Fish of Every Kind – Leading the Church in a Diverse and Changing World (Part 1) | Episode 8 | Season 5
In this episode, Pastors John and Lisa Carter unpack Jesus’ parable of the fishing net in Matthew 13:47–48 to explore how pastors can lead healthy, diverse, and grace-filled churches in today’s divided culture.
With authenticity and pastoral care, they reflect on what it means to welcome “fish of every kind” into the Kingdom—while balancing biblical conviction with Christlike compassion.
Key Highlights:
Embracing Diversity in the Kingdom: The Carters discuss how the Church is meant to reflect Heaven’s diversity, not earthly division. They challenge pastors to see diversity as a gospel opportunity, not an obstacle.
Leading Through Messy Ministry: Pastor Lisa reminds listeners that “church people are messy—it’s just degrees of messy.” The episode emphasizes patience, humility, and love as key to shepherding people through transformation.
Balancing Grace and Truth: Pastor John shares how to communicate truth with tenderness, teaching that our love for people should always shape how we present the message of Christ.
From Evangelism to Discipleship: The conversation distinguishes between catching the fish and cleaning them—reminding leaders that salvation is only the beginning, and discipleship is the ongoing work of the Church.
Developing a Kingdom Mindset: Together, they urge pastors to move from “building churches” to building the Kingdom, working across racial, denominational, and generational lines for greater impact.
This episode will encourage every pastor to cultivate a heart that embraces diversity, leads with patience, and sees the beauty in a “messy harvest.”
Key Scriptures
Matthew 13:47–48 (NLT)
Romans 5:20–21 (NKJV)
Additional Resources
The Jesus Revolution Movie
The Didache – Early Church Teaching
Sean McDowell – Apologetics for an Ever-Changing Culture
Beckett Cook – A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption