FISHING

Lessons about witnessing from going fishing 

BOB -- (enters carrying fishing rod, casts line toward audience)
TED -- (shouts from offstage) Bob? Bob?
BOB -- (shouts) Over here.
TED -- (enters) Oh, there you are.
BOB -- Hi. Beautiful day for fishing. (nods toward audience)
TED -- Fishing?! I thought you asked me out here to talk about witnessing.
BOB -- Same thing.
TED -- I'm sorry. You're not making any sense. Did you just say that witnessing is the same as fishing?
BOB -- Yes. The reason you're having trouble with your witnessing is because you've stopped fishing.
TED -- You're serious. You really think that witnessing and fishing are the same thing?
BOB -- Well, Jesus seemed to think so. When he called his first disciples, he said, "Come, follow me and I will make you...."
BOTH - "....fishers of men."
TED -- I see where you're going with this. But Jesus wasn't being literal when he said that.
BOB -- Sure he was.
TED -- You can't really think that Jesus expected his disciples to.... (hooks finger in mouth drags self two steps away).
BOB -- (laughs) I'm not saying that Jesus advocated taking people by force. But there are a few strategies in fishing that can be transferred to witnessing.
TED -- Alright, I'm listening.
BOB -- Well, first of all, (points to person in the audience nearest his hook) do you see that fish there?
TED -- Yes, that's a nice one. Looks like a blue gill. Maybe eight or nine inches long. Definitely a keeper.
BOB -- How do you know that?
TED -- Well, I can see it. (points)
BOB -- Why?
TED -- Why?
BOB -- Yes, this lake is full of fish. But you can see just a few of them. Why can you see that particular fish?
TED -- Well, let's see. Because the water is shallow. And because it's close.
BOB -- If I was way out in deep water, would I know as much about the fish near my hook?
TED -- Well, no. I suppose not.
BOB -- But because this fish is close, I know more about him than I would if I was farther away.
TED -- I think I see what you're driving at. You think I shouldn't be handing out Bible tracks to strangers on street corners?
BOB -- I didn't say that. You told me that you were discouraged with your witnessing. I'm saying that your chances of catching a fish are better if you know something about the fish you're trying to catch.
TED -- So, what you're saying is, the reason I'm getting discouraged is because I'm witnessing to strangers, rather than people I know?
BOB -- Exactly.
TED -- (turns to exit) Thanks, Bob. Good advice.
BOB -- But that's just part of your problem.
TED -- (turns back) It is?
BOB -- Yes. Can you see what bate I have on my hook? (points)
TED -- Yes. It's a worm. I can see it wiggling.
BOB -- Do you think I would catch many sharks with a worm?
TED -- Probably not. But I'm not sure what your choice of BAIT has to do with witnessing.
BOB -- The bait we offer to unbelievers is TRUTH. It's a rare commodity in today's world. And people are hungry for truth.
TED -- Well, when I hand out Bible tracts, I'm handing out TRUTH, right?
BOB -- Yes, and because of that truth some of those people will become Christians. But just like fishing, you will increase your chances of catching a fish by using the right bate for the right fish.
TED -- You lost me.
BOB -- Let me give you an example. Suppose a man is in a financial crisis. Is he more likely to be attracted to the promise of eternal life after he dies or to a promise that God will provide for those who trust him, while he is still alive?
TED -- I see what you mean. Obviously, when a man is in a financial crisis, all he can think about is how he's going to pay his bills. To an unbeliever at that moment, eternal life is the last thing on his mind.
BOB -- Now you're catching on. But how will you know that a person is having a financial crisis?
TED -- I guess that means I'll have to develop friendships with non-believers... (points to fish in audience) so I know their habits, their depth, what they hunger for.
BOB -- Now, you're becoming a fisherman.
TED -- While we're on the subject, which Bible verse do I use for a financial crisis?
BOB -- Is that what Peter said "Always be prepared to give a BIBLE VERSE to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have"?
TED -- No, 1 Peter 3:15 says "Always be prepared to give AN ANSWER to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
BOB -- If you were a non-believer in financial difficulty which do you think would be more attractive to you: a Bible verse or a real life example from your friend's life that showed how trusting God made the difference?
TED -- Boy, no wonder my witnessing has been such a miserable failure. I've been a lousy fisherman. (turns to exit) Thanks, Bob!
BOB -- You're not a fisherman yet.
TED -- (turns) I'm not. What do you mean?
BOB -- Look at our friend Mr Blue Gill, there. (points)
TED -- What about him?
BOB -- I've been dangling that delicious worm in front of his nose for several minutes now and he still hasn't taken the bate.
TED -- I suppose this is your way of telling me to be patient.
BOB -- Patience is not a bad virtue in witnessing. But you have to look at patience from the fish's point of view. A blue gill doesn't live long enough to become eight or nine inches long by being stupid. He has watched some of his brothers and sisters be deceived by attractive looking fakes.
TED -- Fakes. You mean like the non-Christian cults?
BOB -- Yes, and even some unloving Christians, who forget that when Jesus told us to be fishers of men, he wasn't talking about spear fishing.
TED -- I would never use force....
BOB -- Have you ever tried to shame an unbeliever into salvation?
TED -- Now that you mention it....
BOB -- Did you have much success?
TED -- (sigh) No.
BOB -- In the end, the fisherman has no control over whether the fish will take the bate. We have to leave that....
BOTH - ...to God.
TED -- Boy, you really took a load off my shoulders. I was holding myself responsible for the fish's response. I have no control over that.
BOB -- You're sounding more and more like a fisherman all the time.
TED -- Alright, Bob, I resolve that I will spend less time worrying about whether my fish will take the bate and more time offering them attractive bate.
BOB -- Good for you. (whisks Ted away) Well, what are you waiting for? Go fishing!
TED -- (backs away) Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that! Thanks again! (exits) (audience member hooks a fish onto Bob's line, tugs)
BOB -- (pulls in line and fish, singing, exiting) I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men. I will make you fishers of men if you follow me....
-Bob Snook-

Matthew 4:18-22 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.