Core scripture: “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Message: What is the gospel?  I was asked that once by a Christian friend of mine.  He was trying to prepare me for a moment when I might come across someone who does not know Christ.  I thought I knew what to say, but I fumbled with my words.  It was then that I realized my heart knew the answer—I just didn’t know how to explain my heart. 

Have you ever been there before?  As Christians we are called to live out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), yet we struggle in doing so.  Lately my church has been addressing that problem.  Last weekend I heard a wonderful sermon about a simple 3-Circles Gospel method that helps us explain everything Jesus did for us.  I would love to share that with you today.

The first circle represents brokenness.  We live in a broken world.  War, sickness, famine, greed, lust, sin … it all combines to tear us down.  Just look at the news on any given night and you will get the picture.  We are in desperate need of something to rescue us from this brokenness, and we cannot do this on our own.

This was not God’s plan for us.  God’s design for the world is the second circle, and it represents perfection.  He created a perfect world for us in the Garden of Eden, but man fell short.  Sin got in the way.  God knew we needed to be rescued from this problem, so out of the goodness of His heart, He sent Jesus to die for us.

Jesus represents that third circle.  This is explained perfectly in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Jesus gives us the forgiveness and hope we need to get through this life.  It is through Him that we are sent back to God’s perfection.

There you have it.  A simple, succinct way to share the gospel.  Who knows when you will come across an opportunity to share it.  It may be at work.  It may be at the store.  It may be through a chance encounter that God planned for you.  Wherever this opportunity comes, be prepared for that moment. 

Challenge: Start praying for opportunities to share the gospel with someone in your life.  Practice and rehearse simple methods like the 3-Circles Gospel. 

Video application: Would you like a short two-minute explanation of the 3-Circles Gospel?  Check out this short but sweet YouTube video that explains it. 

Prayer: Lord, give me the boldness to preach the gospel to all that need to hear it.  Amen.