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The Three Circles Nature Reveals the Goodness of God

Psalm 19 says that “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

There is a message in the sky and it’s a message about the glory of God.  Wouldn’t it be wise to help people look at that message and understand it? 

Today’s podcast encourages village church planters to us the Three Circles Gospel presentation well by asking listeners about what they have observed in nature that points to the goodness of God.

A Church Planter Celebrates Christmas Part 2

Today’s podcast invites you to connect personally with Jesus this Christmas season and worship Him.

Take time to remember how He came into the world.  Reflect on Jesus in the stable with the animals, with his mother Mary and his adoptive father Joseph.

It’s a reminder not to despise the day of small beginnings. Don’t spend your time wishing that you were someplace else.  The birth of Jesus in that stinky stable was the beginning of the greatest transformation the world will ever see.  From that moment onward, everything is leading to the day when we can all say “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

A Church Planter Celebrates Christmas Part 1

Today’s Word of Encouragement is not about church planting techniques or biblical principles for ministry.  It points out that Jesus coming into a dark world at Christmas is similar to a church planter goes to a village without the light of Christ.

By coming into this broken world and living with so many hardships the way he did, Jesus identified with men and women who take the Good News to villages without churches. When church planters chose to go to a village without a church and plant a church there, they identify with Jesus.  Choosing to take light and love to the dark, difficult places in our world is a big part of the Christmas story.

Today Dean encourages church planters and disciple makers to find a quiet place and enjoy the presence of the Lord and the things they have in common this Christmas season. 

The Three Circles Attempted Escape From a Broken World

One of the unique aspects of the Three Circles which is not found in many other Gospel presentations is the circle that represents our broken world and the way people try to escape from brokenness. 

Because there is so much brokenness in our world, people try to escape the pain. Some try to escape by earning a lot of money. Some try to get a great education thinking that their knowledge will allow them to escape the suffering they face in a broken world. Others try to escape by gaining fame. Others try to escape through spiritual practices and religion. Other people try to ease the pain that comes from brokenness with drugs and alcohol.

Today’s podcast encourages church planters to take time to hear from their listeners as they share the Good News using the Three Circles.

Three Circles and the Broken World

Today’s podcast is about the first of the three circles. If you are a village church planter you have probably learned to share the Good News of Jesus by drawing three circles and telling a story that all people everywhere need to hear. We call the story “The Three Circles.”  I believe that it is one of the most powerful Gospel presentations you can ever share.  Here’s why:  It starts out with six simple but powerful words, “The world we live in is broken.”  There are many biblical truths that unbelievers like to contradict.  But this truth is hard to contradict, “The world we live in is broken.”

If you clearly describe the broken world we live in, and if you help your friend describe how he or she has seen brokenness in the world, you will be ready to share the hope of the world, Jesus.

Learn to use the 3 circles.  Learn to tell the story of Jesus as you draw the three circles one by one.  Tell the Gospel story with patience, with clarity and with compassion.  Yes, the world we live in is broken, But Jesus came to restore us to God and make us new people.  That is good news indeed!

15 Second Testimony

You can be an effective witness for Crist.  A good way to start is by sharing your 15-second testimony.  It is both simple and powerful.

The reason it is simple and powerful is because the 15-second testimony uses a simple pattern to tell of God’s power at work in your life. 

You and your church members have many, many friends and neighbors who are looking for hope. Life is hard and the world is broken. But Jesus has brought you and your people great hope. So be a witness for Christ.  Tell others of the hope you have in Him. Share your 15-second testimony.

Seed Sowers Updating Your Relationship Map

Today’s podcast is about a Seed Sower Tool that is easy to use, but seldom mastered. That tool is the relationship map. A relationship map is a simple diagram you draw on a piece of paper that has your name in a circle in the middle and lines going out to five or six other circles.  Each of the other circles has the name of a person you know who is far from God.  Still other lines connect those five people to their friends and family members who are also living lives far from God.

You can use the relationship map (sometimes called an “oikos map”) as a prayer tool.  As you look at the names and connections represented on the relationship map, pray for the people represented in the diagram. 

Today’s podcast encourages disciple makers to keep their relationship maps up to date and to use them to celebrate progress.

Seed Sowers My Identity In Christ

As a church planter and disciple maker, one of your most important ministries is to help people understand and embrace their identity in Christ. The people you are leading to the Lord have spent their whole life living as a child of this world.  But when they are born again, they gain a new nature.  They become children of God.  Your job as a church planter and disciple maker is to help them fully embrace their new identity in Christ.

You can teach them that being an ambassador for Christ who helps other people be reconciled to God is a vital and essential part of their identity in Christ.  As you do so, you will see new believers transformed from passive recipients of God’s grace into powerful messengers of the King of Kings.

Empower New Believers by Coaching

Today’s podcast looks at how we can get wisdom.  The first step to getting insight and understanding is to pray for wisdom.  When you pray, make sure you have decided to honor God with all your heart in all you do.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Saturate your heart and your mind with the wisdom found in the Word of God, the Bible. And get a coach.  That’s right, get a coach.  A coach is a trusted friend who can help you make wise decisions for yourself.

What Is Coaching

Today’s podcast is about coaching. Coaching is the process of using open questions to help another person make wise decisions and act upon them.

When we carefully consider the teachings of God’s word, we are in a good position to make wise plans.  But for our plans to be truly wise they must be based on a broad understanding not only of God’s will but also a broad understanding of our current situation.