Catch and Release

Episode Summary In “Catch and Release,” we explore evangelization as a process of invitation, accompaniment, release, and renewed encounter. Beginning with Jesus’ promise to make his disciples “fishers of men,” the episode asks what happens when Christian teachers and communities forget that their purpose is to point beyond themselves. From the Samaritan woman, Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, John the Baptist, Paul and Apollos, and Jesus’ own approach to discipleship, Scripture repeatedly shows people being guided toward an encounter with God and then allowed to continue their journey. The episode also considers the danger of ministries becoming personality-driven Christian “fiefdoms” and concludes with Paul’s rebuke of the factions at Corinth: Christians are not baptized into Paul, Apollos, Peter, or any other human leader. They belong to Christ. References · Matthew 4:18–22 — Jesus calls the first disciples and promises to make them “fishers of men.” · John 1:35–46 — John the Baptist points disciples toward Jesus; Andrew and Philip invite others to “come and see.” · John 3:22–30 — John the Baptist: “He must increase; I must decrease.” · John 4:4–42 — Jesus and the Samaritan woman; the Samaritans ultimately hear and believe for themselves. · Mark 5:1–20 — Jesus sends the healed Gerasene man home rather than allowing him to remain with the traveling disciples. · Mark 10:31, 42–45 — The first will be last; Christian greatness consists in service rather than domination. · Acts 8:26–40 — Philip accompanies the Ethiopian eunuch, teaches and baptizes him, and the Ethiopian continues his journey. · 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 — Paul condemns factions organized around Paul, Apollos and Cephas and reminds the Corinthians that Paul was neither crucified for them nor the one into whose name they were baptized. · 1 Corinthians 3:4–9 — Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. · 2 Corinthians 4:5–7 — Christians proclaim Jesus Christ rather than themselves and carry the treasure of the Gospel in “earthen vessels.” · John 11:1–44 — Jesus’ love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus and the raising of Lazarus. · Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion — brief thematic reference to divine service and the danger of placing the servant rather than the divine purpose at the center. Share & Follow Into Deep Water If this episode gave you something worth thinking about, you can help other people find Into Deep Water by sharing or reposting the episode from Substack to Facebook or Instagram. Subscribe to get new episodes emailed to you directly when they are posted! You can also follow Into Deep Water on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so new episodes appear automatically when they are published. The complete archive of Into Deep Water - Beneath the Readings and Beyond the Readings is available at intodeepwater.substack.com. Get full access to IntoDeepWater at intodeepwater.substack.com/subscribe