The Truth About Evangelism
The Church Must Preach The Gospel
We believe the only hope for America, your city, or any individual is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel is an offer of pardon to wicked, guilty sinners if they will only repent and exercise faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. True believers are not those who merely say they are so, but are people who hate what God hates and love what God loves (Proverbs 8:13; Hebrews 1:9). We meet many so-called "Christians" who despise the public proclamation of the gospel, but we are those who embrace...
"Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." -Hebrews 13:13
We believe it is time for the Church of Jesus Christ to stand up unashamedly and preach the gospel in the streets, lanes, and public byways of the city.
"We simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the
marketplace as well as the steeple of the church. We are recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap; at a crossroad so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek...at the kind of place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died. And that is what He died about. And that is where churchmen ought to be, and what churchmen should be about." -George MacLeod
Though the modern "Church" and the sinful world hate our approach, we loudly preach the deep riches of God's saving grace without apology. We preach against the sins of the day such as abortion, sodomy, fornication, adultery, drunkenness, and many others, not forgetting to preach the blessed cross of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. We preach, hold signs, banners, sing, and hand out tracts wherever people gather.
Doctrinal Statement Of Evangelism
We believe mankind is rebellious and depraved. Men are not merely the victims of sin but the authors of it, completely responsible for their wicked actions. Therefore, sinners are estranged from God because of their sins and transgressions and are justly under His divine wrath.
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that
he will not hear." -Isaiah 59:2
We believe that the problem with mankind is not merely one of behavior but one of nature. Therefore, the Bible declares men must be utterly changed. However, it is impossible for sinners to deliver themselves as sin has rendered them helpless, shattered, and lost. Hence, sinners are not only in need of forgiveness and cleansing but are also in need of regeneration (Jer. 13:23).
"...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." -John 3:3
We believe that God has ordained the "preaching of the Gospel" as the primary method of evangelism. The "Great Commission" commands the church to go everywhere and to preach to everyone. Where there is no proclamation of the gospel, sinners will remain in darkness and bondage (Lk. 14:23; 1 Cor. 1:21).
"...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." -Mark 16:15
"...and how shall they hear without a preacher?" -Romans 10:14
We believe “preaching” to be narrowly defined by the Word of God and the example of the holy men contained therein. The word “kerusso,” the most commonly used Greek word translated into the English word “preach” throughout the N.T., literally means: a public crier, a herald, to proclaim and to publish. This is what the Prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles did, and likewise, it is what we should do (Prov. 1:20-33; Isa. 58:1).
"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach (kerusso)
ye upon the housetops." -Matthew 10:27
We believe that Christ died to save mankind from its sin. Therefore, the chief aim of the Gospel is not only to deliver men from the penalty of sin, but also, the power thereof.
"...and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." -Matthew 1:21
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"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." -Romans 6:14
We believe that repentance is a condition for regeneration. A Gospel that fails to communicate man's need to repent (forsake all sin and embrace Jesus as Lord) is a false gospel (Acts 3:19, 17:30).
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." -Luke 13:3
We believe that true believers are validated as genuine by a life that is obedient to Christ.
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." -Matthew 7:20
"...and, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." -2 Tim. 2:19
We believe that the public preaching of the Gospel in the open-air is a command given to pastors, elders, and the church in general, but most pastors and churches have rebelled against the great commission and have chosen to let fear, the praise of men, or something else keep them from this commission (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 10:42, 20:20).
Our Open-Air Methodology
We demonstrate our love to sinners by loudly preaching the law of God and the gospel: [1] The law to reprove them for their sin and rebellion which acts to draw the sinner to the merciful Christ, and [2] The blessed gospel as it points the sinner to Jesus Christ, the only remedy to save wicked men from their sins (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:24; 1 Tim.1:8- 11).
We believe that exposing the works of darkness and reproving sinners for rebelling against God are necessary and are part of any gospel ministry. We do this by preaching to the passersby in general and sometimes to specific individuals when the situation calls for it as led by the Holy Ghost (Ezekiel 33:8; Ephesians 5:11-13). We do not believe in using the entertainment of the world to attract sinners (i.e. rock music, mimes, etc.). The Gospel alone is sufficient to accomplish God’s ordained work.
We believe the anointing and unction of the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for effective ministry. Lifeless, powerless preaching is incapable of awakening the human conscience to the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the need for salvation (Jn. 6:44, 12:32; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:6; Heb. 4:12).
We believe the Holy Ghost, through human vessels preaching God's pure Word, reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and unveils Jesus Christ as the only Savior from sin (John 16:8). Any preaching that avoids the topics of sin, Biblical righteousness, and Divine judgment is clearly not inspired by the Holy Ghost.
Common Errors In Today's Evangelism
Many today are embarrassed with God's methodology. They apparently feel obligated to apologize for His ways, His words, and His methods. The false church subconsciously supposes that God is a bit outdated, His method's are obsolete, and are unfit for the 21st century. Hence, they believe that they're merely doing their duty to adjust His ideas, methods, and character to appeal to a broader base of interest. Amazingly, many professing Christians are actually ashamed of the Bible, and the God of the Bible. Accordingly, modern day evangelistic methods tend to work off these four progressive false premises:
1. Men are victims of sin, instead of wholly responsible for sin.
2. God is misunderstood by modern man, instead of hated by modern man.
3. Therefore, the problem is considered one of communication, rather than reconciliation.
4. Consequently, the gospel, instead of calling men to repentance, urges them to give God a chance.
Brethren, let us search out the old paths and return to the message and methods of the patriarchs and holy forefathers of the faith (Jer. 6:16).
-Pastor Britt Williams
"There are few who like to go out into the fields. Broken heads and dead cats are no longer the ornaments of a Methodist. These honorable badges are now no more. Languor has got from the ministers to the people, and if you don't take care, we shall all be dead together.”
-George Whitefield
For more on evangelism and open-air preaching visit our Open-Air Preaching page.