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Purple Fish: A Heart for Sharing Jesus
A Fresh Approach for Sharing Jesus The ancient merchants of Tyre sailed the high seas and plumbed their depths in search of a rare shellfish, valued for its rich, purple dye. The Greek word kalchaino, "to ponder," literally means "in search of the purple fish."
Like the search for the purple fish, Jesus goes to remarkable lengths in seeking after his most valued treasure lost, broken, hurting, oppressed people. And he invites us on a grand adventure to help him connect with these "purple fish" too.
In this inspiring, practical book, Mark O. Wilson offers a fresh, new approach for sharing Christ with others, especially for those who feel inadequate and intimidated by witnessing. Purple Fish shows how it can be a delightful adventure of faith, filling your own soul in the process.
Through amazing and often humorous stories as well as many practical suggestions Wilson encourages the reader to rethink what it means to bring lost people to Jesus.
Like the search for the purple fish, Jesus goes to remarkable lengths in seeking after his most valued treasure lost, broken, hurting, oppressed people. And he invites us on a grand adventure to help him connect with these "purple fish" too.
In this inspiring, practical book, Mark O. Wilson offers a fresh, new approach for sharing Christ with others, especially for those who feel inadequate and intimidated by witnessing. Purple Fish shows how it can be a delightful adventure of faith, filling your own soul in the process.
Through amazing and often humorous stories as well as many practical suggestions Wilson encourages the reader to rethink what it means to bring lost people to Jesus.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2014
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25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 20, 2014
Purple Fish by Mark O. Wilson is by far the best book about evangelism I have ever read. Instead of proposing formulas, scripts, or memorizing Bible verses to hurl at unsuspecting victims, Mark encourages the reader towards a more "real" method of meeting people where they are, sharing our personal stories of what God has done in our own lives, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do the heavy lifting.
I sincerely appreciated the not so subtle reminder that my job is not to be the judge, jury or chief prosecutor of my fellow man, but to be the witness of Christ that I have the honor of being. As I read this book from start to finish (I couldn't make myself stop reading), I felt God using many of the points and stories to remind me of things I can do right now to share more of His love with others.
Purple Fish is a great reminder that lost people are not projects or even objects to be caught, but friends, family and loved ones that are broken people in need of the same grace and healing we have already experienced. It is not our job to "evangelize", but our honor and privilege to share the wonderful love of Jesus Christ that has been so recklessly lavished upon us!
I sincerely appreciated the not so subtle reminder that my job is not to be the judge, jury or chief prosecutor of my fellow man, but to be the witness of Christ that I have the honor of being. As I read this book from start to finish (I couldn't make myself stop reading), I felt God using many of the points and stories to remind me of things I can do right now to share more of His love with others.
Purple Fish is a great reminder that lost people are not projects or even objects to be caught, but friends, family and loved ones that are broken people in need of the same grace and healing we have already experienced. It is not our job to "evangelize", but our honor and privilege to share the wonderful love of Jesus Christ that has been so recklessly lavished upon us!
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October 8, 2014I met Pastor Wilson while working in a men's prison. I had been reading his newspaper column weekly and using it often in a self-support discussion group I had with the inmates. I wrote to thank him for his insight. He, in turn, drove 3 hours to come to the group and meet the inmates. Thus began a journey that has included Pastor Wilson's writings now for many years. This is a great book for anyone! But especially for those who are having difficulty in witnessing their faith to others. Pastor Wilson's easy, natural words are inspiring! I think everyone should read this book! I will be following his writings for many more years!
July 14, 2014
This is an excellent, down to earth read for anyone who yearns to share their faith in Christ in a practical, daily, relational way. It is a book full of little treasures that will help you discover the treasure every person is to God.
December 19, 2014
Best book on evangelism I've read in a long time.
July 19, 2015
"The Best I've Listened to About Jesus and Gospel"
PURPLE FISH is the best audiobook I've listened to on teaching the gospel and Christ. It's not preachy at all. I loved the beginning where he talks about fishing and explains the 'purple fish.' When he visited his friend Burt and sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was amazing. It made him smile and remember that he walks with Jesus in everything he does. I also liked when he talked about switching the word wretch in "Amazing Grace" because he didn't see himself in that way.
This book was ALL goodness. Every single word, phrase, and sentence was a gem. He talks about unconditional love and prayer and what it really means to worship. We worship with our hearts. This is an audiobook I know I'll listen to again. I loved the stories MARK O. WILSON shared. One message, "Be You." Be who you are. And be unconditional and don't judge.
CLATON BUTCHER. He was Fantastic reading this audiobook. His narration was positive and upbeat with perfect inflections. He made this an especially great listen. You could hear the feeling the author has in his words. Claton Butcher messaged his words spot on with heart and soul. What I'm left with is WOW!!
Audiobook received in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2017
A wonderful book about evangelism. I can't wait to read it again.
November 12, 2018
TL;DR: If you need another kick in your Jesus-sharing pants, or if you’d like to read some examples of evangelism from the “more Pentecostal” side of the church-spectrum, it’s worth a look.
As the third book on evangelism I’ve read this year, Purple Fish seemed to depend more on pithy quotes from other writers than the previous books. The outline for the book was also less clear than what I’d read previously.
Fisherman’s Guide to Sharing the TRUTH
The title comes from the idea of hunting for purple shell-fish — the ingredient used in the ancient world for purple dye, an expensive commodity for emperors and senators.
Pastor Wilson urges us to view lost people as “purple fish” — just like Jesus came all the way to earth to hunt after his treasured children, we should go “fishing for men” with the same passion.
With down-to-earth humility and honesty, Pr. Wilson shares about his own spiritual journey, his stumbles and attempts at “evangelism”, and his experiences pastoring a Wesleyan church in the Wisconsin north-woods (which just happens to be my grandparents’ church).
Hayward, WI, happens to boast the Fishing Hall of Fame, complete with the famous multi-story statue of a muskie. Thus, Pr. Wilson connects evangelism to fishing. After all, Jesus called his disciples from among professional fishermen, and promised to make them “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).
Pr. Wilson shares his laughable failures at Jesus-salesmanship, and also some of the successes he’s had connecting to people when he puts their fears and needs before his own. I sometimes wonder if he should have taken the conversation further, but we must each listen to the Holy Spirit’s call on our own lives and follow Him, not follow somebody else’s journey.
Going Where I Fear to Tread
The singular note of caution I would give about this book is this:
In one of his stories, Pr. Wilson describes visiting an ill, house-bound man. In the process of anointing him with oil and giving him a prayer shawl (okay, outside my experience, but not unthinkable) he expressly says that he prayed for this man to receive God’s forgiveness.
Praying on behalf of someone else, in their stead, is something all my other evangelism training has avoided, and which my pastor firmly denounces.
I’m not entirely sure what Pr. Wilson means by this (the sick man was non-verbal, so might have been silently participating) but since he doesn’t back up his actions with any Scripture, it left me leery of this particular action.
My “Keepers”
The style of this book was a little hard for me. It seemed a bit enamored with witty spiritual catch-phrases, preferring to quote some pastor’s pun rather than Scripture. (You know those pastoral puns and apostolic alliteration — see what I did there? In fact, a lot like those irritating Twitter feeds that look more like galleries of inspirational posters than an actual person’s thoughts — I digress.)
However, I did appreciate Pr. Wilson’s plain honesty, even to the point of confessing experiences where he failed to obey or act in the way he was supposed to.
It was also very encouraging to be reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that does the work in people’s hearts, and we are just “along for the ride”.
To use his imagery, we can bait our lines, cast our bobbers, and sit on the water all day long…but unless the Spirit moves in the fishes, nothing will bite.
Unaccustomed Leading
The last chapter was also very interesting. Pr. Wilson shared about a study group he participated in where students would pray to be shown who they were supposed to bless that day, then head out with a buddy or two to follow the “clues”. Like the student who felt he was told “Crispy Creme Donuts” – only to take his group there, and meet a woman who really needed their encouragement and care.
Or the group that was told “single mom” and “groceries”. One of them also felt called to give away an amount of money they’d recently received. On going to the grocery store, they found a single mom to give the money to.
Maybe you’re like me, and the straight-laced, materialist Baptist inside you is recoiling back into its chair right now. But testimonies like this show that God works in all kinds of ways, with all kinds of people.
If I were to pray for a “clue” about who I’m supposed to bless today…what would happen? Would I have the faith to act on whatever image or leading I received?
Dare I find out?
Dare you cast out your line?
Disclaimer: The author pastored my grandparents’ church, and I have met him. That fact did not affect this review in any way.
[Review originally published at KimiaWood.com]
As the third book on evangelism I’ve read this year, Purple Fish seemed to depend more on pithy quotes from other writers than the previous books. The outline for the book was also less clear than what I’d read previously.
Fisherman’s Guide to Sharing the TRUTH
The title comes from the idea of hunting for purple shell-fish — the ingredient used in the ancient world for purple dye, an expensive commodity for emperors and senators.
Pastor Wilson urges us to view lost people as “purple fish” — just like Jesus came all the way to earth to hunt after his treasured children, we should go “fishing for men” with the same passion.
With down-to-earth humility and honesty, Pr. Wilson shares about his own spiritual journey, his stumbles and attempts at “evangelism”, and his experiences pastoring a Wesleyan church in the Wisconsin north-woods (which just happens to be my grandparents’ church).
Hayward, WI, happens to boast the Fishing Hall of Fame, complete with the famous multi-story statue of a muskie. Thus, Pr. Wilson connects evangelism to fishing. After all, Jesus called his disciples from among professional fishermen, and promised to make them “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).
Pr. Wilson shares his laughable failures at Jesus-salesmanship, and also some of the successes he’s had connecting to people when he puts their fears and needs before his own. I sometimes wonder if he should have taken the conversation further, but we must each listen to the Holy Spirit’s call on our own lives and follow Him, not follow somebody else’s journey.
Going Where I Fear to Tread
The singular note of caution I would give about this book is this:
In one of his stories, Pr. Wilson describes visiting an ill, house-bound man. In the process of anointing him with oil and giving him a prayer shawl (okay, outside my experience, but not unthinkable) he expressly says that he prayed for this man to receive God’s forgiveness.
Praying on behalf of someone else, in their stead, is something all my other evangelism training has avoided, and which my pastor firmly denounces.
I’m not entirely sure what Pr. Wilson means by this (the sick man was non-verbal, so might have been silently participating) but since he doesn’t back up his actions with any Scripture, it left me leery of this particular action.
My “Keepers”
The style of this book was a little hard for me. It seemed a bit enamored with witty spiritual catch-phrases, preferring to quote some pastor’s pun rather than Scripture. (You know those pastoral puns and apostolic alliteration — see what I did there? In fact, a lot like those irritating Twitter feeds that look more like galleries of inspirational posters than an actual person’s thoughts — I digress.)
However, I did appreciate Pr. Wilson’s plain honesty, even to the point of confessing experiences where he failed to obey or act in the way he was supposed to.
It was also very encouraging to be reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that does the work in people’s hearts, and we are just “along for the ride”.
To use his imagery, we can bait our lines, cast our bobbers, and sit on the water all day long…but unless the Spirit moves in the fishes, nothing will bite.
Unaccustomed Leading
The last chapter was also very interesting. Pr. Wilson shared about a study group he participated in where students would pray to be shown who they were supposed to bless that day, then head out with a buddy or two to follow the “clues”. Like the student who felt he was told “Crispy Creme Donuts” – only to take his group there, and meet a woman who really needed their encouragement and care.
Or the group that was told “single mom” and “groceries”. One of them also felt called to give away an amount of money they’d recently received. On going to the grocery store, they found a single mom to give the money to.
Maybe you’re like me, and the straight-laced, materialist Baptist inside you is recoiling back into its chair right now. But testimonies like this show that God works in all kinds of ways, with all kinds of people.
If I were to pray for a “clue” about who I’m supposed to bless today…what would happen? Would I have the faith to act on whatever image or leading I received?
Dare I find out?
Dare you cast out your line?
Disclaimer: The author pastored my grandparents’ church, and I have met him. That fact did not affect this review in any way.
[Review originally published at KimiaWood.com]
March 16, 2018
I read this book soon after it was published but was not into posting reviews at the time. After hearing my pastor speak of the book several times in the past eighteen months, I decided to read it again. I wholeheartedly recommend it to every Christ-follower. Mark Wilson writes in a clear, uncluttered way about the concept of sharing Jesus and uses personal experiences to explain his concepts. I think too many in my generation were subjected to a method akin to something we have seen in movies when someone goes out in the bayou in a boat and tosses a stick of dynamite into the water. Then he scoops the stunned or dead fish from the surface. Thank God, Mark Wilson describes an approach that entices the fish and also takes a lot of pressure off the fishermen. You should read the book just to learn the meaning of the title. When you understand that, you will want to gain a full understanding of seeing those outside of Christ as true treasure. They are just as worthy of experiencing the love of God as those of us who have already accepted Him. Instead of continuing to struggle over sharing Jesus, just read the book and get started. In fact, join with some Christian friends and go fishing together, searching for the treasures that are all around us. You may find yourself feeding more than you catch, but is that not the way when you fish for fish? The point is you will not catch them unless you go where they are. Just be sure you don’t take any dynamite with you.
February 11, 2020
Loved this book. It is a motivational book on sharing the Good News. Just short stories of opportunities realized to share Christ to others. Definitely inspiration and definitely an easy read.
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November 1, 2023Read with our church.
January 7, 2024
It was a really good and easy read - just took me months to finish finish it. Many great take aways. Worth reading again someday as well. Go fish !!! Fish for souls that is
April 9, 2016
Purple fish is a beautiful example of how we as Christians are to look at those who not Christians. Mark Wilson compares people to treasures. God wants everyone to come to christ; not just some. I love this book and believe it is becoming a classic in Christian churches.
July 19, 2021
Here is great fuel for the Christian soul-winners fire. Besides being practical, Mark Wilson's approach makes you believe that God could use you to bring people to Jesus, even if you are among most shy people on the planet.
September 5, 2022
Great perspectives, I never thought about previously!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews