# Open-air preaching > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Open-air_preaching > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Open-air_preaching.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-air_preaching > Source revision: 1346434001 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Public proselytization of a religious message to crowds of people in open places Street preacher in [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), 1972 **Open-air preaching**, **street preaching**, or **public preaching** is the act of [evangelizing](/source/Evangelism) a [religious](/source/Religious) faith in public places. It is an ancient method of [proselytizing](/source/Proselytism) a religious or social message and has been used by many cultures and religious traditions, but today it is usually associated with [evangelical](/source/Evangelicalism) [Protestant](/source/Protestantism) Christianity. Supporters of this approach note that [Jesus](/source/Jesus_in_Christianity)[1] and many of the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) prophets often preached about [God](/source/God_in_Abrahamic_religions) in public places.[2] It is one of the oldest approaches to evangelism.[1] ## In the Bible A representative painting of [Jesus Christ](/source/Jesus_Christ) delivering the open-air [Sermon on the Mount](/source/Sermon_on_the_Mount) One of the earliest open-air preachers of Christianity, according to the [gospels](/source/Gospels), was Jesus Christ, whose first specifically recorded sermon was the [Sermon on the Mount](/source/Sermon_on_the_Mount),[1][2] which took place on a mountainside in the open air.[3] In the [Gospel of Luke](/source/Gospel_of_Luke) ([Luke 6:17–49](https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Luke%206:17–49&version=nrsv)), it was recorded that Jesus also gave an open-air sermon known as the [Sermon on the Plain](/source/Sermon_on_the_Plain).[2] In Mark 16:15, street preaching is seen as a commandment from Jesus as a way to warn people about sins and their consequences. This is supported by [Isaiah](/source/Isaiah) 58:1 and [Jeremiah](/source/Jeremiah) 2:2.[4][5] After Jesus' death and resurrection, many of his [apostles](/source/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament) and followers started street preaching [the gospel](/source/The_gospel) in the [Temple of Jerusalem](/source/Temple_in_Jerusalem) and in other open spaces.[1][2] The [Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry](/source/Christian_Apologetics_and_Research_Ministry) lists the "many examples of street preaching in the Bible" as including Noah, Solomon, Ezra, Jeremiah, Jonah, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul, Phillip and Apollos.[6] ## Middle Ages and Reformation Open-air preaching was used by [mendicant orders](/source/Mendicant_orders) in the [High Middle Ages](/source/High_Middle_Ages) to initiate a renewal of religious fervor among [Catholics](/source/Catholics), and to fight heretical movements such as [Catharism](/source/Catharism) in southern France. Later, during the [Protestant Reformation](/source/Protestant_Reformation), it was often employed by [Protestants](/source/Protestants) throughout [Europe](/source/Europe)[7] who could not always preach inside churches, which were mostly Catholic.[8] Open-air preaching in Europe continued during the rise of [Puritanism](/source/Puritan) and other Protestant movements.[2] It was often used in [Pastoral](/source/Pastoral) environments as well as in cities, the former sometimes due to a desire to avoid the authorities,[9] and the latter because, for one reason, it could reach eccentric people living in cities who would not otherwise hear the gospel.[10] ## Evangelical Revivals See also: [Revival meeting](/source/Revival_meeting) and [Great Awakening](/source/Great_Awakening) [Methodist](/source/Methodist) preachers were known for promulgating the doctrines of the [new birth](/source/Born_again#Methodism) and [entire sanctification](/source/Entire_sanctification) to the public at events such as [tent revivals](/source/Tent_revival) and [camp meetings](/source/Camp_meeting), which they believe is the reason that God raised them up into existence.[11] A street preacher in Germany, 2022 Early [Methodist](/source/Methodist) preachers [John Wesley](/source/John_Wesley) and [George Whitefield](/source/George_Whitefield) preached in the open air, which allowed them to attract crowds larger than most buildings could accommodate.[12] On one occasion when Wesley was forbidden to preach inside the church in his hometown, [Epworth](/source/Epworth%2C_Lincolnshire), he used his father's tombstone in the churchyard as a [pulpit](/source/Pulpit).[13] Open-air preachers throughout history have often noted that preaching to large crowds often causes preachers to be abused in certain ways, even having objects thrown at them such as rotting vegetables or unsanitary liquids of many varieties.[14] It was said that one of the regular practices of American evangelist [Dwight L. Moody](/source/Dwight_L._Moody) in the late 1860s "was to exhort the passersby in the evenings from the steps of the court house. Often these impromptu gatherings drew as many hecklers as supporters."[15] In the late 19th century and early-to-mid 20th century many famous open-air preachers in the United States began to preach, such as [Billy Graham](/source/Billy_Graham) and [Billy Sunday](/source/Billy_Sunday).[16] Graham in particular used a combination of open-air preaching and the recent advent of [televangelism](/source/Televangelism) to broadcast his sermons, which often took place in large venues such as stadiums, to large portions of the world and millions of Americans.[17] [Charles Spurgeon](/source/Charles_Spurgeon), the famous open-air Baptist preacher of England, believed that open-air preaching was instrumental in getting people to hear the gospel who might otherwise never hear it,[2][18] and today, open-air preachers such as [Ray Comfort](/source/Ray_Comfort) believe that it reaches many more people at once than other approaches to evangelism do.[19] ## Notable open-air preachers ### Historic - [Saint John the Baptist](/source/Saint_John_the_Baptist) - [Saint Dominic](/source/Saint_Dominic) - [Saint Francis of Assisi](/source/Saint_Francis_of_Assisi) - [Saint Anthony of Padua](/source/Saint_Anthony_of_Padua) - [Saint Vincent Ferrer](/source/Saint_Vincent_Ferrer) - [William Booth](/source/William_Booth) - [D. L. Moody](/source/D._L._Moody) - [Charles Spurgeon](/source/Charles_Spurgeon) - [John Wesley](/source/John_Wesley) - [George Whitefield](/source/George_Whitefield) - [George Wishart](/source/George_Wishart) ### Active in the 21st century - [Micah Armstrong](/source/Micah_Armstrong) - [Jed Smock](/source/Jed_Smock) - [Ray Comfort](/source/Ray_Comfort) - [Samuel Chambers](/source/Samuel_Chambers) (State Street Preacher) - [Reinhard Bonnke](/source/Reinhard_Bonnke) - [David Grisham](/source/David_Grisham) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon,_Pg._234_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon,_Pg._234_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon,_Pg._234_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon,_Pg._234_1-3) Spurgeon, p. 234 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Spurgeon_2-5) [http://www.biblebelievers.com/StreetPreaching2.html](http://www.biblebelievers.com/StreetPreaching2.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070410185730/http://biblebelievers.com/StreetPreaching2.html) 2007-04-10 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) "OPEN-AIR PREACHING, A SKETCH OF ITS HISTORY AND REMARKS THEREON", [Charles H. Spurgeon](/source/Charles_H._Spurgeon). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 5:1 - New International Version"](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A1&version=NIV). *Bible Gateway*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Beginner's Discipleship Class 13c : Why Street Preaching is Biblical"](https://realbiblebelievers.com/beginners-discipleship-class-13c-streetpreaching-and-why-it-is-biblical/). *Real Bible Believers*. 29 March 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["What is Biblical Street Evangelism? - Right Biblical Street Evangelism"](https://www.conformingtojesus.com/what_is_biblical_street_evangelism.htm). *www.conformingtojesus.com*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Tony Miano/Matt Slick, "Are There Examples of Street Preaching in the Bible?" *Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry* [http://www.carm.org/biblical-examples-street-preaching](http://www.carm.org/biblical-examples-street-preaching) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171017001358/https://carm.org/biblical-examples-street-preaching) 2017-10-17 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Spurgeon, p. 235 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Spurgeon, p. 236 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Spurgeon, p. 241 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Spurgeon, p. 257 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gibson_11-0)** Gibson, James. ["Wesleyan Heritage Series: Entire Sanctification"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180529053529/http://ucmpage.org/sgca/wesley01.htm). South Georgia Confessing Association. Archived from [the original](https://ucmpage.org/sgca/wesley01.htm) on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [The first Great Awakening](http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060805/news/news4.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100125224635/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060805/news/news4.html) 2010-01-25 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Tony Cauchi, [Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Gleaner_Company) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [JOHN WESLEY.; G. Holden Pike's History of the Great Methodist and His Associates](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A0DE2DA1739E433A25756C2A9619C946297D6CF), [New York Times](/source/New_York_Times) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Spurgeon, Pg. 250 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["A History Of Street Preaching"](http://www.soulwinning.info/sp/lessons/02.htm). Soulwinning.info. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120822212036/http://www.soulwinning.info/sp/lessons/02.htm) from the original on 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2013-02-15. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Billy Sunday Salty evangelist"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070215170331/http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/131christians/sunday.html). *ChristianityToday.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/131christians/sunday.html) on 2007-02-15. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Lee, R. "The History Guy: The Reverend Billy Graham""](http://www.historyguy.com/biofiles/graham_billy.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070113205432/http://www.historyguy.com/biofiles/graham_billy.html) from the original on 2007-01-13. Retrieved 2007-02-04. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Spurgeon, p. 255 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** "The Evidence Bible", [Ray Comfort](/source/Ray_Comfort), Bridge-Logos Publishers, 2003, p. 1183 ## Bibliography - [Charles Haddon Spurgeon](/source/Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon), "[Lectures to My Students](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lectures_to_My_Students&action=edit&redlink=1)", Zondervan publishing house, 1977, Eighth printing, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-310-32910-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-310-32910-8) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Open-air preaching](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Open-air_preaching). - [Street Preaching Training, Tips, and Information, Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry](https://carm.org/street-preaching/) - [The Open Air Mission](https://www.oamission.com) v t e Evangelicalism in the United States Churches Baptist family Southern Baptist Convention Independent Baptist Missionary Baptists Conservative Baptist Association of America Free Will Baptist General Association of Regular Baptist Churches Lutheran family Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Presbyterian family Evangelical Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church in America Pentecostal family Assemblies of God USA Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) Church of God in Christ Foursquare Church Pentecostal Church of God Pentecostal Holiness Church Pentecostal Assemblies of the World United Pentecostal Church International Restorationist family Churches of Christ Christian churches and churches of Christ Congregationalist family Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Holiness family Church of the Nazarene Wesleyan Church Free Methodist Church Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) Keswickian family Christian and Missionary Alliance Reformed family Christian Reformed Church in North America Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches Adventist family Seventh-day Adventist Church Nondenominational family Association of Vineyard Churches Calvary Chapel Association History Azusa Street Revival Black church Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy Fundamentalist–modernist controversy Great Awakening First Great Awakening Second Great Awakening Cane Ridge Revival Third Great Awakening Fourth Great Awakening Healing revival Los Angeles Crusade (1949) Revival of 1800 Thought Baptism by fire Baptism with the Holy Spirit Believers' Church Biblical literalism Biblical inerrancy Biblical patriarchy Biblical womanhood Born again Christianity and abortion Christian Zionism Decision theology Evangelical theology Full Gospel Kingdom theology Quiverfull Second work of grace Sycretism Practices Altar call Child preacher Contemporary worship Contemporary worship music Mourner's bench Open-air preaching Prayer warrior Revival meeting Camp meeting Tent revival Sinner's prayer Forms Bible church Megachurch Televangelism Movements Apostolic-Prophetic Movement Bapticostal movement Christian fundamentalism Evangelical left Exvangelical Jesus movement Post-evangelicalism New Apostolic Reformation Neo-charismatic movement Red-Letter Christians Seven Mountain Mandate Transformational Christianity Institutions Christianity Today International Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Evangelical Climate Initiative Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus Fuller Theological Seminary Moody Bible Institute National Association of Evangelicals National Religious Broadcasters Promise Keepers World Vision United States Youth for Christ Major figures Aimee Semple McPherson Billy Graham Billy Sunday C. I. Scofield Charles Grandison Finney Dwight L. Moody Franklin Graham Jerry Falwell Jonathan Edwards --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Open-air preaching](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-air_preaching) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-air_preaching?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.