Thoughts on Street Preaching

[dsanch1120]

Hello everyone,
I was curious as to everyone’s opinions on street preaching. A good friend of mine has asked if I would be interested in going out to street preach and hand out gospel tracts on a regular basis throughout our city (downtown, university plazas, etc). I would like to go out and do more evangelism, especially after having worked in my cities downtown and seeing almost no evangelism happening there (other than an Islamic man distributing Qurans one time). Does anything have any experience with street preaching specifically? Is it effectively? How is it done well and what are things to avoid? If I’m not ordained, licensed to preach, or explicitly sent out by my church is it okay to preach vs distribute gospel tracts?
Thank you all

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

Yeah that's good stuff to think about. If you are wanting to generally be confrontational, and irritate others, for the sake of causing more people to hear God's word, then open air preaching would be the way to go. If you want to take the more peaceful and culturally respectable route, you can hand out tracts and have meaningful conversations with people. Both forms have their place. The problem with open air preaching, is to try to redeem it in the culture's eyes, because so many people have done it in an angry and harsh way, it has negative associations in our culture. I personally try to respect people's time, and gently and quietly hand them gospel tracts. That way they can read those on their own time so I don't have to take them away from what they're doing when they're out. I know, for one, when I am out and about with my family trying to do something enjoyable, it can be irritating to have sales people walk up to me and try to give me a spiel. I'd be much happier if they just hand me a piece of paper that I can read later if I wish.

According to Acts 8:4, it is okay for ordinary believers to proclaim the gospel and share it. But to be a formal teacher called to ministry, of course that would be a requirement for ordained men.

 

[JTB.SDG]

Hello everyone,
I was curious as to everyone’s opinions on street preaching. A good friend of mine has asked if I would be interested in going out to street preach and hand out gospel tracts on a regular basis throughout our city (downtown, university plazas, etc). I would like to go out and do more evangelism, especially after having worked in my cities downtown and seeing almost no evangelism happening there (other than an Islamic man distributing Qurans one time). Does anything have any experience with street preaching specifically? Is it effectively? How is it done well and what are things to avoid? If I’m not ordained, licensed to preach, or explicitly sent out by my church is it okay to preach vs distribute gospel tracts?
Thank you all

Yes, do it. It's been a long time since I've done this but those were really sweet times. My advice is first be humble. You're preaching to yourself first, you are the sinner, worse than anyone else you're preaching to. Talk about your sin and your need for Jesus personally. This diffuses people. Second, know what you're going to say. No one would get up and just preach a sermon, you plan it out and I think it's the same principle here. Don't have word for word notes but have a little outline, know where you're going and what you're saying. I'd also say make use of illustrations, we do this in church why not with unbelievers who are going to have a much harder time with preaching. Spurgeon said he used humor to make way for the gospel, he likened it to tickeling a clam (I guess they did this) to get it to open it's shell, then in with the knife (the gospel knife). Also, keep it short. Plan out a message 10-12 minutes. Respect peoples time; again we do this in church, how much more for outsiders. Lastly, don't get into politics or focusing on particular cultural sins. Talk about sin but don't focus on it, you're job is to focus on the gospel and the person of Jesus, the friend of sinners.

 

[Alexander Suarez]

Hello everyone,
I was curious as to everyone’s opinions on street preaching. A good friend of mine has asked if I would be interested in going out to street preach and hand out gospel tracts on a regular basis throughout our city (downtown, university plazas, etc). I would like to go out and do more evangelism, especially after having worked in my cities downtown and seeing almost no evangelism happening there (other than an Islamic man distributing Qurans one time). Does anything have any experience with street preaching specifically? Is it effectively? How is it done well and what are things to avoid? If I’m not ordained, licensed to preach, or explicitly sent out by my church is it okay to preach vs distribute gospel tracts?
Thank you all

Good day Dan,

I suppose definitions will be important. What does it mean to preach? Whatever preaching is, I would think that to be the task of the preacher (Rom. 10:14-15). If one is a preacher, who has sent him? If no one has sent him and he takes it upon himself to preach, then is it in accord with the Scripture model?

No issues here with Christians going out and having conversations with folks willing to talk, or sharing good Christian literature.

 

[Deleted member 13126]

Good day Dan,

I suppose definitions will be important. What does it mean to preach? Whatever preaching is, I would think that to be the task of the preacher (Rom. 10:14-15). If one is a preacher, who has sent him? If no one has sent him and he takes it upon himself to preach, then is it in accord with the Scripture model?

No issues here with Christians going out and having conversations with folks willing to talk, or sharing good Christian literature.

This has been the position I've historically taken in practice.

For context, I've been going out and distributing tracts regularly in some form or fashion for about four years now.

I used to attend a small, Reformed Baptist congregation which confessed and subscribed to the LBCF1689. There were two elders. One took the position that it was appropriate for a man to preach in the open air despite being an unordained Christian man, the other took the position that it was not. The one who said it was appropriate reasoned along these lines: you'd be preaching to a mixed multitude of goats and sheep, and that the primary concern regarding ordination is that a congregation doesn't have a preacher thrust upon them. The one who said it wouldn't be appropriate declined to elaborate. Still, because there was not a consensus, I left it at that and was content to simply distribute literature.

I now attend a Free Presbyterian Church which confesses and subscribes to a modified WCF which agrees to hold the differing views on baptism in loving tolerance. I've met with the Teaching Elder, who I regard as my Pastor despite not yet being a member of the church, and he believes it is entirely appropriate to preach in the open air despite being unordained.

On my recent trip to London, I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Peter Masters of Metropolitan Tabernacle who has provided me with the same guidance, that it would be fine for an unordained Christian man to preach evangelistically in the open air.

There are others here who take a different view, and you may even find yourself to be sympathetic with their view that you must be ordained or sent, etc. That would be fine also. Whatever doesn't come from faith is sin, so I say that you ought to be fully persuaded in your own mind one way or the other. If you have any doubts, you can do as I've done (and continue to do, for now) and pass out tracts and seek to reach people.

I may preach in the open air at some point, but up until now I have yet to, despite having all of the approval I'd need in order to do it in good conscience, having searched the Holy Scriptures and sought wise counsel from men older and wiser than I am whom I trust and esteem very highly.

If, like me, you're always after a scriptural warrant, Acts 8:4 KJV would be as good a place as any to prayerfully start.

Hope this helps.

 

[Afterthought]

Does anything have any experience with street preaching specifically? Is it effectively? How is it done well and what are things to avoid? If I’m not ordained, licensed to preach, or explicitly sent out by my church is it okay to preach vs distribute gospel tracts?

I do not preach, but I have gone out with ministers to support their street preaching by holding up signs, handing out tracts, and when possible talking with people.

It is as effective as the Word of God is: hardening some, softening others, and in all places bringing glory to Christ (in this case, public glory).

Make sure you (if you're handing out tracks; your minister/preacher friend if he is preaching while you hand out tracts) understand what are public places and the laws of the areas. There can be enough hostility that police will be called to shut you down, and if you don't know the law, that will be used to their advantage to shut you down.

For examples of how the preaching looks, try finding the Facebook page of my church, Michael Spangler's preaching page, and Romesh's church page. There are many other examples: just those come to my mind right away since I have seen them do it.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

If, like me, you're always after a scriptural warrant, Acts 8:4 KJV would be as good a place as any to prayerfully start.

Yeah, this passage makes it very difficult to argue against non-ordained proclamation of God's Word.

 

[Deleted member 9611]

This has been the position I've historically taken in practice.

For context, I've been going out and distributing tracts regularly in some form or fashion for about four years now.

I used to attend a small, Reformed Baptist congregation which confessed and subscribed to the LBCF1689. There were two elders. One took the position that it was appropriate for a man to preach in the open air despite being an unordained Christian man, the other took the position that it was not. The one who said it was appropriate reasoned along these lines: you'd be preaching to a mixed multitude of goats and sheep, and that the primary concern regarding ordination is that a congregation doesn't have a preacher thrust upon them. The one who said it wouldn't be appropriate declined to elaborate. Still, because there was not a consensus, I left it at that and was content to simply distribute literature.

I now attend a Free Presbyterian Church which confesses and subscribes to a modified WCF which agrees to hold the differing views on baptism in loving tolerance. I've met with the Teaching Elder, who I regard as my Pastor despite not yet being a member of the church, and he believes it is entirely appropriate to preach in the open air despite being unordained.

On my recent trip to London, I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Peter Masters of Metropolitan Tabernacle who has provided me with the same guidance, that it would be fine for an unordained Christian man to preach evangelistically in the open air.

There are others here who take a different view, and you may even find yourself to be sympathetic with their view that you must be ordained or sent, etc. That would be fine also. Whatever doesn't come from faith is sin, so I say that you ought to be fully persuaded in your own mind one way or the other. If you have any doubts, you can do as I've done (and continue to do, for now) and pass out tracts and seek to reach people.

I may preach in the open air at some point, but up until now I have yet to, despite having all of the approval I'd need in order to do it in good conscience, having searched the Holy Scriptures and sought wise counsel from men older and wiser than I am whom I trust and esteem very highly.

If, like me, you're always after a scriptural warrant, Acts 8:4 KJV would be as good a place as any to prayerfully start.

Hope this helps.

Just a point of info, the KJV (which I adore and use) unfortunately translates κηρύσσω and ευαγγελίζω in the same way. The former is the official heralding act done by the minister and the latter is a more broad ‘gospelizing’. I’m not saying that is conclusive toward one view or another as far as street preaching goes, though I hold my own opinion on who should be preaching, but it is a heads up.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

Just a point of info, the KJV (which I adore and use) unfortunately translates κηρύσσω and ευαγγελίζω in the same way. The former is the official heralding act done by the minister and the latter is a more broad ‘gospelizing’. I’m not saying that is conclusive toward one view or another as far as street preaching goes, though I hold my own opinion on who should be preaching, but it is a heads up.

My pastor just pointed out the same thing when we were talking about it. Most likely a different type of preaching than an ordained pastor in the church would be doing, but still a reference to common believers at least proclaiming the Gospel.

 

[Reformed Catholic]

The problem with open air preaching, is to try to redeem it in the culture's eyes, because so many people have done it in an angry and harsh way, it has negative associations in our culture.

Ryan is exactly right here. I go to a secular university and every time street preachers have come to our university they have been loud, angry, and straight up insulting, displaying no fruits of the Spirit whatsoever, and their message is often legalistic in nature. This has led to even many Christians in my school having a negative view of street preaching, even though it's not necessarily a bad thing on its own (and I would even say it's quite biblical if done rightly). As Reformed and biblical Christians, we HAVE to not give up on street preaching to redeem it and show how it should be done in a firm but loving way. May God be glorified if you do end up choosing to go street preaching with your friend, Dan

 

[PaulCLawton]

Hello everyone,
I was curious as to everyone’s opinions on street preaching. A good friend of mine has asked if I would be interested in going out to street preach and hand out gospel tracts on a regular basis throughout our city (downtown, university plazas, etc). I would like to go out and do more evangelism, especially after having worked in my cities downtown and seeing almost no evangelism happening there (other than an Islamic man distributing Qurans one time). Does anything have any experience with street preaching specifically? Is it effectively? How is it done well and what are things to avoid? If I’m not ordained, licensed to preach, or explicitly sent out by my church is it okay to preach vs distribute gospel tracts?
Thank you all

See the following video that has some very good thoughts on open-air preaching:

Rev. Michael Spangler also posts videos of his open-air preaching on Facebook, which should not be too difficult to find, if you are interested.

 

[Alan D. Strange]

The fact of the matter is, and this is not disputed among confessional Presbyterians and Reformed, preaching is what is done by one licensed to preach. This would include licentiates and ministers. It is also the case that this is not, as some have misguidedly thought, limited to the service of divine worship. Wherever one thus licensed and/or ordained preaches, under the due authority of those who hold his credentials, he is indeed preaching, in the pulpit, in the open air, etc.

Someone not ordained would be exhorting, which means that he has not yet been found qualified to be licensed and/or ordained, but is most commonly in preparation for gospel ministry (a seminary student, intern, etc.). In general the one exhorting, and certainly the one preaching, is receiving or has received direct theological education (seminary most commonly) and is considered a candidate for ministry.

This is because, to quote from the OPC FG, we not only think that the "sacred office [of minister] may not be degraded by being committed to weak or unworthy men," but also think that "it is highly reproachful to religion and dangerous to the church to entrust the preaching of the gospel to weak and ignorant men," to which end college or university training is required, followed by a theological seminary.

Laymen may do all sorts of things in support of preaching but only licentiates and ordained men are preaching; if it's thought fitting, a layman may exhort, all to be done under proper ecclesiastical oversight.

Peace,
Alan

 

[Stephen L Smith]

This is because, to quote from the OPC FG, we not only think that the "sacred office [of minister] may not be degraded by being committed to weak or unworthy men," but also think that "it is highly reproachful to religion and dangerous to the church to entrust the preaching of the gospel to weak and ignorant men," to which end college or university training is required, followed by a theological seminary.

Do you think there are exceptions - such as CH Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

The book of church order of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand Article 12 'Exemptions in the Case of Exceptional Gifts':

Persons who have not pursued the regular study in preparation for the ministry of the Word shall not be admitted to the ministry, unless there is assurance of their exceptional gifts, godliness, humility, modesty, commonsense and discretion, as also gifts of public address. When such persons present themselves for the ministry, the Presbytery, with the consent of Synod, shall first examine them, and further deal with them as it shall deem edifying, according to the general regulations of the Churches

 

[Polanus1561]

Do you think there are exceptions - such as CH Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

The book of church order of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand Article 12 'Exemptions in the Case of Exceptional Gifts':

Persons who have not pursued the regular study in preparation for the ministry of the Word shall not be admitted to the ministry, unless there is assurance of their exceptional gifts, godliness, humility, modesty, commonsense and discretion, as also gifts of public address. When such persons present themselves for the ministry, the Presbytery, with the consent of Synod, shall first examine them, and further deal with them as it shall deem edifying, according to the general regulations of the Churches

I think Presbyterianism affects how one proceeds with this exceptional gifts policy.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I think Presbyterianism affects how one proceeds with this exceptional gifts policy.

Our church actually subscribes to the WCF

 

[Polanus1561]

Our church actually subscribes to the WCF

Sorry, I meant the distinction that Spurgeon and MLJ didn't have overseeing elders to formally present themselves too did they? I am not sure on their history.

 

[itsreed]

Check out works by Ryan Denton. Good advice.

 

[Alan D. Strange]

Do you think there are exceptions - such as CH Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

Stephen,

We do have a process of GA consultation whereby a presbytery may proceed with a candidate who falls short of these formal requirements. But the process is clear: while some formal preparatory requirements may be waived, the knowledge that they are intended to inculcate and foster may never be waived.

This means that a presbytery may judge a candidate fit, as part of the examination process, even though he may not meet some of the formal educational requirements. In exceptional circumstances, we may receive a man who lacks something in formal training but never in the gifts and calling required to be a minister of Word and Sacraments.

No groups represented on this Board, to my knowledge, would ordain someone at the age and in the circumstances in which Spurgeon entered the ministry. No one. Does this mean, in the providence of God, that Spurgeon was not manifestly gifted and called, clearly qualified, to serve as he did? Of course not, and that's never the way we approach things. We could work our way through the history of the whole church and see ways in which God has worked in that which would not be "regular order" according to our understanding. This does not determine how we should endeavor to do things, not presuming upon Him (as Jesus refused to do in resisting the second temptation).

The Lord may use a crooked stick to strike a straight blow. This does not mean, of course, that we endeavor to be crooked sticks. No, we should do things in good order as befits those seeking to be faithful. The vast majority of us are not Spurgeons or MLJs. Those rare souls will manifest. In the meantime, we go about with the best light that we have in the ordinary processes of ordination, means of grace, etc. We never make the extraordinary or the exceptional the rule.

Peace,
Alan

 

[AK]

In the meantime, we go about with the best light that we have in the ordinary processes of ordination, means of grace, etc. We never make the extraordinary or the exceptional the rule.

I believe even Spurgeon and Lloyd-Jones recognised that and formed seminaries for future students pursuing ministry.

 

[Jack K]

If I’m not ordained, licensed to preach, or explicitly sent out by my church is it okay to preach

Dan, I do a fair amount of teaching kids, speaking at seminars, writing published materials, etc. for Christian purposes that take place outside my local church. My thinking is that for me to be doing such activities, it's good that the leadership of my local church is aware and supportive (not necessarily aware of each instance, but generally aware that I do these things and giving their blessing). Rules about ordination and what it allows will vary some from church to church, especially if your church is congregational rather than presbyterian in governance. But at a minimum, good order requires that your leadership approves of what you are up to if you are going out in some organized fashion to proclaim Christ—and all the more so if it's something you label "preaching."

So, your first step is to make sure you've talked with your church leadership about this. At minimum, you should feel they have sent you in some sense, even if they have not formally ordained you. Have that in your back pocket—that you know your elders, who are responsible to Christ, have said they believe you should be doing this.

 

[Scott Bushey]

I would agree with Alex and Doctor Strange. I don’t believe, outside of a flawed presupposition, that the word ‘preach’ is ever used, divorced from the official connotation of an office holder. If you peruse all of scripture with this biblical, hierarchical sentiment, you will be hard-pressed to find it randomly associating preaching with anybody, other than leader ship.

For example, the repeated citation above of the Acts 8 passage, could be seen in the light of, not singular persons but the scattering being the church as a whole unit and the leader ship, which represents those who were scattered. This scattering will always be based on the idea, that if this is an actual church, there is actual leader ship and these leaders are official shepherds.

If Acts 8 intends to convey that this is just a bunch of people randomly dispersed, I believe this can’t really be called a church? When you intend to convey that the leader ship was scattered, or the church itself was scattered, you still have organization. There is not anarchy.

In Mark 6, sheep without a shepherd was seen compassionately by Christ.

I believe somebody mentioned terminology or definitions. For the lay-person, possibly the more accurate description of the task itself would be better entitled, sharing, witnessing, evidence of the hope that is within us, why we believe what we believe.

One of the problems may be if somebody asked us to be baptized right then. Or if females are out giving witness, would it be problematic if they said they were preaching?

 

[Deleted member 6112]

I'll add my voice to those saying that 'lay preacher' is not a valid category. When my congregation goes out to evangelize at a park near the church, my pastor and I preach, and everyone hands out tracts and engages in conversation. Though I'm not ordained, I preach as a candidate for the ministry, both inside and outside the walls of the church.

@Challer - you mentioned your pastor's view. Interestingly, I heard him say in a conference address that he was a street preacher before he ever had any thoughts of the ministry. He said that for years he thought that street preaching was all he'd ever do. I would argue that if someone has a preaching gift, feels the burden of a call to preach (irrespective of where he feels a burden to preach), and is living a morally upright life, he ought to pursue the ministry. I would actually cite your pastor's experience as an argument against his view of the matter.

Note: @Challer's pastor is actually one of my very favorite preachers. I had the privilege of meeting him recently during a visit to Greenville, and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship both with him, our brother @Challer, and other brothers.

 

[Deleted member 13126]

I believe somebody mentioned terminology or definitions. For the lay-person, possibly the more accurate description of the task itself would be better entitled, sharing, witnessing, evidence of the hope that is within us, why we believe what we believe.

One of the problems may be if somebody asked us to be baptized right then. Or if females are out giving witness, would it be problematic if they said they were preaching?

I certainly think it would be problematic if it was said that a woman was preaching. I think I’d define preaching as any one-to-many, authoritative proclamation of biblical truths. I’d say men may do it but that women may not. Ray Comfort would disagree, but that’s my take.

I’ve already addressed whether or not I think men do need to be ordained prior to preaching that in an earlier post.