by Frank Turk
Back on May 7, Tony Miano posted this essay entitled "Ten Practical Reasons Why Every Pastor Should Support Open-Air Preaching," and he was kind enough to ask me to review/link to it. I think I linked to it via Twitter without even reading it because I'm that big a fan of Tony. However, even as a fan, I have some brief comments about the essay which, I think, will improve both me and Tony -- and if we are blessed, you the readers also.
It's a great essay. It speaks to the multifaceted ways actual, real-life ministry results in actual, real-life discipleship. It is entirely worth your time to read it rather than read my book report of it.
I have one brief objection -- in fact, I have only one thing to say about one word in the whole essay which, I think, we should ponder: the word "should."
As you can see, "should" means that it's part of the expected package -- it's like Sunday worship, or administering baptism. It doesn't quite mean "must," but it indicates obligation.
Personally, I don't think that Tony meant to say that it's every pastor's obligation to support open-air preaching. I think he actually meant that if a pastor is looking for a biblical, sound, spiritually-fruitful avenue of ministry to lead his church in, one good option is open-air preaching. Perhaps the title should read, "Ten Practical Reasons Why Every Pastor Can Support Open-Air Preaching," and we could all nod in a manly way to each other and move on.
I agree with everything else Tony says in that essay -- I agree with all the benefits he lists, and I'm especially pleased that he listed "Missional" as one of them. I think if there were more Biblical, Missional, Long-Suffering, Loving open-air preaching ministries directly associated with Loving, Discipling, Unified, Prepared local churches, we'd be living in a different sort of world.
Think about it. Discuss in the comments. See you next week.
Back on May 7, Tony Miano posted this essay entitled "Ten Practical Reasons Why Every Pastor Should Support Open-Air Preaching," and he was kind enough to ask me to review/link to it. I think I linked to it via Twitter without even reading it because I'm that big a fan of Tony. However, even as a fan, I have some brief comments about the essay which, I think, will improve both me and Tony -- and if we are blessed, you the readers also.
It's a great essay. It speaks to the multifaceted ways actual, real-life ministry results in actual, real-life discipleship. It is entirely worth your time to read it rather than read my book report of it.
I have one brief objection -- in fact, I have only one thing to say about one word in the whole essay which, I think, we should ponder: the word "should."
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| courtesy of m-w.com |
As you can see, "should" means that it's part of the expected package -- it's like Sunday worship, or administering baptism. It doesn't quite mean "must," but it indicates obligation.
Personally, I don't think that Tony meant to say that it's every pastor's obligation to support open-air preaching. I think he actually meant that if a pastor is looking for a biblical, sound, spiritually-fruitful avenue of ministry to lead his church in, one good option is open-air preaching. Perhaps the title should read, "Ten Practical Reasons Why Every Pastor Can Support Open-Air Preaching," and we could all nod in a manly way to each other and move on.
I agree with everything else Tony says in that essay -- I agree with all the benefits he lists, and I'm especially pleased that he listed "Missional" as one of them. I think if there were more Biblical, Missional, Long-Suffering, Loving open-air preaching ministries directly associated with Loving, Discipling, Unified, Prepared local churches, we'd be living in a different sort of world.
Think about it. Discuss in the comments. See you next week.
