August 23, 2026

UNIT 3 Lessons from Animals in the Bible

LESSON: 12

Study Text: Matthew 13:47-51; 17:24-27; Luke 5:1-11; John 21:14

Central Truth: Breakthroughs happen for those who follow Jesus.

KEY Verse-- Matthew 4:19 He [Jesus] saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (KJV).

Jesus called out them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

This week, we're going to discover what we can learn from the fishing stories in the Bible. But first, let's see if you can answer these true-or false questions about fishing.

DISCUSSION STARTER--Fishing Triva

Mark whether the following statements are true or false.  (1). T F More Americans went fishing in 2020 than in any other year in the past two decades. (2).  T F The biggest fish ever caught was a great white shark. (3). T F Most people who went fishing in the U.S. in 2020 were over the age of 55. (4). T F In 2023, archaeologists discovered a 6,000-year-old fishhook so large that it suggests ancient people in Isarael might have been fishing for sharks.

What lessons can we learn about God from fish? The Bible doesn't identify any specific kinds of fish, but the practice of fishing is an important element in the Gospels. Through Jesus' fishing lessons and miracles, we can learn a great deal about the power of radical faith in Jesus and our role in the hard work of the Great Commission.

                                                                 PART 1--A New Kind of Fishing

          Enough Faith to Fish                                     Luke 5:1-7

As Luke 5 opens, Jesus was preaching beside the Sea of Galilee. With huge crowds pressing into Him, Jesus stepped into an empty fishing boat nearby--perhaps to avoid the crush of people or to amplify His voice as it resonated across the water. After He finished teaching, Jesus told Simon to go into deeper water and let down the nets. Simon admitted his doubt--after all, fishing was better at night, and the fish hadn't been biting even then. But his next statement shows that he chose to have faith in Jesus rather than relying on his own expertise. When they suddenly filled with fish and began to tear, Simon shouted for James and John to bring their boat and help pull in the catch. Soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking." They were expert fishermen. They knew every trick of the trade. By turning their expectations upside down, Jesus was tailoring this miracle just for them.

? Has God ever told you to do something unusual? What was the result?

  Enough Faith to Follow                       Luke 5:8-11

Simon fell at Jesus' feet, humbled, awestruck, and painfully aware of his own sin. Jesus did not deny Simon's sinfulness, but He also did not leave Simon there in his shame. Instead, He told Simon--and the other amazed fishermen--not to be afraid. Even though their lives were about to change drastically, they could trust Jesus and the authority He had received from the Father. Immediately, they answered Jesus' call to leave their boats behind and start "fishing for people" instead. The miracle shows a glimpse of how far Jesus will go to reach people with the good news. He carefully chose these fishermen to be His followers and worked a personalized miracle to get their attention. Why? Not only did He care about them personally, but He knew they would one day build His church and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Just like Peter, James, and John, Jesus calls us to trust His power and go fishing for people.

? What do? you think it looks like to "go fishing for people" in your local context?

PART 2--Peter's Second Fishing Trip

Another Night of Fishing                      John 21:1-5

Just as Luke records a fishing miracle at the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry, John records one near the end. In the days between Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Peter and a group of the disciples decided to go fishing, returning to their familiar routine. There at the Sea of Galilee--the same place where He had first called some of them years earlier--Jesus was about to disrupt their routine yet again. After previewing the encounter about to happen, John begins to set the scene. Simon Peter had been the one who announced he was going fishing, and six other disciples went along with them. After fishing all night, they had caught nothing--a repeat of their experience in Luke 5. In John 21:1:4, Jesus' appearing on the beach at dawn signals a new revelation of His power and the disciples' purpose. At first the disciples could not tell who was standing on the shore. When Jesus asked if they had caught any fish, they simply answered, "No," without knowing who He was.

? Think about all the disciples had witnessed since the fishing expedition of Luke 5. Why do you think they decided to go fishing again in John 1?

  Another Miraculous Catch             John 21:6-11

Even though the disciples didn't recognize Jesus yet, they did follow His fishing instructions, casting their nets on the other side of the boat and caching a tremendous hand of fish. Just in Luke 5, the disciples' fishing expertise was inferior to Jesus' knowledge and power. This moment must have triggered John's memory of that first fishing miracle, because he suddenly recognized Jesus and cried out, "It's the Lord!" Reacting with his trademark zeal, Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to meet Jesus on the shore.  Meanwhile back at the boat, the catch was so large that the disciples couldn't lift the net and instead had to drag it through the water and up onto the shore about a hundred yards away. By the time everyone had arrived on the beach, Jesus was already preparing a breakfast of fish and bread. The same principle of missionary partnership is evident in Matthew 9:38. Jesus provides the harvest, but He calls His followers to bring it in.

 ? Do you think Jesus intentionally repeated some of His actions from the day He called peter, James, and John to follow Him? If so, why do you think He did this?

PART 3-More Fishing Lessons

      Parable of the Fishing Net            Matthew 13:47-50

While Luke and John wrote about fishing miracles at the beginning and end of Jesus' earthly ministry, Matthew recorded two other instances in which Jesus used fishing to teach important lessons to His disciples. in the first, Jesus told a fishing parable to describe the nature of the Kingdom. The parable of the fishing net is based on a very familiar image for those disciples who used to fish for a living Jesus' word choice in Matthew 13:47 is notable. While He could have used the more common Greek word for "net." (diktyon; a generic term for any kind of net.). As fishers of people, Jesus' disciples are not pick and choose who hears the good news. Instead, the mission is to cast the gospel net far and wide, trusting Jesus and His angels to sort out the true followers in the end.

.

?How do Christians sometimes pick and choose who gets to hear the gospel? 

Paying the Temple Tax       Matthew 17:24-27

As with the parable of the fishing net, only Matthew records the account of the temple tax payment. He sets the stage with the disciples arriving in Capernaum before traveling to Jerusalem for their final Passover celebration with Jesus. The temple tax collectors asked Peter whether Jesus paid the temple tax. Jesus asked Peter what he thought about the temple tax. After Peter acknowledged that kings taxed the people the conquered rather than their own citizens, Jesus declared, "Then the children are exempt." He told Peter to go to the Sea of Galilee where he would catch a fish with a silver coin in its mouth that would cover their tax payment. the point of this narrative is less about paying taxes and more about self-denial for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary offense. Jesus' willingness to lay down His rights foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice he would soon make.

? Has God ever miraculously provided for your needs? If so, how?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

One overarching theme in each of these fishing stories is the sovereign authority of Jesus. Only He knows where the fish are and how to bring them in. Only He knows which fish are good and which are bad. Only He knows when to cast a wide net for a huge catch and when to use a fishhook for a precise catch. So what's our job? To show the kind of radical, obedient faith t provides, working that lowers the net or throws in the hook when He says so, even if it doesn't make sense. We are to pull in whatever catch He provides, working as hard as we can to carry out the Great Commission. We are to follow His example and lay down our personal rights and freedoms for the sake of His kingdom. When we trust Jesus enough to do what He says, miracles will happen.

LIVING IT OUT

Spend some time watching documentaries about Fish.  You would be surprised of spiritual principals you can learn from their God-given characteristics and behaviors? 

             DAILY BIBLE READINGS

          Monday: Life-Giving River. Ezekiel 47:1-10

            Tuesday: Unexpected Rescue. Jonah 1:7-17

                              Wednesday: Cry from the Fish Gate. Zephaniah 1:1-10

                  Thursday: A Few Small Fish. Matthew 15:32-39

      Friday: A Son's Request. Luke 11:11-13

                      Saturday: The Resurrected Savior. Luke 24:36-45

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

Gospel Publishing House

1445 N. Boonville Ave.

Springfield, Missouri 65802