Three Questions
Why in the world would anyone go fishing?
Let’s start at the beginning. You have to get up early in the morning. By early, I mean REALLY early. Typically, my dad would wake me up at 5am to go lake fishing, about 4:30am for deep sea fishing…and that’s considered late. My dad would let me sleep as much as possible and instead he would stay up late the night before to prep all the rods and reels, load up the tackle box, and pack up the ice coolers. Then he’d get up even earlier than me to make me an egg sandwich for breakfast before we’d head out to the shore. I loved those egg sandwiches. I’d sleep pretty much all the way there. Most of the time when you’re fishing, you’re sitting around, waiting for the fish to bite. And you have to be quiet so it’s not like you can play around between catches. Making noise scares the fish and you get these stern looks from everyone around you if you do. And for a talker like me, that’s tough. On top of that, it’s usually cold. You are getting there before the break of dawn so of course there’s no sun to warm you up and if you’re going deep sea fishing, it’s even colder than that. And it smells. The lake smells. The fish smells. The bait smells. And you probably didn’t take a shower at 4:30am since you’re going fishing anyway, so you smell too. Fishing smells. To top it off? You PAY for this privilege! Why on earth would anyone want to go?
But the truth is I loved going fishing with my dad.
Despite all the drawbacks, it was more than worth it to me, and if you asked me about it, I could tell you a bunch of reasons why you should go, too. Apparently I’m not alone. According to the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association, 57.9 MILLION people went fishing in 2024.[1] That’s a lot of people willing to get up early, sit around quietly for hours in the cold morning air, and smell. And it’s not like back in the days of yore when you HAD to fish to have something to eat. Today you can go to the supermarket and somebody’s done it for you. Not only that, but they’ve also scaled, gutted, and filleted the fish, too. So there must be something to the experience itself that draws people in. Some reason why people go. For each person, that reason is probably different, but anyone who likes fishing can tell you why they do. Whatever your passion is, you must have a reason you love it. Whether it’s sports, cooking, traveling, DIY around the house, or going to Disney theme parks, there is a reason why you love it. We are more than willing to tell people all the time about our passions, about the things that drive us and make us wake up day-to-day.
Can we say the same about our faith?
When we talk about all those other things, we can tell people why it means so much to us. With fishing, it might be the challenge of catching a fish. With cooking, it could be the joy of creating something that brings comfort and warm smiles. Doing projects around the house gives us a sense of accomplishment when we finish. It could be a bunch of other reasons, too. But we can articulate to others why we enjoy it so much. Can we do the same with our faith? In a few short words, we have encouragement from Peter, one of Jesus’ first disciples, about this very topic. This is one of Peter’s letters to the church and he’s trying to help them understand not only how to act as Christians but why it’s important. He’s trying to encourage them to live a life that stands up as an example of the life Jesus lived. And in the passage we’re about to read, he’s trying to convince them to be ready to explain their faith in a way that can reach those who need to hear it.
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. – 1 Peter 3:13-16
Always be prepared to give an answer…for the hope that you have.
You need to remember that Peter was writing this when almost nobody was Christian. It was really important in those early days (and it still is today) to be an example of what it means to BE a “Follower of the Way” as they were called. Much like Methodism was to the Episcopal Church, early Christianity was considered by outsiders to be an offshoot of Judaism and not a separate religion.[2] Christians wanted to get the word out about Jesus, not to get more donations or raise funds for a building. They wanted everyone to know who it was that changed their life and so they not only shared their beliefs, but they did so in a way as Peter would put it, “with gentleness and respect.” They showed extraordinary compassion and charity. So much so that the Roman Emperor Julian begrudgingly noted that their numbers had grown “…through the loving service rendered to strangers and through their care of the burial of the dead.” He went on to note “It is a SCANDAL (emphasis mine) that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar and that the [Christians] care not only for their own poor but for ours as well; while those who belong to us look in vain for the help we should render them.”[3] THAT is how radical the Christians were in their hospitality. Even a Roman Emperor took note.
People were convinced by what they saw, what they experienced, and it made them join up.
To have that kind of drive, to have that kind of enthusiasm for Jesus, the kind that inspires people to really BELIEVE in something, we have to understand the answers to three questions: Why do people need Jesus? Why do people need the church? And why do people need THIS church? In their book Catch, Adam Hamilton and Debi Nixon believe if you can answer these for yourself, it will equip you to live out your faith in such a way as to inspire others. Let’s face it. Nobody gives their heart to Jesus because of coffee hour. No, it goes much deeper than that. Ultimately, people join the church because they feel the presence of Christ here and I think that’s why my favorite name for Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.” It is in US and through US that people know and experience God. When you know the answers to those three questions for yourself – why YOU need Jesus, why YOU need the church, and why you need THIS church – you’ll have confidence needed to share your faith with the gentleness and respect that Paul points out is so important. Don’t worry if your answers are different than somebody else. They SHOULD be, because you are your own person and your journey through faith is of course going to be different. There ARE right answers to these questions, but those answers can only be found within you.
You’re probably curious what my answers to those questions are.
And I’m happy to share them but just keep in mind that these are MY answers and not yours. For me, I believe people need Jesus because a relationship with Christ brings us as close as a human being can get to understanding God and knowing God fulfills us in a way that nothing else can. I love to talk about the donut hole, not just because I love donuts but because I just see God filling that hole when we embrace him with love. People need the church because God built us to live in community. We are not meant to go it alone. Some of you are extroverted and have dozens of friends and relationships. Some of you are introverted and keep it close to the chest. But all of us were meant for community whether it’s a wide-spread group or a close intimate one. And the church has room for all kinds – from a Myers-Briggs ESFP to an INTJ. We are limited by our own short-sighted lens of the world. When we engage in faith together with others, we get a broader picture of how God interacts with the world. It’s the same reason that people who live abroad or go on international mission trips always come back with a richer perspective on life. Our experience in community broadens our perspective. But why do they need THIS church? Not everyone does. But I believe that those who want a loving community where they can be themselves and explore faith in a non-judgmental environment would find themselves welcome here. It is a safe space where you can question and grow and still feel loved.
What are your answers to those questions?
During the week, I want to challenge you to wrestle with them. I want you to think how you would answer that friend you were hoping would come to church. I want you to think how you would approach someone to join us in worship. And how would you do that in a meaningful way that would enable them to see the difference that Christ has made in your life. Because that’s the key. What difference does it make in your life? When I tell people about why I like fishing, it’s MY story and belongs to no one else. Some people like it for the sport. Some people like it for the calm, quiet patience that comes with it. But for me, I remember eating those egg sandwiches and sitting on the shore or in the car reading a comic book I borrowed from the library or one my dad bought for me and just spending time with my dad. Greasy hamburgers for lunch. Watching the pull of the fishing rod as a fish pulls hard on the line. Coming home to my mom with our haul. That’s why fishing was always important to me. It was time I got to spend with my dad. And I guess that’s why ultimately church is important to me, too. Because it’s in the church that I devote quality time to my Heavenly dad. It’s here that I often feel the deepest connection to God, with you, in this community, and in our worship. And when I invite people to church, it’s because I hope that in this place, they will find the same connection to God that I do.
[1] “Record High Fishing Participation Reached in 2024,” National Marine Manufacturers Association, August 11, 2025, https://www.nmma.org/press/article/25183
[2] Methodists didn’t set out to create a separate religion. Even John Wesley thought of Methodism as a revival of the Episcopal Church. I guess in much the same way, the followers of The Way didn’t think of themselves as non-Jewish people but as Jewish people who had encountered the Messiah. For more about “The Way” and references in the Bible, click here.
[3] “How Did Christianity Spread?” Christianity.com, Updated Mar 22, 2024, https://www.christianity.com/jesus/early-church-history/early-churches/how-did-christianity-spread.html
