Open Air Preaching: Sin is the problem

What is the answer to all questions about the imperfections of life? Sin.

People often ask in essence, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Sin.

Why did this accident happen? Sin. Why did my loved one die? Sin. Why is their injustice? Sin.

Sin is more powerful than man.  That’s why all men go to the grave.

Why does man not believe in the God that crated him? Sin.

 

 

 

Open Air Preaching: Convictions

What convictions move you to preach the Gospel?

What is the depth of your convictions?

For some evangelists their conviction is preaching the Gospel is a calling; for others it’s finding the lost sheep, the state of spiritual affairs in the land, souls are perishing, a command from the Lord, the Great Commission and many others.

Whatever your conviction is it needs to be deep enough to propel you through the obstacles of persevering in the work of preaching the Gospel.

Open Air Preaching: The Gospel is the power of God

The famous verse by Paul in Romans 1:16 says, “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

In other words the Gospel of the person and work of Jesus Christ is what saves souls.  All souls, from every tribe, nation and tongue (Rev. 14:6) are saved by the Gospel.

In the tremendous scene in Revelation 5 of the worship of God on His throne the one Person in the midst of the scene is the Lamb of God.  There is no one like Him.

Read this attesting to His singular power to save Rev. 5:9-14:

9 And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the [a]book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. The world is telling us that you have to have a week to the Gospel for each people group and in the in our day the Gospel doesn’t work on modern man.

If you want souls to be saved the power for their salvation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself the gates of hell will not prevail against the Gospel (Matt 16:18).

This means you can go anywhere anytime and depend upon the Gospel to save. So preach IT in season and out.

 

 

 

George Whitfield Sermon: The Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:14)

George Whitefield Sermon Summary:

The Pharisee and the Publican: Luke 18:14

Rev. Whitefield begins with the assertion that most souls are seeking to justify themselves by their works though they may claim the Lord Jesus to be their Savior.

He says that the Lord Jesus preachd to both poor sinners and proud self-justifiers. Whitefield lists the types of means of self-justifiers. All seemingly to be seen by their fellow man;

  1. Prayed long prayers.
  2. Prayed on street corners to be seen by man.
  3. They made the borders of their phylacteries broad
  4. They sewed pieces of parchment with Scripture on their robes.
  5. They washed at the going in and coming out.
  6. They exalted the washing of pots and cups.
  7. They were zealous for the tradition of their fathers to the point of breaking God’s law.
  8. Finally they were antagonist to the Lord’s healing of a blind man on the Sabbath.

Thus the people held them in high esteem though the Pharisees were blind guides of the blind.

The Publicans were not so. They were probably Gentiles who robbed people while collecting taxes and even Jesus said an excommunicated man was ‘like a heathen man or a publican’.

But despite the differences both men went to worship God and to pray.

The Pharisee while standing declared the fruit of his righteousness: he was not an adulterer or extortioner, he fasted twice weekly, he gave tithes of all he possesses.  

The Publican standing afar off would not even look up but beat his chest saying “God be merciful to me a sinner”.  He demonstrates no confidence in the flesh. He did not boast in his works or of his own holiness.

The Lord Jesus declared the Publican went home justified and said that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he that humbles himself will be exalted.

Rev. Whitefield says there are two types of people in the world: those who trust in themselves wholly or in part that they are righteous and those who have no confidence in the flesh. The response that the Lord gave them Pharisee and the Publican are what will be similarly given to the two types of people in the world.

Rev. Whitefield begins to close his sermon with an exhortation to the self-righteous or self self-justifying  Pharisee to humble yourself before the mighty hand of God while to the humbles man he says you will be exalted spiritually.

Finally Rev. Whitefield calls all of hearers to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Open Air Preaching: Patience with authorities

Friday at the Kentucky Derby an officer approached team leader Bobby McCreery about amplification. Stating it was too loud the office cited a code and told them to turn it off or Bobby would be given a citation.

Bobby is an expert in reviewing city codes. He found the code and realized there were stipulations in the code that the officer did not mention allowing amplification to be used.

Through Bobby’s experience he knew the officer was not accurately enforcing the code and seemed to have “something” against the preaching. Especially in light of the fact SFOI has been preaching with amps at the Derby for 10+ years.

Instead of fighting with the officer Bobby demonstrated consideration for his position.  They interacted once more that morning when Bobby ultimately asked to speak to the officer’s supervisor.  Finally the officer disappeared and did not return Friday or Saturday.

The point was that Bobby demonstrated patience with the officer and interacted with him as a civil magistrate and minister of God [Roman 13:1-7].  In the end God’s will that the Gospel be preached was accomplished.  Therefore seek to be patient with your interactions with authorities.

Get in the Game: Kentucky Derby ’18 – Dan working the gate

Here you see Dan, in shorts walking left to right, as he walks amongst the Derby fans as they enter the ticket area.  Dan would walk back and forth with tracts in his hand while he preached from his baker amp. His preaching did not interfere with the preaching from the team nor with Churchill Downs security.  Dan did this ‘all day’ Friday and Saturday.

Below you can see the scope of the Infield Gate ticket area that Dan would have constantly traversed and also the team’s preaching location.  This was an excellent ministry set up for the fans to hear the Gospel walking to the gates from the team preachers and Dan to catch them again as he walked to and fro at the ticket area itself.

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