30 Seconds At A Traffic Light: Is This Preaching?

Ron Cooper

commented on Jan 5, 2013

thank GOD for man that will stand up for JESUS,We need more that will do what GOD told us to do.Go to hedges and highways,we need workers .thank GOD for those that will.

Jeff Glenn

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Personally, I have never felt led to do this and I admire him for preaching this way, but I'm wondering if one-on-one evangelism might be more effective. Any thoughts? (But then again, ANY type of evangelism would be effective, right?

Michael Butler

commented on Jan 5, 2013

He isn't going to see lives given to Christ today but some seeds will be planted. How many? No clue. Some will be planted and eventually some will grow and some may give their lives to Christ and it all began with the stoplight preaching. Good for him.

Keith B

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Yes. That is preaching. He is giving out the Million Dollar Bill gospel tracts, it sounds like. Those are excellent tracts. People do hear the Gospel message that way. Not to say ALL street preachers are equal....but we need to remember it's not about just being a nut standing up screaming at people.....there needs to be a coherent message, too.

Mark Evans

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Don?t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don?t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you?re only being cute and inviting sacrilege. Matthew 7:6 (Message) Just Saying! Somtimes this kind of "approach" does more damage than good

Daniel Leavitt

commented on Jan 5, 2013

I think most pastors today are more comfortable preaching inside the big brick box than outside like New Testament preachers used to do it. Keep up the good work. May the Holy Spirit guide you as you share the Good News outdoors, like Peter and Stephen and Paul.

Jack Kerr

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Maybe we should ask William Booth (if he were still on earth) or The Salvation Army if street preaching is valid and if God blesses this ministry. The answer is yes! May God continue to bless those bold enough to proclaim the Gospel in public!

V Smathers

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Appreciate the efforts to get the word out, but can the message be more focused on the person of Jesus Christ? He is the gospel. The gospel is really not about heaven and hell. Where we go when we die is of great interest to people, but what we do with the person of Jesus Christ is really what it is all about.

Zachary Bartels

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Yes, of course that is preaching. Even if he said nothing except a kind hello while handing out that literature (which I also use--very good materials), he would be communicating the Gospel. I would hope it also includes an invitation to a Church where the Gospel will be proclaimed at greater length and the sinner can speak with a believer about repentance and faith if he/she would like to.

Bryan Thompson

commented on Jan 5, 2013

I don't know why it has to be an either/or situation. Paul's attitude was "as long as the gospel is preached" it's all good. I loved his lack of ego and security. Christians today fret too much about the motivation and methods of others. Paul didn't. Don't slam the other guy because his method is different. Unless he's preaching heresy or doing something hateful or inappropriate I don't see that there is an issue.

Keith B

commented on Jan 5, 2013

@Vern.....The Gospel is about the fact that Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins to save us from hell. Yes--it's about Jesus. But unless you make people understand they're sinners in need of a savior, they see no difference between what Jesus did and what Budha did.

Pablo Taylor

commented on Jan 5, 2013

I personally have a have time preaching over and over again about people going to hell when they die. I have often thought of doing street preaching myself, as I am a Roman Catholic. I'd rather talk about how it is a struggle living the life of a Christian. I'd rather talk about real issues that people are struggling. it is wiser to preach what people need to hear than just preaching at them. I noticed that the people just keep walking and do NOT pay attention to the street preacher. I'd rather give them a message that would go straight to the heart. Forexample: "I profess Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I must admit that I struggle to live the life as a Christian. I have many temptations and carnal desires. It is important for me to learn how to trust GOD, in the midst of my problems and issues. But, there is one thing I know and that is in spite of my problems God loves me and He wants to heal me of my painful childhood wounds. Yes, often I feel weak and frail as a Christian. When I am weak God is Strong. God allows my weakness to show me that I cannot do it on my own strenght. God's Grace is sufficient for me. It is okay to be weak and struggle as that is God's way of humbling me. Being weak gets me to my knees, exactly where I should be. If I were a perfect Christian then there would be no need to pray and seek God. etc, etc.

Keith B

commented on Jan 5, 2013

@Pablo....why should we assume that everyone we encounter on the street is a Christian? This isn't intended to give them their best life now....it's intended to teach them the Gospel.

V Smathers

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Appreciate the efforts to get the word out, but can the message be more focused on the person of Jesus Christ? He is the gospel. The gospel is really not about heaven and hell. Where we go when we die is of great interest to people, but what we do with the person of Jesus Christ is really what it is all about.

Pablo Taylor

commented on Jan 5, 2013

DearKB, I am not assuming that everone is a Christian, however I would assume that more than 50 percent of the people walking in the street believe to be a Christian or at least believe in God and think of Christ as a great Prophet. My intention is to make people realize how GOD can be real in their lives and not just the Guy upstairs who puts people in hell if they are bad, or break one Commandment. God is about GRACE and MERCY. Christ did not come to judge the world, but rather to be our sacrifice. Christ isn't just about salvation, but also of santification. This is why we, as Roman Catholics believe in Purgatory, which really mean the purification of the soul. In other words it is the Spiritual Retreat or work of santification of our souls that we were not able to do while in our physical bodies. My mother, as an example, has not been able to trust in God because she has so many emotional wounds from her childhood. She has had bad encounters concerning the men of her life. The idea of a loving and gentle Father is too much for her to believe as the men in her life have hurt her and stolen her innocence. I hadly believe that she is going directly to hell when she dies. God understands her emotional wounds and he knows her heart more than anyone of us. She would be highly offended by some guy raising his voice in the street telling her that she may go to hell, if she broke a commandment. Salvation is not just a 'sinners prayer' performed quickly in the streets, rather it is about allowing the presence of God to shine through our hurts and wounds as we make an attempt to trust Christ on a daily basis. then God works on the process of santification as he tries to purify our souls. Any unfinished work can be performed in eternity. God is not limited to just our physical lives on earth. Our souls are eternal and we are placed on this earth for a reason. and the Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't just simply just, trust Christ - you go the heaven, if not - you go to hell. God is much, much bigger than that. And God has more love, mercy, compassion, grace than we can ever imaging. yes, there are consequences for our behavior and attitude. God disciplines us as a Good father would, but He is NOT just hoping that we trust Him, just to scare us into thinking we will go to hell, if we don't. Pablo Taylor

Pablo Taylor

commented on Jan 5, 2013

The world does not need a street preacher scaring them into thinking that they are going to hell. Most people who respond to that kind of gospel only go through the motions, because they are scared of going to hell. God wants people to trust Him because He is love and not because we think we would go to hell if we don't trust Him. The world needs less street preachers telling them that their going to hell, and more preachers that live the truth. I'd rather listen to a preacher who lives the Gospel, than just simply screams about hell in the streets. Hell is real and we need to take God seriously and NOT just scream about God's Judgment in the streets to people whom we do not even know. I would rather show them Jesus Christ by my witness. They will know that we are Christians by our love. We need to shine the love of Christ in the streets and not just preach down to the people standing on some post.

Pablo Taylor

commented on Jan 5, 2013

Dear Vern, I agree with you: "What we do with the person of Jesus Christ is really what it is all about".

Dana Gatewood

commented on Jan 5, 2013

I wonder how many of the people walking by will think that he is from Westboro Baptist Church?

Derrence Smaage

commented on Jan 6, 2013

D.L. Moody was criticized about the way he was doing evangelism. His response was "I like the way I am doing it better than the way you are not doing it." More power to the street preachers!

Eduardo Rivero

commented on Jan 6, 2013

Ineffective. People will not make the most important spiritual decision in their life in response to a guy standing on a traffic barrier shouting at the top of his lungs within 10 seconds. Emulating Ray Comfort strategy and using his tracts. I won't put God in a box and say that He can't use this street preacher. But I can guarantee you that he is thinking that everyone needs to do what he is doing and if they don't they are not faithful Christians. Every "evangelist" I know, who for some reason is an extroverted personality always insist that EVERYONE needs to do what they are doing. There are many ways to "preach" and "share the gospel". Street preaching is one of them but so is sharing your faith with a friend over a cup of coffee or being a friend and earning the right to be heard.

Keith B

commented on Jan 6, 2013

Eduardo....no one thinks that they're going to come to Christ in masses on the street corner, but they might get a few thoughts to dwell on for awhile.

Dennis Cocks

commented on Jan 7, 2013

Not sure anyone is still following this thread or not, but I have a question that kind of goes along with the video. Does your church evangelize by going cold door knocking? I'd like some thoughts on this subject. Personally we have never had much success doing this. If I can't get many answers this time, I'll try again on another thread. Thanks

Jeff Glenn

commented on Jan 7, 2013

Dennis, I've participated in door-to-door evangelism both as a layperson and as a pastor and I've never experienced much "success" either. I hate to admit it, but after 19 years as a pastor I'm still looking for an "effective" method.

Keith B

commented on Jan 7, 2013

@Jeff....I have personally done it. Usually it's in the context of returning visits to people that come to visit...and then maybe knocking on a door or two before returning to the car. We ask questions regarding what a person is looking for in a church, and then launch into their spiritual beliefs. I've personally seen people get saved as a result of it. I have friends today that I encountered this way 20 years ago.

Dennis Cocks

commented on Jan 8, 2013

@k b, I too have seen people "saved" at the door after sharing the gospel with them, but very rarely have they followed through by coming to church. And when you go back to encourage them, rarely do they answer the door, which of course leads you to believe they didn't really get saved. Follow-up visits of course are different because they are the ones who came to church in the first place. I have done both door-knocking evangelism and simply putting information about the chuch on the door knobs, neither has been very "successful." I think that the times we live in makes it more difficult to knock on doors of people you don't know. People are more afraid to open the door to strangers than they were in days gone by. The reason I am interested in other Christian's opinions is that there are some in my church who believe we should be doing this, as their pastor, I am not so sure we should. In my study on the subject it is suggested that this type of evangelism might have a more negative effect for the church than a possitive one. I am simply asking as many people as I can reach for their opinion. So thanks to both you and Jeff.

Bill Williams

commented on Jan 9, 2013

@Dennis, for what it's worth, at my church there are a few members who really do like to go cold door knocking. Our pastor emphasizes a more relational approach to personal evangelism, but he doesn't object to those who feel convicted by God to do cold door knocking. It's only a handful who go out, and not much results. But we do get a few every once in a while who come to church as a result. Some stick around, some don't. But God works through different people using different methods, so if a person feels convicted, I say more power to them. Personally, I can't justify going out looking for strangers to tell them about the Gospel if I'm not already sharing the Gospel with the people I actually do know! Good question, though. Hope this helped.

Dennis Cocks

commented on Jan 9, 2013

@Bill, thanks, that is pretty much in line with my thinking.

Steve P Sanchez

commented on Jan 9, 2013

I am the preacher in the video. This preaching is effective to the point that God is effective. Will someone mistake me for a Westboro member? I sure hope not. I do this with a sense of humor, mindful that I may be an irritant to most hearers. It's the quality of the seed that's important, not the sower of the seed. Spurgeon said to "do something, do something, do something. So I do. This is just one tool in my evangelistic toolbox. perhaps you will try this tool someday, too. Thanks!

Laurie Griffin

commented on Jan 18, 2013

Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ says that only 2 percent of Christians share their faith. That is not a lot. So the odds are not good that all those people walking by busily going about their lives have had anyone share the gospel with them. God has called us to preach the gospel (in addition to letting our light shine). The word preach means to proclaim it (verbally or in written form). And as much as we might like to build a relationship with each one, none of us has the time or ability to do so. Going door to door can be intimidating, so can sharing with someone close to you. Many people fear damaging the relationship by talking about Jesus. How many times have we prayed for a loved one that God would send someone to share the gospel with them? Street preachers are a very necessary part of the many people God uses to bring people to himself. Romans 10:13-15 says "for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'' We should communicate the gospel in any way we can, one to one, door to door, or preaching to crowds. Let us tell the whole gospel, including what we are saved from. We are saved from God's wrath -eternity in hell- by the grace given to us by Jesus. We should do what we can, while we can. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, nor is anyone else. If you treat people with kindness and respect, you don?t need to earn the right to share the most important piece of information they need to know. God used a street preacher to get my attention. Only God knows just how effective any means of sharing the gospel is. He is the one who causes the seeds to grow. He commands us to go and preach the gospel to everyone. (Mark 16:15) Whenever we encounter someone sharing the gospel, rather than wondering if it is effective or not, we should pray that God would open ears and soften hearts, and grant people repentance and faith.

Ron Kirkwood

commented on Jan 18, 2013

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark16:15). God is the One that makes the gospel effective. There is nothing we can do to make it be more successful, providing we preach it accurately. We preach in obedience to God for the sake of the chosen. Don't let your excuses inhibit your obedience.

Scot Brandon

commented on Jan 18, 2013

I would like to ask all those who don't like the preaching of the gospel in the open air, how they reach the lost in their cities? Until you can give me a better way of spreading the gospel I like the open air preaching way better. One to one evangelism is fine too, and most who open air preach have some great one to one conversations after they preach.

Ron Kirkwood

commented on Jan 18, 2013

@Pablo Taylor, I believe that you are mistaken. We must warn people of hell. Jesus did that when He said, "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke13:5). It only takes a couple of minutes to present the gospel, so do it now. You don't have to build a relationship to 'earn' the the right to lead someone to Christ. Christ gave you a command, "Go"

Pamela Ojeda

commented on Jan 19, 2013

@ Eduardo Rivera "But I can guarantee you that he is thinking that everyone needs to do what he is doing and if they don't they are not faithful Christians." Your guarantee is null and void. What pastor Steve believes that faithful Christians must do is..... something, anything to share the gospel. Yes, he would like everyone to try it, but there is no condemnation because we all have different gifts. What I do get from church are packets of tracts that I mail, hand out, or leave for others to find.

Mason Goodknight

commented on Jan 19, 2013

I think this is an awesome idea! Steve has a great heart and longs to see people saved! This is definitely preaching. Many may not like it but it is preaching the gospel in pure form. Steve is going as Christ commanded in to the highways and byways and compelling those outside to come in! God bless Steve and thanks for sharing!

Hank Smoot

commented on Jan 19, 2013

This seems like a good way to really irritate people and turn them off. I really would not recommend this at all.