Fish of Every Kind – Leading the Church in a Diverse and Changing World (Part 2) | Episode 9 | Season 5
In this episode, Pastors John and Lisa Carter continue their powerful conversation on Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:47–48—“the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that caught fish of every kind.” Together, they unpack what it means to lead churches that reflect the diversity of God’s Kingdom and how pastors can prepare their hearts, teams, and congregations to welcome and disciple people from every walk of life.
With grace, wisdom, and practical honesty, they discuss how the Gospel transcends culture, politics, and personal comfort—and how leaders can build churches where truth and love work together to reach “fish of every kind.”
Key Highlights:
The Kingdom Net and Its Diversity: Pastor John reminds us that it’s God’s intention for the Kingdom to attract different kinds of people. From moral to cultural diversity, every “fish” represents a person precious to Jesus and worthy of honor and discipleship.
Lowering Fear and Prejudice: The Carters talk candidly about the fears that sometimes surface when people who “don’t look, talk, or think like us” come into the church. True leadership, they note, requires humility, listening, and prayerful self-examination—asking the Lord to expand our capacity to love.
Balancing Truth and Love: Pastor Lisa shares that love without honesty isn’t truly love. Leaders must speak truth with compassion, helping people grow through the process of transformation without compromising the message of the Gospel.
Building a Culture of Honor: “The things we are called to value, we must display with honor,” Pastor Lisa says. Diversity in the church starts with the leadership team—when leaders model openness and respect, congregations follow their example.
Reaching the ‘Strange Fish: Pastor John offers practical steps for reaching those who may seem difficult or unfamiliar: understand where they are, love them in spite of their struggles, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide each moment with wisdom and patience.
Discernment in the Dragnet: The conversation explores the importance of discernment in leadership—recognizing that not everyone pulled into the net is ready for every part of church life. Jesus Himself modeled this by ministering differently to the crowds, the seventy, and the twelve.
From Politics to People: Pastor John challenges leaders to see people beyond their political views: “The Lord isn’t checking voter registration at the door of the church.” Kingdom leadership means viewing every person through the lens of Christ’s compassion, not culture’s divisions.
This episode reminds us that the Church was never meant to be a museum of sameness, but a living, breathing reflection of the Kingdom—where every kind of person can encounter Jesus, be transformed by His truth, and find belonging in His body.
Key Scriptures
Matthew 13:47–48 (NLT)
1 Corinthians 9:22 (NIV)
Acts 17
Additional Resources
📖 Matthew 13:47–48
🌐 AbundantLife.Church/Podcast