Fishing for People: How to Identify Your Pond
By Pastor Rick Warren
As we talked about last week, Jesus used fishing as His metaphor for evangelism—and for good reason. Fishing requires patience, gentleness, and time. It’s not about pressure; it’s about invitation.
In this series, we’re going to be looking at Three Keys to Spiritual Fishing. The first key is:
Identify Your Pond
Jesus said in Acts 1:8 (NCV):
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
Notice this verse tells us not only what to do, but where to do it.
First, it tells us to be a witness.
In a courtroom, a witness is someone who simply shares from experience. You’re not asked to be an attorney. You’re not trying to argue or persuade—that’s someone else’s calling. God doesn’t expect you to argue anybody into heaven. He does expect you to share what’s happened to you. Anyone can do that.
Then Jesus tells us where. He says, “In Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
For the disciples, that meant starting right where they were—Jerusalem—and then moving outward. For us, it means starting with our own circle of influence.
My circle of influence is my fishing pond.
God holds me most responsible for the people I already have relationships with.
So where do I start? With those closest to me.
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Start with Family and Friends
“Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”
— Mark 5:19 (NCV)
Look at how many of the apostles began this way. Andrew went and got his brother Peter. James and John were brothers. Philip brought his friend Nathanael.
Then you go to your co-workers. Paul converted Priscilla and Aquila, who were fellow tentmakers.
In Matthew 9, Matthew held a party for other tax collectors to introduce them to Jesus. Why? Because he was a tax collector! You could have a gathering for realtors, accountants, or teachers—whatever your profession is.
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The People Who Cross Your Path
Beyond your close circle, there are people you meet for just a moment—servers, cashiers, baristas, bank tellers.
When Jesus met the woman at the well, He was just stopping for a drink of water—what we might call a “fast-food stop.” He asked for a drink and started up a spiritual conversation.
Have you ever thought about how many people you come across on a normal day? You likely have five to ten of those encounters each day. You may never see that server or barista again, but for a moment, you share common ground. That moment could be an opportunity to invite them to church or share something about what God has done in your life.
The Bible gives many examples like this. Philip met a traveler on the road and told him about the Lord. It can be that simple!
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Stay Close Enough to Care
Here’s something to keep in mind as you go out to fish for people: fish live in a different environment than fishermen do. They don’t breathe the same way fishermen do. They don’t live the same way.
To understand unbelievers, I need to spend time with them. If I spend too much time outside their world, I forget what it’s like to live without hope—and I become unrelatable to the people I’m trying to reach.
Some people want to separate completely from the world, forming a “holy huddle” so they won’t be “contaminated.” But if Jesus had taken that approach, he never would have left heaven—because coming to earth meant entering a place where he could have been “contaminated.”
To reach people, we have to be willing to spend time with people and build friendships with unbelievers, without worrying about what others think.
You are the only Christian some people know. God has intentionally placed unbelievers around you because he cares deeply about them—and he wants them to know him.
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Your Challenge This Week
Make a list of people in your fishing pond—your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and those who cross your path. Who do you care about who doesn’t yet know Jesus?
Start praying for them by name and ask God for opportunities to connect.
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Next in This Series:
Learning to Think Like the Fish in My Pond — understanding how people in your world think, feel, and experience life will help you share your faith with compassion and clarity.
If you missed the previous post, you can check out Fishing, Not Selling: How Jesus Taught Us How to Reach People here.
For more resources on sharing your testimony, visit https://finishingthetask.com/believers/
