The 3 Circles tool is used around the globe to explain how God designed the world, how it became broken, and how Jesus came to redeem it. This tool is called the 3 Circles because the presenter draws out three circles to explain this story. The 3 Circles is often used in world missions because the drawing does not use any words. Let’s break down each of the three circles. You will need something to write with and something to write on when using this tool.
1. The First Circle
The first circle shows how God designed the world to be perfect and without sin. In the top left of the page you’re drawing on, draw a circle with a heart in the middle. You can then say, “When God created the world, everything was beautiful and perfect. God created mankind, and God and man had a perfect relationship. But then, man decided to sin.”
Now, you will draw a person running away from God’s perfect world. Draw the person to the right of the first circle. Be sure to explain what sin is. You can say, “Sin is anything we think, say, or do that dishonors God.”
You can recite Romans 3:23 when explaining the first circle.
2. The Second Circle
Now, you’ll explain how sin has affected the world. You can say, “Sin caused this world to be broken.” Draw a circle to the right of the person running away from God’s perfect world and draw zig-zagged lines inside of it, like a surface that is cracked. Then draw an arrow from the first circle to the second circle. Explain how we see brokenness in the world today. Use examples that you think will resonate with your audience. You could mention disease, crime, broken families, war, heartache, etc.
Next, you’ll explain that people try to escape the brokenness of the world through various means. Draw squiggly arrows out from the second circle and list a few examples of how people tend to try to escape the world’s brokenness. You can mention how people might pursue money, relationships, or success. (Craft your examples based on what will resonate most with your audience.) Then, you can say, “None of these things are enough to escape the sin and brokenness of this world.”
You can recite Romas 1:28-32 when explaining the second circle.
3. The Third Circle
Now, you’ll explain God’s plan for addressing the brokenness of this world. Below the first and second circles, draw a third circle and an arrow pointing downward inside of it. You can say, “God knew that people couldn’t address their sin on their own. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to live with us on Earth. He lived a perfect, sinless life and died the death that we deserve to pay for our sins.” Here, draw a cross next to the downward arrow. Now say, “But after three days in the grave, Jesus rose from the dead.” Draw an upward arrow on the other side of the cross. You can then say, “This proves that Jesus is the Son of God. With His resurrection, he defeated death and sin. He is now seated at the right hand of God and has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth.” Now draw a crown on top of the third circle.
You can recite Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, and John 3:16 when explaining the third circle.
4. Coming Full Circle
Finally, you’ll explain how to get back to the first circle—to a restored relationship with God. Draw a person kneeling down between the second and third circles and an arrow connecting the two circles. Then say, “Jesus died to pay for our sins. This is a gift we have to choose to accept. To accept this gift of salvation, you must surrender your life to Jesus, believing that He died and rose from the dead, repenting of your sin, and making Him King of your life.” Now, draw a happy person between the third and first circles and an arrow connecting them. You can say, “When you accept this gift of salvation, you will become a new person in God. You will get to enjoy a restored relationship with Him and spend eternity in Heaven with God and Jesus. The only way to get back to God is through Jesus’ sacrifice.”
You can recite Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and John 14:6 to help explain this last part of the 3 Circles.
Once you finish drawing the 3 Circles, you’ll want to end with a question. You can ask, “In which circle do you see yourself?” or “What do you think of what I just shared with you?” The person’s answer will help you know if they are ready to accept Jesus as their Savior.
The 3 Circles is one of the most engaging ways to explain the gospel to someone. Try sharing it with someone this week.
See an illustration of the 3 Circles in its entirety below:
How to Share Your Testimony in 15 Seconds
Your testimony is a great way to share how Christ has transformed your life. If you only have a short time to share your testimony, the 15-Second Testimony is a good tool to succinctly summarize your story.
