There are few things that clever and seeker-sensitive churches like more than using strange and unusual sermon illustrations to make a point, and the goldfish-out-of-water scenario keeps being a winner.
We saw Ed. Young Jr do this a few years back, and then fellow Texan pastor Bruno Dacosta followed suit.
Now it’s Pastor Terrence Mullings of History Makers Church’s turn.
During his sermon “The Secret of the Soil”, Mullings posits that “places are important” and that God creates places for people first, then puts them in those places.
He has his assistant hand him a live goldfish, which he places on the table. As the fish lies there gasping for water and breath, he explains:
“A fish out of water looks like a failure. But if you take that fish and you place it [in water], this fish isn’t a failure—this fish just hadn’t found its place yet.
When you are in the place that God created you to be, you don’t look like a failure… (you flourish and look phenomenal.)”
Pastor tortures goldfish for a wild sermon illustration:
— Protestia (@Protestia) January 15, 2026
"This fish isn't a failure—this fish just hadn't found its place yet…when you are in the place that God created you to be, you don't look like a failure." pic.twitter.com/r89RPizwTG



















