The “Why” of Open Air Preaching
Seasoned evangelist Stirling Long preaching at Unseen Hands in November 2024
Why Open Air Preaching?
“Expose them to the message of Christ. ‘Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Romans 10:17). ‘How are they to hear without someone preaching?’ (Romans 10:14). ‘The gospel . . . is the power of God for salvation’ (Romans 1:16). Enter open-air preaching…moreover, open-air preaching was a preferred method of Jonah, Jeremiah, the apostle Paul, and many others. They went to the people and preached God’s word…because preaching is heralding. Preaching is confronting. Preaching is pleading. Preaching is not the delivery of data, but a divine summons. It is an urgent call from heaven to earth, issuing from a man who has felt the weight of eternity and has come to speak on behalf of the Living God.”
- Ryan Denton, Evangelist, Vanguard Presbyterian Church
Founder of Christ in the Wild Ministries
Brother Nick White prays before preaching in Atlanta
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Great Commision
Above are the famous final words Jesus tells His disciples before He ascends into Heaven. We know it as The Great Commission. There are three points we can pull from it to be aware of while we are evangelizing:
1. Christ Has All Authority
Because of His resurrection, triumphing over death and the grave, Jesus now has all authority in heaven and on earth, and Philippians 2 tells us how He has been given "the name above every name." When we share the gospel, we do so knowing that King Jesus rules and reigns on His throne, and He will accomplish His purpose in saving the lost. Our efforts do not depend on our own merits or skills, but on the power of the good news of Jesus Christ, which is "salvation unto everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
2. Now We All Go Forth
Now that Christ has conquered death, we are commanded to proclaim the joyful news: Jesus saves. It is not a suggestion, or a guilt trip, or a plea: it is an imperative command from our Savior. All Christians, in some shape, form, or fashion, should take part in spreading the gospel in their towns, communities, and countries, baptizing and discipling believers, and teaching them in sound doctrines of Scripture.
3. The King Is With Us
We have nothing to fear as believers, for to live is Christ, and to die is gain. We can be bold and have assurance wherever we go to share the good news of Christ because He is with us always: in the streets, in the jails, in the homeless shelters, at the abortion mills, to the very ends of the earth. We serve a living Savior, who is actively reconciling His people to Himself. Our charge is clear: Go.
