Fishing with Fire

Enjoy this message from Pastor Tyler Schoenberger called "Fishing with Fire" on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Reach Church in Bear, Delaware!

Traditional evangelism can feel intimidating to many Christians, but Jesus offers another powerful approach through what can be called party evangelism. This concept is rooted in Matthew 4:19 where Jesus tells his disciples he will make them fishers of men, and Matthew 5:14-16 where he calls believers the light of the world.

Party evangelism occurs when unbelievers encounter a community of people whose lives have been genuinely transformed by Jesus and find themselves thinking, I want what they have. Just as people are naturally drawn to parties where others are authentically enjoying themselves, people are attracted to church communities marked by real love, radical grace, and contagious joy. The early church in Acts 2:46-47 perfectly demonstrates this principle - they gathered with glad and generous hearts, praising God, and the Lord added to their number daily as people witnessed their authentic community.

Every Christian can participate in party evangelism without feeling pressure to engage in confrontational conversations. Your role might involve greeting newcomers with genuine warmth, volunteering to serve others, showing up consistently to make the community stronger, extending grace to difficult people, or simply letting your light shine through everyday interactions. The key is shifting from asking what you can get out of church to considering how you can contribute to displaying God's grace. When believers collectively let their light shine as a transformed community, people are naturally drawn to that light - much like fishermen in Taiwan who use fire to attract thousands of fish. The goal isn't to force or manipulate, but to create an authentic, grace-filled community that becomes irresistibly attractive to those seeking hope and belonging.