Jesus gave His disciples a simple invitation in Matthew 4:19:
Matthew 4:19
That calling was not only for Peter, Andrew, or the early disciples. As followers of Jesus, we have also been called to reach people with the Gospel.
But here is the question we have to ask ourselves:
Are we still fishing?
We can have the equipment. We can know church language. We can attend services, participate in ministry, and even know how evangelism was done years ago.
But are we actually reaching people?
Watch the Message: Fishers of Men
This blog was inspired by a message I preached called Fishers of Men. You can watch the full preaching below, or continue reading as we break down some of the principles from the message.
Don’t Get So Focused on the Equipment That We Forget the Fish
I once shared an illustration about two experienced fishermen named Bob and John.
They decided they were going to step up their fishing game, so they bought the newest fishing rods, shiny lures, fishing gear, tackle boxes, and all kinds of expensive equipment.
But when they arrived at the fishing spot, there was only enough room for one person in the best location.
So they started arguing.
One said, “I was here first.”
The other said, “I’m older.”
Another argument started over who bought most of the equipment.
While they were arguing, their fishing lines and equipment became tangled.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the lake sat an elderly woman with nothing more than some fishing string, a can of worms, and basic equipment.
And she was catching fish as fast as she could put her line in the water.
Don’t get so caught up in the appearance of fishing, the equipment of fishing, or the competition of fishing that we forget we have been called to catch fish.
The same thing can happen in ministry.
We can argue over positions, ministries, methods, titles, styles, preferences, and who gets the best seat while hurting people are still waiting to hear about Jesus.
Let’s remember the goal.
We have been called to reach people.
Fishing requires patience.
Sometimes you throw your line into the water and wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
The same thing happens when we are reaching people.
Someone may not respond the first time you invite them to church. A family member may not respond after the first conversation. A coworker may not seem interested.
Your son or daughter may not be walking with God yet.
But don’t stop praying.
Don’t stop loving them.
Don’t stop believing.
Sometimes it takes multiple conversations and multiple encounters before someone becomes open to the Gospel.
A good fisherman knows how to wait.
If you have been praying for somebody for one year, keep praying. If you have been praying for them for five years, keep praying. You never know when that fish is going to come in.
Good fishermen are committed.
They wake up early. They stay out late. They invest time learning their craft. They keep going even when they don’t catch anything immediately.
That same dedication should be present in our evangelism.
If we really want to reach people, we should be willing to develop our skills.
We should learn how to communicate better.
We should learn what people are going through.
Most importantly, we need compassion.
Being a fisher of men requires genuine love for people.
- Do we still have a burden for hurting families?
- Do we still care about the young person who feels lost?
- Do we still believe the addict can be restored?
- Do we still believe broken families can experience restoration?
- Do we still believe somebody far from God can experience a completely different life through Jesus?
The joy of fishing is catching fish.
And the joy of ministry should be seeing lives changed.
Experienced fishermen understand something very important:
Conditions change.
Weather changes. Seasons change. Locations change. Different fish require different techniques.
A fisherman who refuses to adjust may have good equipment, but they may come home without catching anything.
The same principle applies to evangelism.
Our message never changes, but our methods can.
Jesus still saves.
The Gospel still has power.
But the methods we use to communicate that message can change.
Different people have different backgrounds, struggles, ages, cultures, questions, and needs.
If we want to reach people effectively, we need to understand who we are trying to reach.
Understand Your Target Audience
In fishing, the type of fish you are trying to catch determines the type of bait you use.
You don’t necessarily use the same bait for trout that you use for catfish.
Why?
Because different fish behave differently.
The same idea applies when reaching people.
We need to understand our target audience.
Who are we trying to reach?
- Young people?
- Parents?
- College students?
- People recovering from addiction?
- Married couples?
- People searching for purpose?
- People who have never attended church?
When we understand who we are speaking to, we can communicate in a way that connects with them.
Understanding your target audience doesn’t mean changing the Gospel. It means learning how to communicate the Gospel effectively to the people we are trying to reach.
Add New Tools to the Tackle Box
I believe in traditional evangelism.
I believe in street rallies.
I believe in handing out flyers.
I believe in personal invitations.
I believe in dramas, concerts, outreaches, and face-to-face conversations.
Those methods are still powerful.
But consider this:
What if we added some new tools to our tackle box?
Today we have opportunities previous generations never had.
- Church websites
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Podcasts
- Blogs
- Google Search
Our generation has the ability to communicate with hundreds or even thousands of people from one device.
The question is not whether these platforms exist.
The question is whether we are going to use them to reach people.
If this is an area you want to grow in, I wrote a complete guide on digital outreach for churches and how churches can reach more people online.
Social Media Can Become a Fishing Platform
Posting a sermon clip or a Bible verse is good.
But if we want to reach people who don’t already attend church, we may need to think differently.
One powerful way to connect with people is by giving value.
What skills has God already given you?
Maybe You Understand Budgeting
You could create content such as:
- 5 Ways to Get Out of Debt
- 3 Simple Ways to Create a Budget
- How to Start Saving Money
Maybe You’re Good at Tutoring
You could create:
- 3 Study Tips to Help Students Improve Their Grades
- 5 Ways to Prepare for Your Next Exam
- Simple Tips for Improving Your Math Skills
Maybe You Love Cooking
You could share:
- 5 Simple Tips for Making Better Meals
- How to Cook Your Favorite Dish
- 3 Kitchen Tips Every Beginner Should Know
Maybe You’re Good at Decorating
You could create:
- 3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Living Space
- Simple Decorating Ideas on a Budget
- How to Make a Small Room Feel Bigger
None of those examples sound like traditional preaching.
But they create relationships.
They help people.
They build trust.
They give people a reason to connect with you.
Then, the platform you build can become available for God to use.
For more ideas on this, you can also read my guide on digital evangelism and how to use social media to reach people.
Give God Your Platform
I love the picture of Peter and his boat.
Peter’s boat was part of his livelihood.
It was his fishing platform.
But one day Jesus needed the boat.
Peter made what he had available for Jesus to use.
In the same way, we can build platforms and say:
Maybe you have 500 followers.
Maybe one day you have 5,000.
Maybe you have a YouTube channel.
Maybe you have an email list.
Maybe you have a website.
Maybe you have a podcast.
Build something valuable.
Serve people.
Develop influence.
Then make that platform available to God.
When your church has an outreach, share it.
When there is a revival, share it.
When somebody needs prayer, encourage them.
When somebody is looking for hope, be available.
We need influencers for Jesus.
Your Church Website Can Fish 24 Hours a Day
Social media isn’t the only digital platform available to us.
Your church website can also become a powerful outreach tool.
Think about it.
When somebody is looking for a church, needs prayer, is searching for a recovery program, or has questions about faith, many times they begin with Google.
Your church might be closed at 2:00 in the morning, but your website is still working.
Your church website can become an evangelist working 24 hours a day.
That is one reason I believe churches should understand how people find them through Google.
If you’re new to this, check out my beginner’s guide to Google Search Console for churches.
And if your church isn’t creating written content yet, I also recommend reading Why Every Church Needs a Blog.
The Method Can Change, But the Mission Cannot
We should never abandon the foundational ways we reach people.
Keep inviting people personally.
Keep sharing your testimony.
Keep handing out flyers.
Keep preaching.
Keep doing outreaches.
But let’s also recognize the opportunities God has placed in front of this generation.
Technology is simply another tool.
Social media is another tool.
A website is another tool.
A podcast is another tool.
The tool is not the mission. People are the mission.
It Starts With a Burden
At the end of the day, being a fisher of men is not about having better marketing.
It is not about having more followers.
It is not about building a bigger platform.
It starts with compassion.
Do we still hurt when people hurt?
Do we still pray for lost family members?
Do we still notice the student sitting alone?
Do we still care about the coworker going through a difficult season?
Do we still believe God can restore broken lives?
We don’t just need new strategies.
A fresh compassion. A fresh desire to see people reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said:
Matthew 4:19
So let’s keep fishing.
Let’s keep learning.
Let’s keep growing.
Let’s keep adapting.
And most importantly, let’s never forget why we are doing it.
There are still people looking for hope, and we still have the message of Jesus Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be fishers of men?
Being fishers of men means following Jesus and participating in His mission of reaching people. It involves loving people, sharing the Gospel, building relationships, showing compassion, and helping people discover a relationship with God.
What does Matthew 4:19 mean?
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus called His disciples to follow Him and said He would make them fishers of men. Jesus used language familiar to fishermen to explain that their lives would now be used to reach people rather than simply catch fish.
Can churches use social media for evangelism?
Yes. Social media can give churches and individual Christians opportunities to connect with people, provide helpful content, share testimonies, answer questions, promote outreaches, and point people toward the Gospel.
Should churches stop using traditional evangelism methods?
No. Flyers, personal invitations, street outreaches, rallies, testimonies, and face-to-face conversations are still valuable. Digital outreach should add tools to our evangelism tackle box rather than replace genuine personal ministry.
How can a church website help with evangelism?
A church website can help people discover service information, ministries, sermons, answers to questions, recovery resources, and opportunities to connect with the church. Because websites can appear in Google Search at any time, they can help churches reach people even when the church building is closed.
Let’s Reach More People
We have more tools available to us than almost any generation before us. Let’s use them with wisdom, creativity, and most importantly, compassion.
Let’s become better fishers of men.
If this message encouraged you, share it with a pastor, church leader, ministry team, or somebody who has a heart for reaching people.