Mark 16:15, street preaching is seen as a commandment from Jesus as a way to warn people about sins and their consequences. This is supported by Isaiah 58:1 and Jeremiah 2:2.[4][5]
After Jesus' death and resurrection, many of his apostles and followers started street preaching the gospel in the Temple of Jerusalem and in other open spaces.[1][2]
The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry lists the "many examples of street preaching in the Bible" as including Noah, Solomon, Ezra, Jeremiah, Jonah, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul, Phillip and Apollos.[6]
Reformation
During the Protestant Reformation, open-air preaching was often employed by Protestants throughout Europe[7] who could not always preach inside churches, which were mostly Catholic.[8] Open-air preaching in Europe continued during the rise of Puritanism and other Protestant movements.[2] It was often used in Pastoral environments as well as in cities, the former sometimes due to a desire to avoid the authorities,[9] and the latter because, for one reason, it could reach eccentric people living in cities who would not otherwise hear the gospel.[10]
Early Methodist preachers John Wesley and George Whitefield preached in the open air, which allowed them to attract crowds larger than most buildings could accommodate.[12] On one occasion when Wesley was forbidden to preach inside the church in his hometown, Epworth, he used his father's tombstone in the churchyard as a pulpit.[13] Whitefield stated: "I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields ... I now preach to ten times more people than I should, if had been confined to the churches."[verify]
Open-air preachers throughout history have often noted that preaching to large crowds often causes preachers to be abused in certain ways, even having objects thrown at them such as rotting vegetables or unsanitary liquids of many varieties.[14] It was said that one of the regular practices of American evangelist Dwight L. Moody in the late 1860s "was to exhort the passersby in the evenings from the steps of the court house. Often these impromptu gatherings drew as many hecklers as supporters."[15]
In the late 19th century and early-to-mid 20th century many famous open-air preachers in the United States began to preach, such as Billy Graham and Billy Sunday.[16] Graham in particular used a combination of open-air preaching and the recent advent of televangelism to broadcast his sermons, which often took place in large venues such as stadiums, to large portions of the world and millions of Americans.[17]
Street preaching 2022 in Germany
Charles Spurgeon, the famous open-air Baptist preacher of England, believed that open-air preaching was instrumental in getting people to hear the gospel who might otherwise never hear it,[2][18] and today, open-air preachers such as Ray Comfort believe that it reaches many more people at once than other approaches to evangelism do.[19] Charles Spurgeon recommends several things for open-air preachers, such as never trying to speak into the wind, trying to speak away from the wind so one's voice will carry farther, (sometimes up to half a mile by Spurgeon's account) keeping sermons concise instead of overly verbose and complicated, use illustrations and anecdotes to keep the crowd interested, and to not speak at the very top of your voice so you don't wear yourself out too quickly.[2] Spurgeon also recommended to never use tents when preaching due to their muffling effects,[20] and to be careful of what is on the other side of walls you may be preaching in front of, since people behind the wall or living in spaces in buildings could harass preachers.[21]
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Street Preaching Training, Tips, and Information, Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
The Open Air Mission
February 27, 2023
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Open air preaching street preaching or public preaching is the act of evangelizing a religious faith in public places It is an ancient method of proselytizing a religious or social message and has been used by many cultures and religious traditions but today it is usually associated with evangelical Protestant Christianity Supporters of this approach note that both Jesus 1 and many of the Old Testament prophets often preached about God in public places 2 It is one of the oldest approaches to evangelism 1 Street preacher in Los Angeles California 1972 Contents 1 In the Bible 2 Reformation 3 Evangelical Revivals 4 Notable open air preachers 4 1 Historic 4 2 Active in the 21st century 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksIn the Bible Edit A representative painting of Jesus Christ delivering the open air Sermon on the Mount One of the earliest open air preachers of Christianity according to the gospels was Jesus Christ whose first specifically recorded sermon was the Sermon on the Mount 1 2 which took place on a mountainside in the open air 3 In the Gospel of Luke Luke 6 17 49 it was recorded that Jesus also gave an open air sermon known as the Sermon on the Plain 2 In Mark 16 15 street preaching is seen as a commandment from Jesus as a way to warn people about sins and their consequences This is supported by Isaiah 58 1 and Jeremiah 2 2 4 5 After Jesus death and resurrection many of his apostles and followers started street preaching the gospel in the Temple of Jerusalem and in other open spaces 1 2 The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry lists the many examples of street preaching in the Bible as including Noah Solomon Ezra Jeremiah Jonah John the Baptist Jesus Christ Peter Paul Phillip and Apollos 6 Reformation EditDuring the Protestant Reformation open air preaching was often employed by Protestants throughout Europe 7 who could not always preach inside churches which were mostly Catholic 8 Open air preaching in Europe continued during the rise of Puritanism and other Protestant movements 2 It was often used in Pastoral environments as well as in cities the former sometimes due to a desire to avoid the authorities 9 and the latter because for one reason it could reach eccentric people living in cities who would not otherwise hear the gospel 10 Evangelical Revivals EditSee also Revival meeting and Great Awakening Methodist preachers were known for promulgating the doctrines of the new birth and entire sanctification to the public at events such as tent revivals and camp meetings which they believe is the reason that God raised them up into existence 11 Early Methodist preachers John Wesley and George Whitefield preached in the open air which allowed them to attract crowds larger than most buildings could accommodate 12 On one occasion when Wesley was forbidden to preach inside the church in his hometown Epworth he used his father s tombstone in the churchyard as a pulpit 13 Whitefield stated I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields I now preach to ten times more people than I should if had been confined to the churches verify Open air preachers throughout history have often noted that preaching to large crowds often causes preachers to be abused in certain ways even having objects thrown at them such as rotting vegetables or unsanitary liquids of many varieties 14 It was said that one of the regular practices of American evangelist Dwight L Moody in the late 1860s was to exhort the passersby in the evenings from the steps of the court house Often these impromptu gatherings drew as many hecklers as supporters 15 In the late 19th century and early to mid 20th century many famous open air preachers in the United States began to preach such as Billy Graham and Billy Sunday 16 Graham in particular used a combination of open air preaching and the recent advent of televangelism to broadcast his sermons which often took place in large venues such as stadiums to large portions of the world and millions of Americans 17 Street preaching 2022 in Germany Charles Spurgeon the famous open air Baptist preacher of England believed that open air preaching was instrumental in getting people to hear the gospel who might otherwise never hear it 2 18 and today open air preachers such as Ray Comfort believe that it reaches many more people at once than other approaches to evangelism do 19 Charles Spurgeon recommends several things for open air preachers such as never trying to speak into the wind trying to speak away from the wind so one s voice will carry farther sometimes up to half a mile by Spurgeon s account keeping sermons concise instead of overly verbose and complicated use illustrations and anecdotes to keep the crowd interested and to not speak at the very top of your voice so you don t wear yourself out too quickly 2 Spurgeon also recommended to never use tents when preaching due to their muffling effects 20 and to be careful of what is on the other side of walls you may be preaching in front of since people behind the wall or living in spaces in buildings could harass preachers 21 Notable open air preachers EditHistoric Edit Saint Dominic St Francis of Assisi St Vincent Ferrer William Booth D L Moody Charles Spurgeon John Wesley George Whitefield George Wishart Active in the 21st century Edit Micah Armstrong Jed Smock Ray Comfort Samuel Chambers State Street Preacher Reinhard BonnkeReferences Edit a b c d Spurgeon p 234 a b c d e f g http www biblebelievers com StreetPreaching2 html Archived 2007 04 10 at the Wayback Machine OPEN AIR PREACHING A SKETCH OF ITS HISTORY AND REMARKS THEREON Charles H Spurgeon Bible Gateway passage Matthew 5 1 New International Version Bible Gateway Beginner s Discipleship Class 13c Why Street Preaching is Biblical Real Bible Believers 29 March 2020 What is Biblical Street Evangelism Right Biblical Street Evangelism www conformingtojesus com Tony Miano Matt Slick Are There Examples of Street Preaching in the Bible Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry http www carm org biblical examples street preaching Spurgeon p 235 Spurgeon p 236 Spurgeon p 241 Spurgeon p 257 Gibson James Wesleyan Heritage Series Entire Sanctification South Georgia Confessing Association Archived from the original on 29 May 2018 Retrieved 30 May 2018 The first Great Awakening Archived 2010 01 25 at the Wayback Machine Tony Cauchi Jamaica Gleaner JOHN WESLEY G Holden Pike s History of the Great Methodist and His Associates New York Times Spurgeon Pg 250 A History Of Street Preaching Soulwinning info Archived from the original on 2012 08 22 Retrieved 2013 02 15 Billy Sunday Salty evangelist ChristianityToday com Archived from the original on 2007 02 15 Lee R The History Guy The Reverend Billy Graham Archived from the original on 2007 01 13 Retrieved 2007 02 04 Spurgeon p 255 The Evidence Bible Ray Comfort Bridge Logos Publishers 2003 p 1183 Spurgeon p 258 Spurgeon p 256Bibliography EditCharles Haddon Spurgeon Lectures to My Students Zondervan publishing house 1977 Eighth printing ISBN 0 310 32910 8External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Open air preaching Street Preaching Training Tips and Information Christian Apologetics amp Research Ministry The Open Air Mission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Open air preaching amp oldid 1135524540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
