Public preaching in the open air and going from house to house with the gospel are both historical models of evangelism that are as old as the gospel. Both activities appear in the “Acts of the Apostles ” demonstrating the Apostles and the early church both believed these were fundamental means of communicating the good news of salvation.
Chardsmead conducts a regular “Open Air Preaching ” ministry in Bridport, Dorset. We always preach in the same place in the town square (called “Bucky Doo Square ” ) so the witness has continuity. While the preaching is going on other members of the Church hand out “tracts ” (or small leaflets containing the Gospel message) and seek to engage in conversation.
Preaching (or communicating) the Gospel is primarily a means of glorifying God the Father by exalting the “Finished Work ” of our Lord Jesus Christ. If God could be chiefly glorified by any other means those means would eclipse the virtue of Christ’s redemptive work. It is therefore essential that outreach is conducted entirely on the grounds of Scripture Warrant if the work is to accomplish this aim and honour the Blood of Christ. It is because of this that we don’t believe that music and drama for example have any part of correct Christian witnessing in any arena, indeed we need to examine every notion of communicating the Gospel very carefully before we deploy it or run the risk of trampling underfoot the Son of God and the very glory we thought to uphold.
Our principal means of communicating God’s truth then remains using His own infallible truth to establish a right understanding of God in His Justice, Holiness, Love and Mercy (which are all perfect and equally necessary) in the minds of our hearers and the sinfulness and guilt of those who hear but the efficacy of Grace in Christ’s saving work to demonstrate His power to save utterly and forever the guilty.
This work can be carried out in verbal communication (preaching and conversation) and through passing on printed materials that contain God’s Word and discussion of it and these are the means we use both in our open air ministry and our door to door work where again we seek to engage in conversation those we encounter, to communicate to them God’s truth as well as leave with them literature that relies on God’s Word. We rest entirely on the power of Scripture under the influence of the Holy Ghost to do what no man can ever do, or assist in, that is to convince of sin and unrighteousness and bring about repentance and faith towards God and salvation in the penitent.
We endeavour to befaithful but acknowledge, though God graciously calls His Christian witnesses “co-workers” with Him, we can in no way bring about Christian conversion or have any lasting effect on a human soul for good, this is exclusively the work of the Holy Ghost.
Evidence For The Correctness Of
The Preaching Ministry
Preaching in public and from door to door is the historical model of sharing the truth about God.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”Matt 24:12
“So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans”
Acts 8:25
“...I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it (the Gospel) to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house”
Acts 20:20
Evangelism has always been carried out in the church and remains God’s only determined means of salvation.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek”
Rom 1:16
“In Him (Christ) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
Eph 1:13
The Gospel, as God’s appointed means of Salvation is utterly reasonable and rational when properly considered.
“Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there”
Acts 17:17
“And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning thefaith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid...”
Acts 24:24-25
The Gospel is good news for every human being who trusts on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
“In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
Eph 1:7
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Rom 6:23
True Christian preaching and literature always has the exalting of Jesus Christ at its heart.
“In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
Eph 1:7
“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
And we are His witnesses to these things...”
Acts 5:29
The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ was not an accident but Almighty God’s perfect plan for redemption.
“Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” Acts 2:23
The Cross is the power of God for salvation.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
There is no other Name by which men may be saved.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12
Preaching by the help of the Holy Spirit produces conviction of sin and guilt leading to repentance.
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” John 16:7-8
Salvation comes byfaith not by works, evenfaith is God’s gift, we don’t naturally possessfaith.
“For by grace you have been saved throughfaith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23
Gospel Preachers are co-workers with God.
“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” 2 Corinthians 6:1
