Ep. 12 - Open-Air Preaching: Is It Biblical?

Welcome to Living Waters, a new podcast hosted by Ray Comfort, Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne, Mark Spence and Oscar Navarro. In each episode, they will guide discussions alongside various special guests to explore pressing questions of our day with sound theology and apologetics!Today’s episode focuses on street preaching, a controversial topic among many pastors. Some pastors believe that street preaching is hostile and upsetting to local business owners. Additionally, the method gets a bad wrap as it often invites unqualified preachers to spread the gospel. The guys clarify that they are not meaning to throw anybody under the bus when speaking of street preaching, but are speaking specifically about a certain tone and demeanor which violates what scripture describes as a servant of the Lord. To really understand the role of street preaching today, we must first understand its origins, dating back to the Old Testament. Open air preaching allows a pastor to reach more people in less time than in a church setting. It is also an effective way to cast seeds of the gospel to non-believers who would not otherwise be exposed to the word of God. In fact, many people underestimate the sheer amount of Americans who are not familiar with the story of the Bible. For those listening who have never done open air preaching or shared the gospel on a consistent basis, the guys offer some advice. Every time we run away from our fears, they only get bigger. But, if we conquer them, they begin to get smaller and smaller. It’s just the same with open air preaching, and taking one small leap of faith will grant you more and more of God’s guidance. As the discussion wraps up, they share an inspiring quote to encourage listeners to spread God’s word in newer, bigger ways. “God blew the door off the hinges when he said Go into all the world.” Don’t think about it or wonder if it’s right, just do it. Thanks for listening and see you next time!Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more. Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro