|
Elevation for Preachers: The Five Superior Lifts By Mitch Metzger
To compel potential preachers to use elevation while preaching in the open-air.
(Tell the Las Vegas story from 1987 when I was thrown in the swimming pool). If I had been using elevation and set myself a bit to the side of that pool party, I might have avoided getting thrown into the pool. Therefore, perhaps some of you, like myself, are hungry for new ways to enhance your effectiveness in street preaching?
I want to propose to you the "Five Superior Lifts" why any street preacher should consider using elevation while preaching in the open-air.
#1 The Superior Lift of STANDARDS.
Jothan in Judges 9:7 on Mount Gerizim "he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them…" Ezra in Nehemiah 8:4 "and Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit (raised platform) of wood, which they had made for the purpose…" Jesus in Matthew 5-7 preaching the "Sermon on the Mount". Paul preaching from Mars Hill in Acts 17:22 Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost in Acts 1:15
John Wesley: "I am well assured that I did far more good to my Lincolnshire parishioners by preaching three days on my father’s tomb than I did by preaching three years in his pulpit." Spurgeon: "It would be very easy to prove that revivals of religion have usually been accompanied, if not caused, by a considerable amount of preaching out of doors, or in unusual places." Whitefield: "I believe I never was more acceptable to my master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields. I now preach to ten times more people than I should if I had been confined to the churches." Show famous Whitefield statue photo. Jed Smock: show picture of him in elevated open-air style. Ray Comfort: show picture of him preaching from the trash can. Mitch Metzger: show picture preaching in front of movie theatre. #2 The Superior Lift of SIGHT. If you elevate yourself, the people can see you from a greater distance. Many times I’ve had small crowds that would push and shove each other to try to get to the front so they could see. Simple standing on something elevated can eliminate this. Those that are at a distance, afraid to approach, can still participate even from across the street because they can see you. Visual aids such as placards and flip charts etc. can be more easily seen by the entire crowd if you are elevated. The same for your eyes and body language so that the listeners can ‘catch the spirit’ of what you are seeking to communicate. #3 The Superior Lift of SOUND. If elevated, naturally your voice reaches over the crowd. If you’re at the same level, the people packed in the front row can often muffle your voice out. Show picture of Stephen White with hard pressed crowd. You can further add the use of an UMBRELLA to help amplify your voice and a SOUND SYSTEM as well if desired or practical. #4 The Superior Lift of SAFETY. Elevating yourself will give you added protection in a physical sense. You appear to be bigger and taller than your audience and hecklers. Cheap shots, spit wads and physical pushes and attacks are greatly reduced when in elevated position. Tell New Orleans 2000 story about getting threatened while preaching on the pier. "If you don’t blankity blank stop and get out of here, I’m going to pick you up and throw you in the river." Tell Church Street, Orlando 2000 story about getting threatened. "Is your Jesus able to save you from me punching you?" #5 The Superior Lift of SUPERIORITY. Elevating yourself establishes authority. People will stop and take notice. They ask themselves, "What has this guy to say!" It sets the environment that you have something important to say, especially at the introduction period. It also gives you a certain level of control. It makes it harder for the hecklers to steal your crowd unless they get their own elevation (i.e.: pail, box, chair etc) too like the hecklers at Berkeley University. Example from the Philippines: Often when I set the bench on the ground in front of a movie theatre I preach at often will actually start to split and gather the curious on-lookers even before I step up.
Conclusion: Now, after saying all that, after hearing these FIVE SUPERIOR LIFTS of Standards (Both Biblical and Historical), Sight, Sound, Safety and Superiority, there should be no remaining reason that you too cannot expand your ‘tools of the street preaching trade’ for more effective evangelism in the open-air. Now "GO AND PREACH THE GOSPEL" with SUPERIOR LIFTING results! Amen?
Mitch Metzger Youth With A Mission School Of Evangelism November 2000
|