How Do I Begin Open Air Street Preaching: 7 Golden Rules

In this post, we’re going to answer the question: 'What are the rules for effective street and open-air preaching?'

A few housekeeping items before providing those rules: First, for you to even have searched this topic means you are almost certainly compelled and anointed by the Holy Spirit to do so!

Do not worry about looking crazy and foolish to the lost—and, surprisingly, your biggest detractors: church people. Who do you think Jesus was talking about when He proclaimed, “Marvel not if the world hates you, because it hated Me before it hated you. The servant cannot be greater than their Master" (John 15:18).

Second, I am a currently serving church pastor, who actually leads a congregation, not those 'Facebook/YouTube pastors,' and has been street preaching for 25 years.

I offer this not to flex, boast, or anything else—but so you understand you are not crazy for being compelled to do this. There are others of us, and I know what I’m talking about.

I really want to impress upon you, however: No matter how difficult, rejected, laughed at, or mocked while publicly proclaiming the Gospel), remember—Jesus and His disciples (later apostles) built the church doing the same thing (Matt. 27:39-40, Luke 16:14, Act 2:13, et al).

Here are the seven (7) golden rules for effective open-air and street preaching ministries:

1. No matter who laughs, mocks, or yells while preaching, keep preaching.

Surprisingly, it’s not only people who hate God who will try to distract you. I once had a well-meaning professed Christian lady walk up to me while I was preaching on a street corner and say, “I used to be you, doing the same thing—and it’s not the way.”

I listened for no more than thirty (30) seconds, cut her off, and preached Jesus crucified to her (briefly) before returning to my mission. Never ignore safety, but remember:

You’re there to preach. Satan exists to stop you and will use even supposed saints to do so (Mark 4:15, 1 Thess. 2:18).

Do not become distracted by idiots!

2. Street preaching remains as vital today as in the Gospels and Acts:

Despite claims otherwise, street preaching is as essential now as it was in 'The Way' movement. Today, church buildings dot every city, yet few dare to go where Jesus and His apostles went.

The need to proclaim the Gospel publicly persists (1 Cor. 1:21, Rom. 10:14-17, et al). Those who say modern street preachers are unnecessary imply God lied when He said, “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever” and “I am the Lord; I change not" (Heb. 13:8, Mal. 3:6).

3. Public preaching is for the bold, not the timid:

Clarification: By 'timid,' I don’t mean those like Jeremiah, whom God used despite his reluctance (Jer. 1:6, Jer. 15:10). I mean Christians who, when moved by the Holy Spirit to act, refuse out of fear.

The Lord graced me in confrontational preaching, but true boldness comes from God’s strength in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Many avoid the streets because they lack the boldness they profess in safe spaces because true preaching demands courage to face skepticism or hostility (Ezek. 2:6, Act 4:13-20, Acts 20:22-24).

4. Don’t focus on ‘soul-winning’ as a metric:

An older church leader once asked me, “Why do this? How many souls have you won?” I didn’t answer for a few reasons.

First, I don’t tally conversions and second, as Paul said, “One plants, another waters, but God gives the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6-9). Street preaching is about scattering seeds which means some may come to Christ immediately, but planting is the goal.

Jesus often focused on individuals, lost heep if you will (John 3:1-21, Mark 10:17-22, et all). Eternal outcomes hinge on seed-planting—not always seeing the harvest.

5. Law enforcement will intervene—be wise:

Wherever you preach, police will be called, eventually. This isn’t bad: In smaller towns, they’ll recognize you and in reality, they need the Gospel too (Mark 16:15).

Once you know where to stand (public property, not private), officers will still respond—and hear the Gospel in the process.

Unless threatened, I only stop preaching to comply with law enforcement. Romans teaches submission to authority for Christ’s witness (Rom. 13:1, 7, et al).

6. Never engage in a back-and-forth:

Respect the law, and use interactions with officers as witnessing opportunities. But never debate Christians, false religionists, or sinners (Matt. 10:14, Matt. 7:6, Matt. 15:12-14).

The hardest lesson I had to learn is that public preachers are there to inform—not do the Holy Spirit’s work.

Provide them the information because their response determines their eternity  (Josh. 25:15, Matt. 6:24, Rev. 21:8).

7. Never argue about your ‘constitutional rights:'

The only right you or I had was to die because of our sin (Rom. 6:23). Officers of law enforcement, business owners and others have the same right (to die because of rejecting Jesus) as you!

Your rights never supersede God’s Word (Prov. 19:21, Jam. 4:13-15, et al). Why force the Gospel where Christ is rejected?

Two more questions to consider:

1. Why control someone God gave free will to refuse?

2. Where does Scripture permit 'loving' someone enough to force them into a lie?

An experienced preacher could add to this list, but wisdom in witnessing is paramount.