Street Preaching 101
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Do's and don'ts of Street Preaching
"Let all things be done decently and in order" I Cor. 14:40
FIrst of all as Corinthians says we are to be in order and with a decent message when preaching in the streets. Keeping yourself and team in order is a key in being successful in the streets. We need to remember the ears we are preaching to do not want to hear some loud mouthed idiot telling them how quickly they are going to Hell. There is a need for us to take the Gospel to the streets but in a loving way. We do not want to offend and push the lost even further away.
DON'TS
A gravelled and harsh voice that does not sound sincere. Do not be harsh or obnoxious with what you have to say.
Do not be trying to tell them off showing your superior knowledge of the Gospel. The streets are no place for you to vent on the hearers of your message.
Name calling may well be a good way to get arrested, it may lead to the police taking you away instead of people taking the Gospel. Derogatory remarks or anything considered ethnic bias can land you in deep trouble. If you are not preaching with love and compassion on the streets then find another place to get it all out other than on the streets.
Facial expressions can win or lose an audience as they gather and see your mannerisms. Looking stone cold or like you are ready to pounce on them will turn them off immediately. Try to relate your facial look to what you are saying. When speaking of the love of God or heaven try to look as though you know just what it is you are trying to convey. Show them the surety of your lesson, keep it fresh in words and looks.
Preach the Gospel, leave your personal convictions to share one on one when asked.
I have heard it said any idiot can get arrested preaching. Know why you are there, getting arrested does not help to win the lost. Nor should you go and preach just to get arrested. If however you do get arrested make sure it is for street preaching. There is a long line of other offenses that can come along with preaching on the streets. The usual offenses fro street preaching are:
A) Loitering
B) disorderly conduct
C) failure to maintain locomotion
D) disturbing the peace
To avoid some of if not all of these situations here are a few more areas to look at:
1) Stay away from private property
2) Do not use a P.A. system, some towns have laws about the use and how loud they are.
3) Avoid preaching at night, though there may be a few times that are exceptions try at all cost to avoid night street preaching
4) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, have a helper with you. Never go at it alone, no matter what kind of he-man you think you may be, never go to the streets by yourself.
Check with local authorities before going out, especially if you are out of town and do not know the ordinances of that town. Knowledge will keep you on the streets, out of jail, and safe. When possible talk to the local police and let them know what you are to do and where. It is a good thing to let them know how long you will be there and what you are going to say. Ask for the Badge number rank and name of who you talk to saying it is ok. Make a note of these 3 things and keep it with you. That way if police do show up then the one watching out for the one preaching can give it to the officers and let them know it is ok for you to be there. Also leaving your vehicle discription may work to your advantage. They know the strange car in the area is yours.
It is inevitable in a street ministry to think you will never have the police called. Remember the Gospel is an offense to those that are lost.
Limit your time. You do not need to be there for hours on end. Somewhere along the line people will get agitated you are there so long. A good rule of thumb is 25-35 minutes of preaching is more than enough time to get a good message out. It may take a few minutes once you start for people to gather to listen but then go and preach the message and do it with compassion. When you have music with you then give yourself about 45-50 minutes. A good song or two to stir up interest and then the message.
YOUR MESSAGE
Keep it simple! Preach on salvation! Never preach in the streets on the doom and gloom of things to come. Never preach Hell Fire and Damnation. You are there as an ambassador of Jesus Christ to win the lost not push them away.
The best street messages are ones you know the subject matter inside and out. Sure it is a good thing to have your Bible with you but it is more effective if you do not have to read from it but rather quote the verses. Have your message memorized or know what you want to say. Notes are not a productive tool in the streets. I know you have seen and heard preachers in churches always using notes if not actually reading them directly, but in the streets that will not work. People expect you to be the expert, or you wouldn't be there. If you only know one sermon by heart, then preach it every time you go out, just go to different areas with that message. Repeating a message several times like this will enhance your knowledge of that message. Then from memory you will be able to ad verses of scripture or subtly change the message as you go.
PRAYER
Always be in prayer for your street preaching, or public preaching ministry. Pray for God to lead you and protect you in all things. Pray for power of the Holy Spirit to carry your message. Pray for the Blood of Jesus to cleanse the area you are about to preach in. Pray that God will give you the words to say and to not be easily distracted. Distractions not only may come but WILL come. Pray God to give you the ability to preach around the distractions or to them with the right words. You must be "instant in season and out". Do not let it bother you that you preach the greatest evangelistic message ever and no one gets saved. Remember the words of Paul, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase," I Cor. 3:7.
Compassion and concern for the lost soul will be your greatest weapon when preaching in the streets.
These are a few lessons for starting street preaching, if you are to start this ministry I have a couple others to pass along. Be open to the word of God, listen as He leads. Do it of God not of yourself. "I must decrease and He must increase", keep in mind it is not you to be promoted but the Word of God. Lastly make sure that God has called you to this ministry. Make sure it is in God's will and plan for your life to preach His Holy Word in the Streets. AND, May God Bless you as you go.
Coming Soon
Street preaching 201, a more comprehensive look at open air street preaching. I hope all will read the second one as much as the first.
CommentsLoading...
thank you voice. Glad you enjoyed it.
Not bad.
I think it's probably a good thing that street preachers do.
But alas I suppose I'd never make a good one!
I'm too much like John the Baptist. I can't help but holler "REPENT YE---for the kingdom is at hand!" ha
And like my Daddy, who preached hellfire and brimstone, Amen!
Brenda I totally understand what you mean, it is sometimes so hard to hold that back.
Hi Michael; hope you're having an awesomely Godly night! Peace; blessings!
I sure am. I am ready for my 3 week vacation and hope to write a ton of hubs during that time. Maybe 2 per day, I have so many messages I would like to place on here and more poems and a few how to's when it comes to evangelism. Plus our website for our new ministry will be up by then and hopefully (prayerfully) we will get our names out and our ministry will take off.
Good deal. God be with you every day!
Great hub and filled with Godly wisdom...
Blessings
Great hub...I like the "don't" that you mentioned..be blessed.. :)
What can i say brother Michael but Praise The Lord.......
I wish you and your team all the very best as you step out in faith to spread God's word. I will uphold you in Prayer.
My friend near Dayton goes under Texashubber if you care to leave him a message on his hubs.
Blessings and hugs.
Brother Michael,what a great informative and instructional Hub on the "Do's and Don'ts of preaching to others. Thank you I'm certain many will find it very helpful.
Brother Dave.
I realize from reading your hub on steet preaching, that the reason I would turn away from people like this...was because of their yelling. One time I seen a person, who parked a trailer, with 2 chairs sitting out front. Hours were posted and an open sign saying: Open for prayer! Have a prayer request? The person, just sat and waited for people to stop and pray:) I was surprised at how many times I would drive by, and there would be a car stopped or a person sitting with this man, in prayer:) Great Hub, Michael:) You gave good guidelines, on what not to do:)
Heart, unfortunately there are a lot of street preachers that can even turn Christians off from their delivery. That is why I take these simple rules seriously, we cannot afford to disdain or offend people. We need to preach Thus saith the Lord God but with grace and compassion.
Great hub, you know we have forgotten how to preach the gospel. Jesus said, I am the way and the life. In the preaching of the disciples we didn't see any watered down messages, or tickle your ear messages, they taught that life with Christ brought, salvation, healing and miracles in your life. They preached how to be empowered to defeat the enemy. Well Glory, lets get back to the real gospel. I'm working on a hub now called The Answer for a dying world; preaching the true gospel. A lot of people don't even know what the real gospel is thats why churches can't help people win their salvation! You go my brother!
GREAT HUB!!!! I have done alot of street ministry and everything you said is TRUE!!! I have experience once you get their attention and capture their hearts, you can really minister to them!!!!! AMEN! I' m loving this Hub! Blessings!!!
Hi! Michael Good hub!. Most important don't purposely offend anyone & be sincere, let it come from your heart! Be lead by the Holy Spirit, He leads and guides you to each and every person. He even leads saying go right, go left, stay out of here or even when to leave quickly. God's Holy Spirit gives you the perfect words & scriptures & how to talk for each indiv. person!God's awesome!The fields are white for the harvest! Don't let any blood be on your hands for not reaching the lost for Jesus! (Ez 3)
Great Hub! I totally Agree with every word you wrote. Thank you for this needful message.
Thanks for the hub, very good advice, I marked it up and useful!
Love the car in the avatar BTW, looks like an MG, is it?
John
Thanks for the kind words everyone I wanted to reply to each individually but the mind doesn't always work like I plan, The car in avatar is a '57 T-bird, I drove it in our Sugar Maple festival parade, and no it isn't mine, wish it was though. ( if anyone wants to donate $50,000 to me it will be mine!)
Never preach in the streets on the doom and gloom of things to come. Never preach Hell Fire and Damnation. You are there as an ambassador of Jesus Christ to win the lost not push them away?
Repentance should not be left out!
How can you preach Jesus and not warn people about their eternal end if they are not saved? Matthew, mark & Luke were witnesses of Jesus.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Luke 10:15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Captain, we preach the truth of the gospel that jesus came to seek and save those that are lost, we preach Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Thanks for your insightful words, if we preach repentance without showing the need or the way of God's love and grace then we will lose those that may want to come, I save the Hell fire damnation burning brimstone for the church setting and preach to men as they are on the streets according to God's holy Word.
To all who have commented on this hub I sincerely thank you! I am readying to write street preaching 201 soon perhaps this week if I get it finished. I hope to see you all on that one and I promise to TRY to keep up with everyone's comments
Michael, I've done street-preaching back in Asia, and I agree with you that the 'gloom and doom' preaching does not work. We have to preach the love of God, and the Cross, and the power of the precious Blood to forgive every sin.
Did some public tract distribution in Philly, USA, with folks from Calvary Chapel. It was a good experience.
Blessings to you.~
Pratonix passing out tracts is awesome, I pass them out on my job, I get to a lot of people's houses and leave them on the door. Passed out 1000 one week, surprised me to pass that many out. Glad you enjoyed this.
Unchained Grace Ministries and one of the outreach teams from Lost Souls of the Night and Holy Truth Temple of Deliverance has been out in the streets of Baltimore for more years than I can count. All of the above rules make perfect sense but then these are all things we've done since the beginning.
All of the above ministries go right into the worst parts of the city and we've gone in immediately after something has just gone down or is about to.
Anyone going for the hellfire and damnation approach on the streets needs a serious course on people skills and a sitdown by their pastor or Bishop. It does absolutely no good and will make you personna non grata in a hot second. These people ain't tryin' to hear all that.
The real key is very simple. BE THE MESSAGE. It's that simple. We're all over Baltimore City every day of every week in all weather. We have never had any issues with law enforcement whatsoever. Many of the places we go are places most call a warzone. It's all about walking right into the Devil's Den and kickin' it with the street people.
I openly invite anyone on HubPages to go out with us a few nights. We get positive results and people on all levels welcome us back. Again, BE THE MESSAGE if you want the spoken word to mean something. Know who you're talking to.
Urban Deliverance Ministry is a totally different animal. We don't even use the term 'preaching' when we're out there. Every single person on our outreach teams has been delivered from the streets so we know how to approach them because 'them' was us at one time.
Unchained, do you have a website I can see. I am very interested in this ministry you have. I think people who do the "Hellfire damnation" bit on the streets are there for show and miss the true value of getting the Gospel to people as they are from God's Word as it is. Thanks for the comment hopefully others reading the hub will also read your comment and be further enlightened as to street preaching
I think it would be fun to go out at "street preach" I believe going out with another would make it easier to talk to people as they pass by. Having someone who might be more versed than yourself or if you are more versed than another to take someone else along so that each of you can benefit from learning from each other. I hope to do this when the weather gets better, I think it would be interesting. I have watched some videos from Ray Comfort on YouTube for street evangelism it is pretty interesting to watch people;s reactions while doing this.
Yes street preaching is an awesome time. Doing it correctly will bring so much joy. It is however a great responsibility and not to be taken lightly. Stick to what you know, never give in to the heckler and try to "prove God" it will only make the message look phony. Street preachers are indeed a rare breed. AS STATED IN HUB NEVER GO AT IT ALONE! Have backup there to help with the heckler, trade off positions and when going to a new spot, both need to know how to "crowd control" and bring the message.
You make some very valid points about Street Preaching. When the Gospel is spread in the streets properly, hearts are more receptive!
Nice job on this hub! Keep up the good work!
ToH,
Thank you so much for stopping in glad you liked.
Michael,
I really like the emphasis on compassion. Your whole hub makes perfect sense to me.
Lifegate, It takes a compassionate heart on the streets, it boils me inside to see or hear a street preaching groaning out the wrath of God, those lost on the streets need to find the love of God and be led to the cross.
Nice hub! This reminds me of summer a few years ago. A couple of my friends from church and I stood on the streets with signs... we would call it Jesusing. They'd read, "honk for Jesus" or "honk if you know your going to heaven." Another said, "looking for peace/love/joy? ... look towards Jesus" I'm not sure if our efforts had much of an impact (for God) but it was fun.
Matt,
That is the start, then just gradually keep it up and start speaking it flows pretty good when you say ok God I'm gonna speak and it is YOUR words listen as God leads.
thevoice 24 months ago
terrific great hub write read thanks