Open-Air Preaching: The Most Biblical Method Most Christians Avoid

As we enter the final two weeks of our “Out of the Fire” evangelism training, I showed the class some photos—street preachers with bullhorns, neon shirts, and signs with Bible verses. I asked them to honestly assess their feelings. Even in a room full of evangelism enthusiasts, I knew many would feel uncomfortable.

It’s fascinating how the most biblically practiced form of evangelism often receives the most resistance—even from Christians. Just recently, I participated in another evangelism training that felt compelled to distance itself from street preaching, putting down this method while affirming the need for Christians to evangelize in pretty much any other way. This breaks my heart.

The Biblical Foundation We Can’t Ignore

If we’re honest with Scripture, we’d be hard-pressed to find any evangelistic method more consistently represented than public proclamation of the gospel. Jesus went from city to city teaching and preaching (Matthew 11:1). The apostles “did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” daily in the temple and from house to house (Acts 5:42).

Charles Spurgeon once wrote that it would be ridiculous to make a case for preaching outdoors—if anything, we should justify why we preach inside the church building! The biblical norm is taking the gospel to where people are, not waiting for them to come to us.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room

Yes, there are bad examples. We’ve all heard of groups like Westboro Baptist Church or individuals who use inflammatory tactics for YouTube clicks. Some intentionally provoke confrontation. These aren’t faithful gospel proclamation—they’re publicity stunts that bring shame to Christ’s name.

But we don’t dismiss all pastors because some are unfaithful. Why do we paint all open-air preachers with the same broad brush?

The Divine Dilemma and the Gospel’s Power

During our class, we explored what is often called the “divine dilemma” from Exodus 34:6-7. How can God both forgive sin and “by no means leave the guilty unpunished”? This tension runs throughout Scripture until it’s perfectly resolved at the cross.

This is why I teach a simple four-step gospel presentation that works anywhere—street corner or coffee shop:

1. God: Creator, Righteous, Judge
2. Man: Sinful, guilty, condemned
3. Christ: The perfect sacrifice who satisfies both God’s justice and mercy
4. Response: Repent and believe

Whether you have a bullhorn or a conversation over coffee, these four elements ensure you’ve faithfully proclaimed the gospel.

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Learn More About the God-Man-Christ-Response Model

I first encountered this four-step gospel presentation framework in Greg Gilbert’s excellent book What Is the Gospel? In his study, Gilbert examined gospel proclamations throughout Scripture to identify these common elements that ensure a faithful presentation of the gospel message.

Read our full review of What Is the Gospel? on our Exalted Christ website to learn more about this biblical approach to gospel proclamation.

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The Hard Truth About Heaven and Hell

One area where I often challenge Christians is our tendency to proclaim only half the gospel. We’re comfortable saying, “Believe in Jesus and go to heaven,” but we squirm at declaring, “Reject Jesus and face eternal judgment.”

If we’re heralds of the King, not editors of His message, where do we get the authority to decide which parts to proclaim? The same God who promises eternal life promises eternal judgment. Both are equally true, equally serious, and equally part of the message which has been entrusted to us by our God.

A Personal Challenge

I’m not trying to turn everyone into a street preacher. Some aren’t suited for it—and that’s okay. The body of Christ needs diverse gifts and ministries. But I am asking you to do two things:

First, when you see someone faithfully proclaiming the gospel in public, listen to their content before judging their method. If they’re being faithful to Scripture, encourage them. It’s often lonely work, and they could be encouraged by your support.

Second, be ready to proclaim the gospel anywhere, anytime. You don’t need a special location, perfect circumstances, or even a Bible in hand. If you can remember God, Man, Christ, Response, you can share the gospel.

A Real Question

During class, someone raised concerns about women doing open-air preaching. We discussed the difference between proclaiming the gospel (which Scripture never forbids women from doing) and teaching with authority over men. Priscilla and Aquila traveled together proclaiming the gospel and were never rebuked for it.

But here’s the real question: Will any of us—men or women—actually proclaim the gospel at all?

People are perishing. Some will never attend church, accept a tract, or come to your evangelistic event or non-confrontational potluck. But they might hear the gospel proclaimed on a street corner if someone will stand and proclaim it faithfully. They might overhear a conversation at a coffee shop. They might encounter Christ through a faithful believer who refuses to keep silent.

The method matters far less than the message. But let’s stop attacking those who use biblical methods we find uncomfortable. Instead, let’s ask God how He wants us to faithfully proclaim His gospel to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Because in the end, every believer should be able to say with Paul: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

What are your thoughts on open-air preaching? How has God called you to share the gospel? I’d love to hear your experiences and perspectives in the comments below.

Share Your Thoughts in the Comments

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Watch the Full Class Session

Want to dive deeper into this topic? Watch the complete class below: