I preached this sermon during the Herald Society at First Baptist Church of Milton (Milton, FL), on March 26, 2015. Following the sermon manuscript, you will find the audio for the sermon. I pray this is an encouragement to all Christians--pastors/elders, open-air preachers, and the Body of Christ-at-large. ***** Introduction The venerable pulpiteer and open-air preacher, … [Read more...]
Word Study: παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia)
Definition παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia) – 1. Freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech; openly, frankly, i.e. without concealment; without ambiguity or circumlocution; without the use of figures and comparisons. 2. Free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance. 3. The deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity. A French philosopher, … [Read more...]
Evangelism Gear (Part 2): Voice Recorders
In "Part 1" of this series, I elaborated on what kind of video equipment I have and made a recommendation for a video camera suitable for street evangelism use. In "Part 2," I will discuss two digital voice recorders I use in my evangelism efforts. Voice Recorders When I served as a field training officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, I required all of my … [Read more...]
Don’t Quit!
The Ambassadors' Academy In January of 2008, I joined the Living Waters team. My position with the ministry: Director of the Ambassadors' Alliance. My mission (in part): to develop and lead a brand new training program (the Ambassadors' Academy) in which people from around the world would be invited to Living Waters for a time of intensive evangelism training, with an emphasis … [Read more...]
Burt: A Broken Man
NFL running back Adrian Peterson was in the news again, today. This time regarding the resolution to the case against him for badly beating his four-year-old son with a switch (a thin tree branch). Peterson has agreed to plead "no contest" to a lesser, misdemeanor charge. In exchange, the felony charges against him will be dismissed; he will avoid jail time, pay a $4,000 fine, … [Read more...]
70 Good-Byes
Deputy Mike Arruda and three deputies responded to a motel in Hacienda Heights on June 9, 2004, after receiving a call that someone was firing shots and threatening people. When the deputies arrived, they went to the unit where the suspect was reported to be staying. As they walked toward the unit, the suspect exited carrying a pellet pistol that closely resembled a .40-caliber … [Read more...]
False Conversion in the South: “I Done Did That!”
Back Story What you're about to hear, should you choose to listen, is the last open-air sermon I preached during the last night of the Fall for Greenville festival, in Greenville, SC. Throughout the weekend, I repeatedly heard professing Christians reject the offer of gospel tracts with responses such as: "No, I'm good. I done did that." Translation: "I don't need the gospel. … [Read more...]