Fishing in the wrong spot

This week, the weather was incredible. One evening, I took full advantage and went out to fish. I’ve been visiting ponds, creeks, and parks around the area, looking for a “fishing hole” that I enjoyed — and that was stocked well enough for an impatient, inexperienced fisherman like myself to actually catch something. A few weeks ago, I found a peaceful pond tucked out of the way. I caught nothing that day, but there were plenty of other fishers there, and I watched someone else catch one. I knew I had to come back and try again.

This week was my chance. I picked up some new bait, similar to what the locals were using, and headed to the first little dock I found. I set up my stuff and started casting.
An hour went by... and nothing.

Then someone walked up and struck up a conversation. They had been walking around the area and spotted a lot of big fish — but in a different part of the pond. I thanked them for the tip, packed up my stuff, moved locations, and within minutes, I had a little nibble. Then I saw a fish following my hook, going after the bait. A few casts later, I finally hooked one! I wouldn't call this little guy a trophy catch, but a catch is a catch. I had spent all that time fishing in the wrong spot — but once I moved, everything changed.

In the Bible, Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their nets and become “fishers of men.”
Just like the apostles, we are called by God to go into the world and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others. Some lessons I learned fishing this week challenged me to rethink how I share the gospel — and how I can grow.

Get the right bait.
Let me be clear: sharing the gospel isn’t about tricking or manipulating someone into making a decision. It’s the exact opposite. We are called to share the true gospel — nothing more, nothing less.
When you fish, you trick a fish into biting a hook. But when we share the gospel, there is no trick. We are offering the only truth that can truly save.
We shouldn’t add extra steps to the gospel that God hasn’t placed, trying to fit it to our own idea of righteousness. We can’t cut out parts of the gospel just because they might feel uncomfortable. We must present the full truth, walk alongside people as they ask questions, and trust God to convict and bring understanding, so they might accept Christ as Savior and Lord.

Go to where the fish are.
If we want to share the gospel, we have to go where the lost are. In a disconnected world, it’s easy to stay in our own circles without engaging deeply with others.
If you regularly interact with people who don’t know Christ, be intentional about pursuing gospel conversations. If you don’t, find ways to create opportunities. Go to where the fish are.
Don’t stay on your dock and hope the fish will come to you.

Keep casting.
Sometimes we work up the courage, we find the perfect opportunity; we share the gospel — and...
The person doesn’t respond. Or worse, they react poorly.
It’s discouraging.
But the way others respond doesn’t define our obedience to God.
We have to keep casting.
Keep reaching out.
Keep sharing.
Make it a discipline woven into the fabric of your life. Trust that God will use your faithfulness — maybe in ways you can't see yet.
When you fish, you don’t expect to catch something with every cast. In the same way, sharing the gospel requires patience, persistence, and faith. As we share consistently, new doors and opportunities for God to move will open right in front of us.

We’ve all been given the command to share the gospel.
As we do, let’s seek to be truthful, intentional, and consistent.
And as we stay faithful, we’ll get the incredible privilege of seeing God change lives — one by one.

Serving together,
Tyler Boggess