An Open-Air Preacher’s Checklist Before Hitting the Streets

​In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul rejoices that the gospel is being preached despite the men’s wrong motives. Some brothers used Paul’s imprisonment as an opportunity to try and rub salt into his open wound.  Their motives were selfish ambition. They were competitors against Paul. Now that he was in prison, they could surpass Paul’s influence in the gospel ministry.
           
​In contrast, another group of brothers preached the gospel for different reasons. Their motive was love. Their love for God propelled them to obedience by proclaiming His glorious Gospel. Their love of their neighbor pushed them to bring the good news to lost sinners. Even though Paul rejoiced that the Gospel was being preached with bad motivations, I desire as an open-air preacher to be stirred by love and not envy. Therefore, I have developed a spiritual checklist for the open-air preacher before he goes to seek the lost. May it benefit you as much as it has helped me.
 
1. Do I fear man or God?
 
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)
 
2. Am I afraid of looking like a fool?
 
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18)
 
3. Do I remember that I was once lost?
 
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3)
 
4. Do I love the lost?
 
“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Rom. 9:1-3)
 
5. Am I prepared for persecution?
 
“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” (Phil. 1:29-30)
 
6. Am I prepared to rejoice when I am persecuted?
 
“So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (Acts 5:39b-41)
 
7. Am I prepared to bless those who curse me?
 
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Rom. 12:14)
 
8. Do I remember that teachers are judged more strictly?
 
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1)
 
9. Are there any sins that I need to confess?
 
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
 
10. Am I eager to obey the authorities?
 
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Rom. 13:1-2)
 
11. Am I ready for the spiritual battle?
 
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
 
12. Are other Christians praying for me?
 
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Eph. 6:18-20)
 
13. Have I meditated on the fact that souls are on the path to hell?
 
“‘But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.’” (Rev. 21:8)
 
14. Am I trusting in my eloquence to save the lost?
 
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Cor. 1:17)
 
15. Do I rest knowing that God has His elect ready to receive the Gospel?
 
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Tim. 2:10)
 
16. Do I trust in the power of the Gospel to save sinners?
 
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16)
 
17. Am I depending upon the Holy Spirit?
 
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)” (John 6:63-64)
 
18. Do I love Jesus?
 
“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:17)
 
19. Do I remember that Christ died for me?
 
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Tim. 1:15)
 
20. Am I ready to rejoice when a sinner is saved?
 
“So he told them this parable:  “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:3-7)
 
21. Do I remember that Jesus is worthy to be preached since the angels are worshiping Him right now?
 
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” (Rev. 4:8)
 
22. Is my goal to glorify God?
 
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
 
“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17)
 
       Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
       Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
       Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
       Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah [1] (Psalm 24:7-10)
 


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001). Ps 24:7–10.