Hi Dears,Praise The Lord....... Mobile Pulpit Reading: Matthew 21:6-11 Paul spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there (Acts 17:17) The text quoted above lies exactly at the midpoint of the New Testament. It encourages and emphasises open-air evangelism. Open-air evangelism is still one of the powerful means of impacting communities with the Gospel message. The entire city of Jerusalem was moved by the procession on the first Palm Sunday (Mt 21:10). The crowds went celebrating the praises of God in the streets. The early Salvation Army members went regularly on Gospel processions through streets and busy corners with soul-awakening musical bands. Except in sensitive areas, we can always go, atleast as small groups, for open-air singing and preaching. Each Church in a city or town can select a particular area for this activity. On public holidays all the Churches can organize a common programme. Its time we move out into the marketplaces from our meetingplaces (Acts 17:17). John the Baptist was the first to preach the message of Gods Kingdom outside the Temple in the open air. From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force! (Mt 11:12). Jesus was an open-air preacher par excellence. His most famous sermon was preached on a Mount (Mt 5-7). We must go to the highways, byways, streets and lanes and compel the lost, the last and the least to come into Gods banqueting hall! (Lk 14:2,3). Go out where the sinners are! Prepare bright banners with sacred symbols and stirring slogans. Artwork is a gift of the Holy Spirit (Ex 31:1-5). Give young people a freehand to use their creativity to make the Gospel presentation attractive to the man on the street. Open-air evangelism is of course hard work. You may have to soil your clothes and garments (Mt 21:7,8). John Wesley (1703-1791), the Father of Methodism, preached most of his sermons in the open air. Initially he considered it a sin to preach outside the Church building but changed his opinion after meeting with George Whitefield (1714-1770), the Prince of Open-air Preachers. When the Church in Epworth did not give Wesley the pulpit, he stood on the flat tombstone of his father and preached. My challenge to young people has always been, Dont seek pulpits. Wherever you meet people, there you have a pulpit and a pew! Mobile pulpits as against our immovable structures were the secret of success of the first century evangelism! Author,Pr.R.Stanley(from,stanleyonbible)
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 08:32:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015