“The Three Circles”

Series: Gospel Tools for Gospel People [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

February 20, 2022

Introductory Comments:

Think about this question for a minute: Why do we use tools? 

We use tools to make things easier for us, right? We use a hammer to make it easier to nail in a nail, rather than using our fist. We use a screwdriver to turn a screw into something. We use a lawnmower (or have our kids use lawnmowers) to mow the grass because it’s easier than using a pair of scissors to do so. 

These are a pair of wire stripping pliers. They’re great for doing electrical work. Before I had these, I’d use a pocket knife, needle-nosed pliers, and my teeth to prep wire for electrical work. Now, I use these and they work so much better. Tools make things easier. Tools help us do things!

Over the next three weeks, we’re going to discover three “Gospel Tools for Gospel People.” The first tool that we will look at is “The Three Circles.”

Before we go any further, let’s pray together and ask God to teach us as we press into the Gospel and how to share it with others. 

(prayer)

Now, some of you are familiar with the Three Circles because I taught on this in December of 2018. However, many of you are were not here then. In fact, raise your hand if you were not attending church here in December 2018. 

So, for those who haven’t heard about this tool and for those of us who need to brush up, let’s discuss this Gospel Tool for Gospel People.

The three circles is a tool to help explain the Gospel message to someone and it uses three . . . circles to do that. 

So, let’s look at the first circle:

I. God’s Design [on screen]

We have scraps of paper in the pews that you can use to draw this outline on. When you’re out and about, you can use a napkin, a scrap of paper, or whatever. 

On your scrap of paper, you can start drawing the three circles by writing the first circle with the words, “God’s Design.” [on screen]

God designed every person on the earth to be in a relationship with Him, to have complete joy, and to have complete peace. 

Genesis 1:25 tells us, “So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” [on screen]

God wanted everything to be perfect and God made everything perfect. He made everything good. 

Part of God’s goodness is that He has a design for our lives. In fact, He has a design for every part of our lives! 

God talks to us about the things that bring us joy!

God talks to us about what we listen to and watch!

God talks to us about marriage, family, sexuality, and relationships!

God talks to us about the law, government, and authority!

God talks to us about worship, work, and play. 

God talks to us about what we eat and what we drink. 

God is our Designer and He has a perfect design for our lives!

He knows better than anyone else how our lives should operate. 

Part of God’s good design is that we will be in a relationship with Him. He’s our Creator and our God and He wants to have a relationship with us. 

People with whom you share the Gospel need to know that it all starts with God and His perfect design. 

The thing is, most of us know things are not always perfect for us.

Our lives are sometimes messed up. Bad things happen to us and around us. We cannot look at the world around us and say that it is always good. 

If God has a good and perfect design, why do we see that the world is messed up? Why don’t we always feel like we have a good relationship with Him? 

This takes us to our second circle:

II. Brokenness [on screen]

Fill out the second point on your notes, and then draw the second circle on your scrap sheet of paper and write “Brokenness” in the circle.  [on screen]

Well, what causes this brok