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Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday May 8, 15, 22 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. May 9 12 – 5 PM. UN Plaza, 7th St. and Market, SF.
Sat. May 16 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley outreach. Shattuck and Center St.
Sat. May 23 11 AM – 1 PM Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson St. and Mason) 3-5 PM Union Square (Powell and Geary St.) SF.
Street Preaching in the New Testament
Dear Christian friends,
We now turn our attention to the New Testament. Beginning with John and moving to our commission to the whole world we are instructed in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel TO EVERY CREATURE.” Our job is to PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD. Simple logic will show the best way to accomplish this is to find where the most “people” are in one place at one time and proclaim the message loud enough for them all to hear.
“Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Colossians 1:28)
The first preacher in the New Testament was John the Baptist. John was an OPEN AIR PREACHER: “In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2; see also Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3) Matthew says Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan came out to hear John preaching (Matthew 3:5-6). John was baptizing in the river Jordan. Jews who traveled back and forth to Galilee refused to take the direct route through Samaria (John 4:9), but rather went to the Jordan River and followed it up to and from Galilee, so John picked out a place to preach repentance and baptize at a place of heavy traffic, with large crowds.
There is not much “one-on-one witnessing” talked about in the BIBLE; the emphasis is on PREACHING TO CROWDS. We are not saying to stop witnessing one-on-one. We do it; we encourage it. However, the method most commonly mentioned in the Bible yet ignored by most Christians today is OPEN AIR PREACHING.
Guillermo preaches in Spanish at 16th St. and Mission.
In the four gospels, covering 2-3 years of Christ’s ministry, we find only about THREE cases of personal witnessing: Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and Zaccheus. The Gospels spend much more time pointing out Christ’s dealings with “MULTITUDES:” Matthew 4:25; 5:1; 8:1; 18; 12:15; 13:2,34; 14:14; 15:10,30-35,39; 17:14; 19:2; 21:8,11…
Jesus’ most famous sermons were delivered OUTDOORS. For example, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,7). In Luke 6:17 he preached to a “great multitude” in “the plain” (outdoors). The “Olivet discourse” (Matthew 24) was delivered on the Mount of Olives (outdoors). In Matthew 13 His well known parables were preached to “great multitudes” by “the sea side” (Jesus was a “beach preacher”.) He sat in a boat and taught the multitude on the shore.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke devoted most of their attention to Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, where He lived most of the time. But several times a year, all Jews would go to Jerusalem for the Feasts (see Exodus 23:14,17). Christ would go to Jerusalem and PREACH to these large crowds gathered there. The Gospel of John is concerned with these trips of Jesus to Jerusalem during these feasts. The Passover is mentioned in John 2:13; 6:4; and 12:1. The Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned in John 7:2. Another feast is mentioned in John 5:1. Hanukkah is mentioned in John 10:22. Jesus Christ came to Jerusalem to cleanse the Temple (at least twice) and PREACH TO THE MULTITUDES. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and CRIED, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37). JESUS commanded His apostles, “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light, and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” (Matthew 10:27)
His apostles carried this out in the book of Acts. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), we find one of the greatest examples of STREET PREACHING of all time. The charismatics read Acts 2, see tongues, and say: We need to speak in tongues like they did in Acts 2. Some fundamentalists read Acts 2 and see 3000 added to the church in one day, and they say: We need to have large church growth like they did in Acts 2. What is missing is the recognition of the delivery and method of STREET PREACHING found in Acts 2. TONGUES drew a crowd, Peter preached REPENTANCE (Acts 2:38), and the church grew.
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore DISPUTED he in the …market daily.” (Acts 17:17) Yes, the apostles’ evangelism often involved “DISPUTING” — not just preaching God’s love. (see Acts 6:9; 9:22,29; 11:2; 15:2,7; 17:2; 18:19,28; 19:8,9; 28:23; Ephesians 5:11; I Thess. 2:2; Jude 3,9; see also examples in Matthew 22; John 7,8).
Why the market? Crowds! The apostles wanted to get the Gospel to the most people at one time, so they went to the markets where crowds gathered, and disputed, preaching the kingdom and wisdom of God in the open air.
In conclusion, we can focus on how things “could” be. Public open air preaching of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God is imperative for the fulfillment of the GREAT COMMISSION. This is an attainable goal within each of your groups, fellowships, and churches. It is not unreasonable to think that of every 50 or so believers ONE could do this work. When you add them up a city the size of San Francisco would net at least 500 men to shoulder the plow in this great harvest field.
The impact of such a group would be immediate and powerful. God’s mind and being would be shown to all. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)
(Continued from last month’s newsletter. Edited from www.soulwinning.info/sp/lessons/01.htm)
On the Streets
On Friday January 23 we witnessed at 16th St. and Valencia. Dave witnessed to Mike, a homeless man he had met a few months ago. Mike remembered their last conversation, and was receptive to the gospel. He also witnessed to Rhoda and Angelique. He bought them some food and ministered to them. He also prayed with them.
The next day, we witnessed in downtown Berkeley. We had applied for a permit on Telegraph, but were denied it because of construction. We may not be able to return to that street. Still, we have had excellent outreaches in downtown Berkeley. Eddie and Matt tried to witness to four people, but none of them was interested. So they prayed that God would lead them to someone who wanted to hear the gospel. As they opened their eyes, Ben was standing before him. He is in his 20’s and has struggled with alcohol. He has been sober 3 months and said he wanted to be saved. They explained the gospel to him and prayed with him.
Dave spoke with John, a physicist from Italy. He was raised Catholic and met another physicist who challenged him to read the Bible and try to disprove it. He did, and was saved. He also witnessed to Quentin, a high school student, and Deann. He challenged her to go home and read a tract he had given her and talk to Jesus as a friend. She said, “I’m going to do this tonight.” Mike witnessed to Daniel, an atheist. He spoke with him about intelligent design and encouraged him to read the gospel of John. He also witnessed to Drew, who was watching our preaching. He had been a heroin addict for two years. Mike told him about a program for drug addicts run by City Impact, where he works, and encouraged him to look into it.
On Fri. March 6 we witnessed at Powell and Market St. Ben witnessed to Alex, 20, whose father was an alcoholic and who had an alcohol problem. He lives on the street near where we were preaching. He was very intelligent, and said he believed in God and had read the Bible. Ben shared the gospel with him and Alex said “I like you. I know you are speaking truth.” Dave witnessed to five students from Saudi Arabia. Mike witnessed to Hubba, who lives in the Tenderloin. Mike invited him to attend City Impact with him.
Ministry Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry.
We have set the dates for our SOS-San Francisco Outreach. It will be held on July 8-11. This is our 36th annual outreach to the people of San Francisco. I hope many of you will be able to join us this year.
We have applied for our San Francisco park permits for the year. The price has increased from last year. They will cost us $1050. Please pray that we will receive these permits and that we will be able to schedule Christian worship groups and bands to minister during these events.
Please pray for those we have witnessed to recently, especially those mentioned in this newsletter. I hope some of you will join us for an outreach this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
