Jumpstarter 6 of 10

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Question 6

Patrick tells them there is “still much work to be done… so fish well and diligently… spread out your nets so that a vast multitude… might be caught for God”; what picture of evangelism and urgency is he assuming, and how does it confront modern Christian comfort, busyness, or the fear of being “too aggressive”?

Another way to ask: Patrick says there is still much work to do and tells them to “fish” for people with urgency. What kind of evangelism is he describing, and how does it challenge our comfort, busyness, or fear of being “too pushy”?

Direct Answer Patrick assumes evangelism is urgent, active, and aimed at gathering “a vast multitude” for God, not a casual or occasional task. His language presses against a comfortable, low-risk faith that hesitates to act boldly or diligently.

Support from Transcript:

He states unfinished mission: “There’s still much work to be done in Ireland.”
He uses an active fishing image: “so fish well and diligently.”
He envisions large-scale outreach: “Spread out your nets so that a vast multitude and throng might be caught for God.”
The chapter frames this as normal Christian labor: Patrick spent “another thirteen years” preaching “without compromise.”
The results show what he believes God can do through such labor: “baptized thousands and thousands… planted numerous churches.”

Discussion Follow-ups What modern excuses (comfort, schedule, fear of offense) keep us from “spreading out our nets”? How can we pursue diligence without slipping into manipulation, given Patrick’s insistence that the fruit is “through the grace of God”?

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