Skip to main content

"The Fisherman’s Offer" by David Bollmann: Laying It Down to Follow


(by Jasper Tan) Are we ready to take on the Fisherman's offer? That's the big question that David Bollmann asks in "The Fisherman's Offer."

David Bollmann - The Fisherman's OfferThe moment I hit the play button, the jangly guitars immediately caught my attention and captivated me. Being a huge fan of the CCM band Jars of Clay, I could immediately tell that David Bollmann's latest single is something pretty much sounded like it was influenced by such CCM bands from the late 90's to mid 2000's. It's just the kind of CCM that I am into.

David shares that "The Fisherman's Offer" is a reflective, cinematic indie praise song that was inspired by Jesus' simple but life-changing invitation: "Follow Me." The song draws from the book of John, chapter 15, and the calling of the disciples by the sea. The song explores the idea of being pursued by sacrificial love and responding by laying everything down.

"The Fisherman's Offer" opens with driving guitars and a catchy drum groove. Setting up a mood that would excite the listeners with how the music is arranged and delivered. The phrase "Follow Me" is echoed throughout the verses, before opening into a melodic, anthemic chorus meant to feel both personal and communal. This is where David starts to testify about how Jesus has caught his heart. Sharing his personal testimony of how he lets Jesus take control of his life. The lyrics that he wrote are rich with imagery of fishing, treasure, and surrender, striking a balance of bringing tension between ordinary life and the radical pull of heaven. Something which he brilliantly delivers in the bridge part of the song. Through the perfect blending of his music and the timed instruments to hit the right notes to build a crescendo that is in tune with the feelings built by these words: "Greater love has no one, Greater love has no one than this, That someone lay down, Oh, their life for their friends…"

At its core, it's a song about being caught by God's love and choosing to follow it for the rest of your days. This song showcases David's knack for storytelling and his brilliant ability to come up with a catchy tune that takes us to the highs and lows of our emotions. And then the abrupt nature of the song's ending, though never stated outright, would lead us to be confronted with the question: "Will you accept the offer?"

(Related scripture: Matthew 4:19; John 15:13; John 6:35)

Connect with David Bollmann

Would you like to hear more CCM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists

PS: Did you know that the posts we have on Christian Music Today also contain the backstories that artists have shared with us? Check it out on: https://medium.com/christian-music-today/

Tags:

Popular posts

"Holy (In The Valley)" by Caleb Andrew: Finding His Greatness in the Valley

What if worship wasn't just for mountaintop moments? Caleb Andrew's debut single, "Holy (In The Valley)," addresses this very question. Caleb shared that this song has been in the making for 10 years. What started as a chorus and bridge written during an intense encounter with God's presence has since grown into an anthem for his life.  God's holiness doesn't fade when our life grows heavy! In other words, our God not only meets us in triumph, He also walks with us through uncertainty. The lyrics declare, "You are holy // In the valley // You are holy," turning our gaze from circumstance to Him, our Lord. When Caleb sings, "There in my weakness // You see greatness," he captures the heart of persevering faith. This song empowers you to choose to worship Him, even before a breakthrough. The lyrics have become Caleb's daily reminder: "will you let trials silence your song, or will you sing anyway?" The bridge commands cour...
More >>

"Dancing On Water" by Mary Oz: When grief has no power over Hope

(by Jasper Tan) I have always been a huge admirer of Mary Oz's music. Since the moment I discovered her songs, without fail, I've always made it a point to add them to my playlists. If there was one CCM artist from the Philippines who deserves to be heard on a global scale, then my vote belongs to Mary.  Her latest single, "Dancing On Water" (which is a part of her forthcoming album), is a pure acoustic folk/rock song that talks about breakthroughs from grief. As Mary shares, "Grief can swallow you whole, but it's not a life sentence. The morning will come, and with it, Joy." This is a very empowering statement that seeks to inspire her listeners to take courage, rejoice, leave the sadness behind, and just conquer their fears.  What I love about Mary's songwriting is her deep metaphorical lyricism that makes her songs stand out among the clutter of songs in this age of digital music. You'll definitely know that her songs are very well thought of...
More >>

“We Worship You I AM”, Doyin Teru – Worship in Spirit and Truth

"We Worship You I AM" by Doyin Teru is a relatively simple song with a massive vision and message behind it. The song was born in a moment of prayer. In Bolaji Teru's own words: "Few minutes into the prayers, I knelt down on my knees with the consciousness that God is present and must be revered. In a moment, tears began to flow from my eyes as I heard the song in my spirit as if it's being sung by thousands of others. So I joined them to sing the song and right after, took my phone, recorded the song and gradually began to develop and produced it." In other words, this isn't just another worship track; it's an invitation to join in with a heavenly chorus.  The song repeats a few core phrases: "We worship Your Majesty," "We worship Your Royalty," and the declaration, "We worship You, I AM." Instead of crowding the song with many words, it leans on the weight of God's revealed name  —  "I AM," the Etern...
More >>