Several weeks ago I had the privilege of sitting down with Richard Owen Roberts to discuss revival. He was interim at my church before I cam seven years ago and I've been able to sit with him from time to time and pick his brain. If you don't know, Mr. Roberts is a bookseller in Wheaton, IL, an author/editor, and a well-known expert and preacher on the issue of revival.
Toward the end of the conversation I asked him about open-air preaching. This was well before I wrote the five main posts on open-air preaching (as well as posting several quotes on Reformissionary and Twitter on the subject). I specifically asked for his thoughts about the role of open-air preaching and a desire for revival.
He first said that he thinks most open-air preaching is bad. His words were stronger than that, but I don't want to overstate. Then he said this (this isn't a direct quote, but close)...
I can't imagine that we will ever see revival without seeing preaching in the open-air again.
I hope to return to talk to him more about the subject.
Steve, I really believe that open air preaching can be a great vehicle as long as the message is the focus and not the preacher. If the preacher becomes the focus or if the open air preaching becomes a carnival then the message will be lost. Focus on the message and the rest will fall into place.
More thoughts from someone that really doesn't know much.
Posted by: Jim | 03/09/2011 at 09:13 PM
What books have you read or recommend specifically pertaining to open air preaching? I started reading a book by T. Austin Sparks last night and in his bio it said he heard the gospel from a street corner. I realize you probably know this but the word "preach" used in 1 Cor. means “to be a herald and to proclaim after the manner of a herald, public proclamation”. A herald would go to the center of town and proclaim the news to any and everyone, not just a select group! John the Baptist’s audience was whoever came out to hear him right? I looked at a map of ancient Israel and counted over twenty cities in Judea that John had access to. Luke 3:3 says “he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance”. Verse 2 says “the word of God came to John”. I’ve had a burden for a while for the town I live in (Lexington, SC - Bible Belt USA). I don’t want to go to the open air just because it’s different but because the word of God has come to me. It’s also a lonely existence. Verse 2 also says the word came to John “in the wilderness”. But Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few”. I'm ready.
Posted by: Patrick Dyer | 03/11/2011 at 11:35 AM
Patrick, I really like Spurgeon's 2 chapters on open-air. I don't know of anything even close.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 03/11/2011 at 05:15 PM
this should be encouraging bro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhN2VgdJp_c
Posted by: tom | 03/12/2011 at 07:58 AM
Ha! Tom, I posted the video after seeing it on another blog and then just now saw this comment. Maybe God is tuning us all in. :) Thanks so much. Wish I would have seen this earlier so I could give you credit!
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 03/12/2011 at 07:41 PM