Learning to Think Like the Fish in Your Pond
By Pastor Rick Warren
This is the third installment of our “Learning to Fish for People” series. To view the start of the series, click here.
One of the biggest mistakes we make in evangelism is this: we develop strategies for reaching people without ever stopping to ask the people we’re trying to reach if they would even work.
So what do we do instead?
We learn to think like unbelievers—to see the world through their eyes.
Great Fishermen Understand Fish
Imagine two people out fishing on the same lake. They both have the same rod and reel, the same gear, even the same bait. One of them casts his line and, within minutes, he’s pulling in fish. The other waits all day and catches nothing.
What’s the difference?
It’s not the lake. It’s not the equipment. The difference is that great fishermen don’t just understand fishing—they understand fish.
Great fishermen know where fish live, when they’re active, and what kind of bait attracts them. They’ve studied their patterns—the effects of wind, weather, and light. They know the right kind of bait and how to drop it right where the fish will see it.
The only way you learn all that is by knowing the fish.
Learning to Think Like the People You’re Reaching
The reason many of us are ineffective in evangelism is that we spend all our time studying techniques instead of studying people. You’ve got to know what people are like in order to reach them.
The apostle Paul modeled this beautifully in 1 Corinthians 9:20–23 (NCV):
“To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews…
To those who are without the law I became like a person who is without the law…
To those who are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak.
I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible.
I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings.”
Paul understood that before you can share the Good News, you must first find common ground. Before you can reach people, you must be able to relate to them.
We’re on a Different Channel From Unbelievers
The difference between a great fisherman and a poor one is simple: a great fisherman catches fish on their terms.
The same is true in evangelism. Many books and seminars are written entirely from a Christian perspective. But the longer you’re a believer, the less you think like an unbeliever—and the fewer unchurched friends you have, because you spend more and more time with other believers.
I’ll admit it: I don’t think like an unbeliever anymore. I think like a Christian—and worse than that, like a pastor! That’s another light-year removed from how most people see the world.
The issue isn’t that nonbelievers are unreachable—it’s that we’re often on a different wavelength. It’s like trying to talk on channel 13 when they’re on channel 12. It’s not that they’re resistant to the message; they’re just not hearing it.
So what’s the solution? Spend time with unbelievers.
Get in Their Culture
Jesus said, “I’ll make you fishers of men.” You know what I’ve noticed? Fish don’t automatically jump into the boat. You have to go where they are.
When I was 20, I moved to Nagasaki, Japan, to plant a church in a completely different culture. I didn’t know the language, and I wasn’t sure about the food—but I loved the Japanese people. The Bible says, “Eat what is set before you.” Now Japanese food is one of my favorites.
We planted a church through marketplace evangelism. Two out of every three meals—breakfast and lunch—I ate in restaurants just to meet people and practice Japanese. Then I started an English class to build relationships and lead people to Christ.
I even joined a Japanese teenage garage rock band! They played American songs but didn’t speak English. They said, “We need a lead singer.”
I had long hair—I fit the part! So there I was, in the Battle of the Bands singing “Smoke on the Water.” We came in third place—which tells you what a lousy singer I am. But I did it because I wanted to win those young men to Christ.
You can’t win people to Christ until you spend time with them. You know why most Christians never lead anyone to the Lord? Because they don’t have any lost friends.
The longer you’re a Christian, the less effective you become in evangelism because you spend all your time with believers. What a lot of us need to do is attend a few fewer church meetings and host a few more barbecues with our neighbors. You can’t love them unless you know them—and you can’t know them unless you spend time with them.
Learning from Jesus’ Model
Where did I learn about spending time with the people I’m trying to reach? Jesus! He was called “the friend of sinners.” He went to so many parties, they called him a drunk and a glutton. Has anybody ever called you that for spending time with lost people? That’s the model Jesus gave us.
You can’t learn to think like the fish in your pond if you never spend any time near the water.
Finding Common Ground
Take a moment to think about someone God has placed in your life and on your heart.
Ask yourself:
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- What experiences do we share?
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- What interests do we have in common?
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- What needs or struggles do we both understand?
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- What hurts might we both carry?
Before you can share the Good News, you must find common ground—and before you can reach people, you must relate to them.
Ninety percent of evangelism is simply the art of asking questions.
Start by showing that you care. Ask questions that invite conversation—and then listen. Listening is one of the greatest ways to love people.
Next in This Series
Next week we’ll talk about how meeting felt needs is the best thing you can do to attract the attention of the unchurched people around you.
If you missed the previous post, you can check out Fishing for People: How to Identify Your Pond.
For more resources on sharing your testimony, visit https://finishingthetask.com/believers/
