I just finished a fabulous book entitled: “Concentric Circles of Concern” written by W. Oscar Thompson Jr. In short it was an outlined biblical way for making disciples and evangelizing. I want you to know that this book shook me to the core and strengthened my Christian walk a great deal. So before you read the review I have to say: you must get this book. It has had such a dramatic, and immediate, effect on my life and I could not wait to write this review on it.
The Basics
Let me begin by giving you the basic illustration of the book:
These are what Oscar calls our “Concentric Circles of Concern”. The idea here is that we must focus on getting our relationships right first on Circle 1: Self. Then we can make our way out to Circle 7: Person X. Growing up in a Baptist church the only type of “evangelizing” I knew was door knocking on Saturday mornings after donuts and coffee. It was only ever about “Person X”. To me it always seemed dull, ineffective, and lacking something else. Now I do not want you to think I believe it is bad. But after reading this book it gave me a whole new outlook on how we Christians are called to evangelize, witness, and make disciples.
The Method
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
What is fabulous is that the method laid out by Oscar is rooted in scripture. The above verse makes it clear. The apostles were to begin making disciples in Circle 1: Jerusalem, then extend to Circle 2: Judea and Samaria, and then finally get to Circle 3: Remotest part of the earth.
You see, we all have our God-given concentric circles. And I say “God-given” because you have people in your circles that I may not be able to witness to. Just as I have people in my circles that you will never have the chance to witness to. Now, a lot of the time, when we get saved we think witnessing and evangelizing means finding a stranger on the street (Person X) right away and telling them about Jesus. And though there is a time and place for this, it is not our most immediate mission field.
Let me Explain
Oscar makes the case that when Jesus called Andrew to follow Him, Andrew did not run to Person X but he went to his Circle 2: Family. He ran to Peter and told him: “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). So also Jesus called Philip to follow Him and Philip went to his Circle 4: Close Friends. He ran to Nathanael and said: “We have found him…” (John 1:45).
This is the way God designed it. We can get plenty excited about the “Person X” in Circle 7 and yet forget about unsaved family members, relatives, friends, etc. that God has so placed in our circles for us to love and to share Jesus with. When you are saved, Jesus wants you to begin loving as He loves you and He has so ordained people in your life to start the process with.
Summary
When you think about living as a witness to Jesus, start to think a little more closer to home. You may have a wife, husband, children, mom, dad, etc. These are your most immediate mission fields. You must love these people by meeting their needs as God would have you. As you work your way outside the circles you will then build up more practice and Christ-like character so that when God does place the “Person X” in your life, that you may have one chance to witness to, you will be ready and prepared.
Apply It
I will give you a speed-through of the circles so you can know how to start. But please get this book and read it with prayerful consideration of how Jesus wants to start using you to touch people around your life.
Circle 1: Self
You must be in a right relationship with God and yourself before you can begin any type of witnessing. Take a moment to pray to God and ask Him to reveal anything between you and Him that may be hindering your relationship. Start digging into His word to learn more about Him and to build your faith in Christ Jesus
Circle 2: Family
This includes those in the home with you. For me, it is only my wife (for I do not have kids yet). Begin to focus on these people immediately, praying that God would engineer circumstances in their lives to pull them closer to Him. Ask that God would give you the wisdom to see their needs and that His love would work through you to meet those needs.
Circle 3-7
It is the same process now for all circles. Oscar lays the steps out as follows:
- Survey: Find out who is in your circles and learn more about them as individuals.
- Pray: Ask God for wisdom on how to begin a relationship with them. Ask God to engineer circumstances in their lives to lead them closer to His Son.
- Build Bridges: Find ways to build your relationship with your circles. This may include hobbies, skills, likes, dislikes, and even events or birthdays. Anything that would give you a chance to reach out to them and connect.
- Show Love: Love is meeting needs. Love is meeting needs. Love is meeting needs. Oscar repeats this A LOT in the book. As God gives you the wisdom and starts to engineer circumstances in their lives you will begin to see needs more clearly. What do you do? Meet them. Allow God to flow His love through you to meet those needs.
- Make Disciples: As you get closer to people you can begin to disciple them with their Christians walk. Encourage and teach them to pray and read scripture. Take them out to coffee and ask them about their walk with Christ. Pray that they would continue to grow in Him.
- Begin Again: This is simple. Just do this all again with them!