Exemplar Coaching

Live by Design, Not by Default.

CoffeeChat 26 – Gone Fishing

Edition  26

Gone Fishing

Last Edition Recap
How have you applied the last edition to your life?
Opening Prayer
Gracious Lord, our days are bombarded by do’s and don’ts; help us discern Your voice above all others. Amen.
Introduction
Francis Chan’s sermon illustration stings: we play “Simon Says” with God’s commands. When Simon says jump, we jump. When Jesus says love your enemies, we hesitate. When Jesus says deny yourself and follow, we negotiate. When the world says ignore Jesus, we listen. The game reveals our selective obedience—we’ve turned divine commands into suggestions, treating Jesus’s words as optional whilst Simon’s are mandatory. Meanwhile, a sign hangs on too many Christians’ lives: “Gone Fishing—Catch You Later.” Some go to church thinking about fishing; others go fishing thinking about God. But Jesus had something different in mind when He called fishermen. “Come, follow me,” He said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Not metaphorical fishing. Not comfortable fishing. People fishing. Soul catching. The disciples left their nets immediately. Peter, after Pentecost, caught thousands in one sermon. They understood what we’ve forgotten: following Jesus means becoming fishers of humanity. Take honest inventory: On a scale of 1-5, how well has your group applied previous lessons? How obedient have you been to the Holy Spirit’s promptings? Whose commands have more power—Jesus’s, the world’s, or Simon’s? The honest answer reveals whether you’re truly fishing or just holding a pole.
Chat Point 1
  1. If you played “Simon Says” with God’s commands, which ones would you consistently ignore?
  2. Why do we treat Jesus’s commands as negotiable whilst treating worldly expectations as mandatory?
  3. How has your group actually applied previous CoffeeChatConnect lessons versus just discussing them?
  4. What’s the difference between going to church thinking about other things versus going fishing thinking about God?
  5. Whose voice carries more actual authority in your daily decisions—Jesus or culture?
Read
Mark 1:14-28, Acts 2:14-41, Mark 12:28-34
Key Focus
Mark 1:17 – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Chat Point 2
  1. What stood out for you about Jesus’s immediate expectation that followers become fishers of people?
  2. How does Peter’s transformation from fisherman to soul-winner challenge passive Christianity?
  3. Why was Jesus not the only one catching people, and what does that mean for us?
  4. What’s the difference between attending church and actively fishing for people?
  5. How does knowing God worked hard to catch YOU change your responsibility toward others?
Final Thought
Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter—the rock. But first, He changed his job description from catching fish to catching people. This wasn’t optional equipment for super-Christians; it was the basic commission for all followers. When the Holy Spirit descended, Peter immediately went fishing—3,000 souls in one net. The pattern is clear: Jesus calls, we follow, He sends us fishing. Not someday. Not after more training. Now. The problem isn’t that we don’t understand the command; it’s that we’ve turned Christianity into a spectator sport. We sit in services thinking about our hobbies whilst Jesus equipped us to be fishers of humanity. We obey Simon’s silly commands instantly but negotiate with the Creator’s commission. The world says, “Don’t do anything Jesus says, you will be fine.” And too often, we listen. Meanwhile, souls drift past our empty nets because we’re too busy with our recreational fishing to engage in the real catch. You ARE the church. Not the building, not the programs—YOU. Every person who brought you to Jesus was obeying this command. Someone fished for you. Now it’s your turn to fish. The sign on your life shouldn’t read “Gone Fishing—Catch You Later.” It should read “Gone Fishing—For People.”
My Action
What key insight or learning from this session resonates most with me, and what do I sense God is inviting me to do in response?
Shared Prayer
What are your prayer requests?​
Closing Prayer
Lord, give us the zealousness to follow Your commands and actively join Your fishing plan for humanity. Amen.
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In-Between Chats: Personal Reflection
  1. Who did God use to “catch” you, and how can you honour their obedience by fishing for others?
  2. What specific person is God calling you to fish for this week, and what’s your first step?
  3. How will you share your story next week of how you met Jesus and who God used for that?
Edition Writer: Rev Kevin Zondagh

Methodist Minister, Personal Development Specialist, Life Coach, Relationship Coach and Executive Coach. Founder and Owner of Exemplar Coaching Pty Ltd and CoffeeChatConnect. "We should have the desire to custom design the only life we have. After-all, we buy designer everything. How much more should we Live by Design, not by default?"