Open Air Preaching

Those who are serious about effectively reaching the lost take to heart the Scripture "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21, italics added). When a love-motivated Christian has the courage to stand up and preach open air, he or she is imitating Jesus, whose ministry was mainly to the multitudes in the open air. This was also the way of Peter, of Paul, and Stephen and many others in history such as Spurgeon, Wesley and Whitefield, who cared enough about the lost to look foolish in the eyes of a proud and sinful world (see also Titus 1:3). Armchair critics, who say that it's not effective, denigrate the very means that God has chosen to save those who believe. The Christian who obeys the Great Commission--to "preach" the gospel to every creature, trusts God in both the means, and for the results of preaching the everlasting Gospel. God's Word cannot return void. Their labor is not in vain.

The Place of Repentance

Someone wrote to me deeply concerned that I had said that repentance can’t save us. It can’t. Moslems repent. That's the basis of their hope of salvation. It’s the same with many Catholics who have never been born again. They trust that their repentance is enough. But no good judge would let a devious criminal go simply because he said that he had turned from his crimes. The only thing that can save us is God's grace. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus (see Ephesians 2:8-9). The way to partake of the grace of God is through repentance, but repentance doesn't save us. If it did, we wouldn't need a Savior. Think of it like this. A man is in a rowboat that’s about to go over Niagara Falls. Someone throws him a rope. He turns towards the rope, and then grabs it in faith. Will that save him? No. He turned. He took hold of the rope in faith. But if the person on the other end isn’t pulling on the rope, he’s still going over the falls.

God has thrown us a rope through the gospel. We turn in repentance and take hold of the Savior by faith. But it is the grace of God alone that saves us by drawing us to Himself (see Ephesians 2:8-9).

A Strange Experience

I was reminded recently about a strange experience I had when I was preaching at a church. For some unknown reason during the sermon, an entire congregation called out the word “iniquity!” I thought I had suddenly committed some horrible sin, and was quite taken back by it. It was only later that I realized what had happened. I had said, “Jesus said, ‘Depart from me, you that work ‘iniquity.’ That word ‘iniquity’ means ‘lawlessness.’ The book of Timothy says, ‘Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from ‘iniquity.’ Same word.” The congregation misunderstood my “Same word.” They thought that I had said “Say the word.” So they did. Out loud.

Tips For Witnessing and Open Air Preaching

Here’s a couple of ways I have recently heard about to engage people when witnessing. Offer $10 to anyone who can name all ten of the Ten Commandments, in order (very few can). That will get groups of people quoting the Commandments and making it easy to ask who’s kept what. Or, when open air preaching and taking someone through the Good Person Test, appoint six people in the crowd to act as a jury. People are usually quick to judge other people’s sins. That will help engage the crowd, and take the heat off you. Or when asking trivia questions, give Million Dollar Bill tracts away as consolation prizes to those who get the answer wrong, and Giant Money tracts to those who get them right. That way you can get tracts into more hands.

Heart-breaker

There’s a website that’s recently been in the news. It’s called http://www.dogsindanger.com/ It shows pictures of cute and long-faced dogs who are soon to be put to death. It’s controversial because they have a clock ticking down to when each dog will be put to sleep. That pulls on the heart-strings. I would like to create a website called www.humansindanger.com with a clock ticking down to when human beings will be put to death. Every day 150,000 people die. The clock is ticking. Our hearts should more than break at the thought. We should be horrified that a single soul would end up in Hell, and let that horror energize us (with God’s help) to rescue them.

Bizarre Experience

Three of us were walking on a sidewalk in San Antonio, on our way to a restaurant when a man joined us. He acted as though he was best friends with Duane (our producer/director). Duane kept looking around at me as the guy chatted to him, with an expression of “What’s going on here?” When the three of us walked into a restaurant, the waiter asked “How many?” and we heard “Four.” It was the stranger that gave that number. He then sat down at our table and started yapping to us.

Then came a pitch for money. I told him he could have some if he would let me talk to him. I then went through the gospel, and gave him $5. He then wanted me to pay for a meal as well, and kept on talking about being a “workaholic.” He had the “aholic” part right. Each of us could feel a spirit of anger in his voice. It was very intimidating. I told him that he was only getting the $5. I took hold of his hand, prayed for him, and he left. It was a bazaar experience.

Open Air Preaching

Despite it being biblical, we sometimes get emails from people saying that open air preaching is a waste of time. Admittedly, there is a lot of “sowing in tears” but preaching the gospel to unsaved people is never a waste of time. I was greatly encouraged recently when I asked a man in the crowd if he thought he was a good person. He called back, “You asked me that a couple of months ago.” I answered, “Did I ask you if you had lied or stolen?” He said that I had. “Did I say that Jesus said that if you look at a woman and lust after her, you commit adultery with her in your heart?” He said, “You did. And I would have gone to Hell, but two weeks ago I gave my life to Christ!” I didn’t expect that answer. The crowd applauded . . . and so did I.

Husband's "Property"?

There are seven states in the U.S. that still have laws on their books that say that a wife is her husband’s “property,” and that he can sue for “stolen” love if another man takes his wife. The law also says that the husband is the wife’s property. That may upset today’s independent man or women, but its roots are probably from the Scriptures. Read 1 Corinthians chapter seven. The husband belongs to the wife and the wife to the husband. I like that, because I know that marriage is a type of Christ and the Church--we are the Bride of Christ, and we are no longer our own, we have be bought with a price.

Popular Preacher

I watched recently as a very popular pastor was asked if Jews should become Christians. He was very uncomfortable with the question, and answered, “We don’t believe the same, but they are certainly not less than Christians.” It was a missed opportunity. He could have said that Christianity has its roots in Judaism; that Jesus was Jewish, and that the first Christians were Jewish. What a pity he didn’t say that God provided salvation through the Jews by sending Jesus to suffer and die for the sin of the world, and the offer of forgiveness of sins--of everlasting life is open to Jews, Arabs, the Chinese, Indians, and the Russians; that the Scriptures say that through Jesus Christ salvation is universal--“whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I don’t think the man was ashamed of the gospel. It seems that he was unprepared. That can happen to the best of us. That’s why the Bible tells us to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that’s in us.

Hollywood Scout

I was supposed to be on a flight to South Carolina sitting next to Kirk working on the last two scripts for our Third Season. But due to a mix up we were on different flights. I prayed for Divine encounters, and the man that sat next to me certain was one. He was a Hollywood talent scout for five years, and was now an entrepreneur, traveling back and forth to China. We chatted about other things for about 30 minutes before I asked Steve what he thought happens after someone dies. He didn't know, so I shared the gospel with him--for well over an hour. There is something delightful about someone listening with an open heart and wide eyes. After we finished talking, he said, "I will never forget this. Never." He took a "What Hollywood Believes" CD and Why Christianity, assuring me he would investigate further. He gave me his email address and wants to remain in contact. Please pray that Steve comes to saving faith.

How Much Cash

For those who think that giving money to church or to charities is a way to get to Heaven, the question becomes, how much qualifies me for entrance. To date, Bill Gates has given away $28,000,000,000 to charitable work. Is that enough? When is God impressed to a point where He is willing to sell immortality to a guilty sinner and be bribed to pervert Eternal Justice?

Expect More School Shootings

We had another recently. The shooter was into Marilyn Manson, so he no doubt hated the God he didn't believe in. The argument that led to the shooting was once again "about God," according to the news media.

Like a Good Sandwich?

There are two sandwiches that help to keep me healthy. Both are filled with goodness. The first is Psalm 34:8: "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good." It seems that God has sandwiched that verse between two that speak of the fear of the Lord-just for those who are tempted to pervert the fact that God is good, into something it's not. We cannot separate God's goodness from His wrath. The second healthy wrath-filled sandwich is in Romans 2:4: "The goodness of God leads (us) to repentance." This is a favorite that is often leveled against the use of the Law in evangelism, and when it's used out of context to create an insipid image of God's holy character, it becomes distasteful.

Time for a Break

Transformed in South Carolina was wonderful. More than 2,000 people showed up and we did two conferences in one day. It was exhausting. I was so tired I accidentally called Todd "God," and a little later I called Kirk, "Jesus." Europe jetlag I guess. I need a break.

Todd Friel checks the mirror in the green room, before beginning the Transformed Conference. He looks a little older in a mirror.

Go on, Laugh

On the plane back from the conference, the flight attendant said, "Good morning folks. Laughter is good for the soul. It's good to laugh. So laugh." The poor lady got a little upset when no one responded. I felt like calling out, "Lady, laughter is like fire. It needs fuel. You have to have something to laugh at. Pull a face or say something funny." It reminded me of secular Thanksgiving--when Godless America is thankful for health, friends, liberty and life. But thankfulness makes no sense when it's not directed at the Giver of those blessings. On the flight I witnessed to an open-hearted young man from India. He believed in reincarnation, but it became as non-issue as we went through the Law into the gospel. Please pray for "Raja."

Nothing Bold and Beautiful About This

On the second leg of the flight home I sat next to an actor from a well-known soap opera. What a hot conversation! He said that there was no Heaven and no Hell. Such thoughts were childish. He also thought he was a god. I gently asked him if he had ever thrown up over a toilet bowl, gasping for his very breath. He said he had. I said that the next time it happens he should say to himself, "I am a god." He then explained that he didn't think he was God Almighty; just a god. Oh. I see. Before we went through the Commandments, I felt to say, "Will you get angry if I ask you some questions?" He was taken back that I would ask such a thing. Of course he wouldn't.

I'm sure glad I asked that question, because it was as though I lit a fuse to a tall stick of dynamite. He justified himself through each Commandment and by the time I reached "Innocent or guilty?" he was about to explode. Explosions aren't good on planes, so I snuffed the fuse by saying, "Thanks for your thoughts." He said, "Is that it?" I said "Yep. That's it." His last words of that part of our conversation were, "I'm a righteous man." Sure. I left him with the Law and his conscience. He then said, "You're a good man." I gently told him I wasn't; that my heart was deceitfully wicked. He then said, "Well you are a nice man." I let him have that one. Suddenly, he closed his eyes, furrowed his brow, clasped his hands together and leaned forward as though he was praying. Sorry to disappoint you. He wasn't praying. He was memorizing his lines for the next day's squeaky-clean Soap Opera. So we had better pray on his behalf. His name is Clayton.

P.S. Later on in the flight he told me that he had something to show me. I thought I was going to be a gun. It was a tattoo of Jesus on the inside of his left bicep. I told him I didn't have room enough on mine for one.