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Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations
We live in a broken world. And the gospel is how God puts broken people back together again. Once we repent and believe in Jesus, God’s Spirit helps us recover and pursue His design. God is the one who created the world and every human being in it. Authors Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright outline a reproducible method of sharing the gospel that has been tested in the real world. Turning Everyday Conversations Into Gospel Conversations is a simple strategy to train new and seasoned believers to join God in His reconciliation work. Turning Everyday Conversations Into Gospel Conversations equips believers to use the innovative "3 Circles," a user-friendly evangelistic tool for a new generation. Scroggins and Wright train readers to incorporate the biblical metanarrative, as well as our own personal stories, to tell the good news that Jesus has made a way out of the broken places we find ourselves. Churches around the world are training people to share the gospel using this method. It has proven appeal across generations and cultures. They've heard stories about an 8-year-old boy leading his 26-year-old cousin to repent and believe in Jesus and a 70-plus-year-old church member, who had never before shared his faith, leading his Spanish-speaking neighbor to Christ. It’s been used to train the Mixtec in Mexico, Maasai Warriors in Kenya, and prisoners in America. It’s been presented on napkins, in concrete, in the sand, and using tortillas. The 3 Circles work, and this book will train you and your church members to use it. It doesn’t matter if you have been a Christian for decades or days, you can learn to do what God asks us to do—to make His appeal to others through us (2 Cor. 5:20). This short training manual will empower and inspire millions of Christians to turn hundreds of millions of everyday conversations into gospel conversations.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2016
108 people are currently reading
493 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
July 31, 2023
simple read that gave practical ways to talk about the gospel. I think the three circles tool is helpful, however, I think that forming genuine relationships with others is a big part of sharing what you believe and I did not think the book touched on that — so that’s why I am giving it three stars.
May 1, 2025
Great short book on the 3 circles evangelism tool and its implications. But more than that, it was a great book on how to weave the gospel into normal conversations without being awkward or pushy. I enjoyed how simple and organic it made sharing the gospel feel. I’m using this book in a class I’m teaching and I think it will be very practical and beneficial.
March 31, 2023
Gospel presentation tools have been around for a while. Very little in this book is new or innovative, the same old material in a different wrapping. There’s quite a bit in this wrapping that I find problematic.
The tool itself is artificial. Drawing physical circles to articulate anything is a strange way to interact in any conversation, and the idea of practicing transitions into it only adds to the artificiality. Tacking a closer on the end (“Is there anything that would prevent you from repenting and believing the gospel today?”) sounds so much like a pushy car salesman pitch that I made a visceral grimace in reading it.
The content of gospel as presented here is misleading. The Three Circles labels our main problem as “brokenness,” so the solution of Jesus is to fix that so “we are no longer broken in God’s eyes.” While not entirely untrue, our brokenness isn’t the central problem of our sin. Sin does break us, but more than that, it violates the glory of a Holy God, bringing His righteous wrath upon us. Yet God’s wrath isn’t mentioned at all in this version of the gospel. As a result, it turns the gospel more selfish than it is: I am broken; Jesus fixes my brokenness. While that sounds nice on the face, it’s not quite how the Bible presents the Good News.
The multiple success stories are presented in the book as implicit evidence of the approach’s effectiveness, but I have a feeling there is more to these stories than meets the eye. For every “green light” conversation, I wonder how many “red lights” have been entirely off put by the artificial sales tactic approach of the Circles. For a tool that focuses on talking not listening, I also wonder about the reliability of the reports of those who chose to receive Jesus. I know far too many Christians who quickly celebrate the snap decision of a new believer, only to be dismayed when the new belief withers away in the sun because it had no root. Quick conversions often make for quick deconversions.
Everyone can use the Three Circles with just a little practice, which is something the book assumes is a good thing. But is it? We should note that untrained and immature believers aren’t automatically sent out to share the gospel in the Bible. Such a thing would make an awful mess of the message and of the people. There is no way to shortcut Christian maturity, in our lives and in our message. A tidy approach like the one in this book tries to microwave what is meant to crockpot.
I do give credit to the authors at least for their intention here. I really believe they love Jesus and want others to come to know and love Jesus too. That’s a beautiful thing. We should not let our love grow cold or our fear grow large, and this book attempts to combat both. I just think this approach is an unhelpful—perhaps even sometimes dangerous—way to go about that. We can do better.
The tool itself is artificial. Drawing physical circles to articulate anything is a strange way to interact in any conversation, and the idea of practicing transitions into it only adds to the artificiality. Tacking a closer on the end (“Is there anything that would prevent you from repenting and believing the gospel today?”) sounds so much like a pushy car salesman pitch that I made a visceral grimace in reading it.
The content of gospel as presented here is misleading. The Three Circles labels our main problem as “brokenness,” so the solution of Jesus is to fix that so “we are no longer broken in God’s eyes.” While not entirely untrue, our brokenness isn’t the central problem of our sin. Sin does break us, but more than that, it violates the glory of a Holy God, bringing His righteous wrath upon us. Yet God’s wrath isn’t mentioned at all in this version of the gospel. As a result, it turns the gospel more selfish than it is: I am broken; Jesus fixes my brokenness. While that sounds nice on the face, it’s not quite how the Bible presents the Good News.
The multiple success stories are presented in the book as implicit evidence of the approach’s effectiveness, but I have a feeling there is more to these stories than meets the eye. For every “green light” conversation, I wonder how many “red lights” have been entirely off put by the artificial sales tactic approach of the Circles. For a tool that focuses on talking not listening, I also wonder about the reliability of the reports of those who chose to receive Jesus. I know far too many Christians who quickly celebrate the snap decision of a new believer, only to be dismayed when the new belief withers away in the sun because it had no root. Quick conversions often make for quick deconversions.
Everyone can use the Three Circles with just a little practice, which is something the book assumes is a good thing. But is it? We should note that untrained and immature believers aren’t automatically sent out to share the gospel in the Bible. Such a thing would make an awful mess of the message and of the people. There is no way to shortcut Christian maturity, in our lives and in our message. A tidy approach like the one in this book tries to microwave what is meant to crockpot.
I do give credit to the authors at least for their intention here. I really believe they love Jesus and want others to come to know and love Jesus too. That’s a beautiful thing. We should not let our love grow cold or our fear grow large, and this book attempts to combat both. I just think this approach is an unhelpful—perhaps even sometimes dangerous—way to go about that. We can do better.
July 18, 2017
A great primer on sharing the Gospel. This is a simple read for any Christian, and every Christian should consider taking the time to read it.
August 7, 2022
This book is is provoking, challenging and inspiring. The Gospel is presented in a 3 Circles pictograph, and there are examples of responses to expect. I’ve also found some YouTube videos in which it is used. I’m glad I found and read this book as it is very helpful to introverts like me.
June 30, 2023
Short. Applicable. Factual.
October 26, 2019
I thought it presented their strategy and evangelism approach well. It was succinct and to the point. Easy to read. It lacked any instruction as to what to do with the increasing amount of skeptics and people turned off or disillusioned with Christianity and Christians. Instead the authors enforced strict accountability to just go after more people and opportunities. I would like to see more conversation and how to sow broadly as opposed to just having one type of conversation when sharing the Gospel.
June 9, 2022
The beginning of the book was pure gold and totally hit the nail on the head, of course, they failed to properly present the gospel (omitting baptism) and the three circles approach honestly sounds annoying, but I did get some good tips and conversation ideas and confidence that it can be easier than I am making it in my head.
April 3, 2025
2 hour read.
My intent in reading this was for a practical tool in gospel sharing that I could present to the sophomores I lead on Sunday nights. Often we overthink how to share the gospel, this is super practical and objective. Our personal testimonies are needed, yes, but the gospel can stand alone. Don’t over complicate it. I’m encouraged to share even more after reading this.
My intent in reading this was for a practical tool in gospel sharing that I could present to the sophomores I lead on Sunday nights. Often we overthink how to share the gospel, this is super practical and objective. Our personal testimonies are needed, yes, but the gospel can stand alone. Don’t over complicate it. I’m encouraged to share even more after reading this.
January 26, 2024
great little easy primer on how to easily share the gospel. highly recommend to read!
March 26, 2024
Super good. Read for my evangelism class, can be easily applied to anyone’s life. Full of practical and easy ways to share the Gospel with others. Also a super easy read
July 23, 2024
Helpful! This is a good tool that I for sure want to pass onto my leaders at church
March 21, 2024
This is a wonderful easy read book in the importance of sharing the gospel AND how to share the gospel through your everyday life. I recommend this to anyone, but specifically those who are trying to figure out how to respectfully and lovingly share the good news with others!
May 22, 2023
While there are many ways to share the life-changing good news of Christ with others, this is an easy-to-understand way of helping Christians articulate it. While personal testimony is incredibly valuable, this method includes the biblical narrative of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection in atonement for our sins.
A short book with a very important message.
A short book with a very important message.
March 27, 2024
A quick solid read on what the title suggests. There is no "right" way (although there are certainly some wrong ways) to go about conversations like this, but the help Scroggins provides is much appreciated. This is a book of plain and simple x's and o's on evangelism. This isn't a ding on the book, but if you're looking for a"why should we evangelize" answer, this book doesn't get into that topic. It assumes you're onboard with that Christian command. Overall, it's something I'd recommend to any Christian new or old. You'll find use out of this one.
May 24, 2018
I can’t begin to remember how many excuses I’ve come up with over the years to not talk about Jesus. To not talk about God. To not talk about the gospel. And apart from not wanting people to think I’m a little weird, there was also the fact that I had never learned how to have a Gospel conversation in a way that made sense.
Of course I’d seen tracts with the four spiritual laws, and several other cartoon type things assuring me that if I didn’t immediately fall to my needs in repentance that I was doomed to eternal hellfire and brimstone. And that threatening type of marketing has never worked for me.
So when I saw the opportunity to review this little book, eagerly clicked yes! Have I been able to put into practice everything I learned in the 100+ pages of Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations (B&H Books, 2018) by Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright with Leslee Bennett? Not so much. But this book at least gives me a tool to use, and more importantly gives some tips for turning a conversation that’s already in progress into an opportunity to share the gospel.
It’s also encouraging to read about conversations that didn’t result in an immediate decision. Far too often an author presents his or her method as one that works—period. They neglect to mention those times when it didn’t work, or mention that some people just aren’t ready (but may be at a later time) or because of their culture or existing religious belief may never want to hear the good news. Even though I know that no method, no marketing tool works 100% of the time, if a book is so slanted that it appears that way, when it doesn’t work for me, I tend to see myself as the problem, and then get discouraged.
It takes a while to get to the “Three Circles Gospeling Tool” (maybe 30 minutes, because this really is a quick read) but by the time I got to this chapter I was excited to read about the tool and how to use it.
Another plus is the excellent lead-in, after demonstrating the Three Circles tool, to actually discipling the person who has just accepted Christ. All too often that part gets left out.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a participant in their bloggers program.
5/5
Of course I’d seen tracts with the four spiritual laws, and several other cartoon type things assuring me that if I didn’t immediately fall to my needs in repentance that I was doomed to eternal hellfire and brimstone. And that threatening type of marketing has never worked for me.
So when I saw the opportunity to review this little book, eagerly clicked yes! Have I been able to put into practice everything I learned in the 100+ pages of Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations (B&H Books, 2018) by Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright with Leslee Bennett? Not so much. But this book at least gives me a tool to use, and more importantly gives some tips for turning a conversation that’s already in progress into an opportunity to share the gospel.
It’s also encouraging to read about conversations that didn’t result in an immediate decision. Far too often an author presents his or her method as one that works—period. They neglect to mention those times when it didn’t work, or mention that some people just aren’t ready (but may be at a later time) or because of their culture or existing religious belief may never want to hear the good news. Even though I know that no method, no marketing tool works 100% of the time, if a book is so slanted that it appears that way, when it doesn’t work for me, I tend to see myself as the problem, and then get discouraged.
It takes a while to get to the “Three Circles Gospeling Tool” (maybe 30 minutes, because this really is a quick read) but by the time I got to this chapter I was excited to read about the tool and how to use it.
Another plus is the excellent lead-in, after demonstrating the Three Circles tool, to actually discipling the person who has just accepted Christ. All too often that part gets left out.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a participant in their bloggers program.
5/5
August 2, 2017
"Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations" is a book about how to transition everyday conversations into a simple discussion about the gospel and about the 3 circles method of explaining the gospel. This method requires some practice if you want to become comfortable with it, but it's simple to use. It can be used by children to seniors and by new Christians or long-time Christians. All you need is something to write with and write on.
The authors explained why they chose this method, how to transition conversations into the gospel, and how the 3 circles method works. You can use your own wording, but they gave examples of what you might say and do. One strength of this method is that it can be used by new believers to talk with their non-believing friends to explain the gospel. Overall, I'd recommend this book.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The authors explained why they chose this method, how to transition conversations into the gospel, and how the 3 circles method works. You can use your own wording, but they gave examples of what you might say and do. One strength of this method is that it can be used by new believers to talk with their non-believing friends to explain the gospel. Overall, I'd recommend this book.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
August 19, 2017
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a free digital edition of this book in exchange for a review.
What a wonderful short book with a very doable method to share the gospel!
The authors go through their method of sharing the gospel called the "Three Circles". They explain how Christians must be praying for opportunities to find people in their brokenness and provide a very simple way of sharing the gospel that can be done anywhere. There is even an app that they have created that can be used to share the 3 circles.
They not only share this innovative way to share the gospel, but they share their heart and Biblical examples of Jesus' great commission.
Every Christian should read this book!
What a wonderful short book with a very doable method to share the gospel!
The authors go through their method of sharing the gospel called the "Three Circles". They explain how Christians must be praying for opportunities to find people in their brokenness and provide a very simple way of sharing the gospel that can be done anywhere. There is even an app that they have created that can be used to share the 3 circles.
They not only share this innovative way to share the gospel, but they share their heart and Biblical examples of Jesus' great commission.
Every Christian should read this book!
December 17, 2017
I'll be honest, I was not super excited about this book. "Really? Your tool is better than all the others? Let's see about this." What I really loved, though, was the heart with which this gospel presentation tool was presented. The focus, as emphasized throughout the book, is not on the tool. It's on the gospel. What matters is Jesus, and sharing that with people we know and love. Definitely recommend this!
August 13, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by how helpful this book is. I'd recommend it as a tool and inspirational guide for anyone intimidated by the idea of sharing the Gospel. It's a practical, convicting, and necessary read.
*This review is based on a free digital advance copy provided by the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
*This review is based on a free digital advance copy provided by the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 24, 2017
An excellent resource for sharing the gospel with others. The best of its kind in my mind.
September 17, 2017
Great stuff
Biblical, practical, something every believer can put into practice to mobilize the gospel and give true growth to the kingdom.
Biblical, practical, something every believer can put into practice to mobilize the gospel and give true growth to the kingdom.
April 18, 2018
A very simple and effective way to train people to share the gospel in a natural way.
September 12, 2018
There are plenty of books written on the topic of evangelism and plenty of books written about evangelism strategies for church, by there are few books (to my very limited knowledge!) on actually how to tell people the gospel.
Turning everyday conversations into gospel conversations is a good short book that helps the ‘average Christian’ (whatever that is) think through how to transition from normal conversations about life, politics, children, work… to having gospel centred conversations. The authors say;
“Scripture is clear that the Great Commission isn’t just given to a select few trained pastors. It’s given to everyone. I’m convinced that more people are interested in hearing the gospel than most Christians are in sharing it.”
So often you get the feeling that people assume Church leaders and people in full-time ministry are being paid to do evangelism and they can take a back seat. This is just not the case. So often people in full-time ministry are in a Christian bubble and don’t actually know many non-Christians, which is a sad thing. This idea that only trained people, people with a theology degree, or only the most energetic and ‘holy people’ can evangelise is just wrong. The global church wouldn’t be the size that it is now if throughout history we only let the ‘educated ones’ spread the gospel, in fact the gospel wouldn’t have even left Jerusalem all those years ago!
The authors describe our world as Humpty Dumpty; we have fallen of the wall, we are all broken, and we can’t figure out how to put all the pieces back together again. That’s where you come in!
Every Christian is called to be an ambassador for Christ, a declarer of the gospel. For some that will mean preaching from a pulpit, for some that might mean having a conversation over coffee but for every Christian out there it means to take the opportunity and to tell people the good mews about Jesus.
This book gives you an example of how to transition from a normal everyday conversation and turn it into a gospel conversation. It also comes with a simple system of ‘three circles’ that help the individual explain the gospel message, and if that involves too much drawing for you they’ve even developed an app. Here is an image of what the final picture should look like:
This is one of the few ‘systems’ that I have seen that starts its explanation right at the beginning with God’s design of the world. The great thing about this system is that you can make it your own, use the Bible verses you know and bring in your own story, it helps you get the conversation going.
The authors can come across in a slightly ‘use this to see people coming to faith’ but I don’t think that this was their intention. This system, whilst being very helpful, is not a guarantee that people will understand and become Christians, but it is a way to get people sharing the gospel from the get go.
Coupling this method with good biblical discipleship in which you wrestle with the Bible and some difficult questions could mean that many more Christians feel equipped to evangelise. The only thing that stand in people’s way are their own excuses and fears.
Whenever I speak about evangelism and the need for it this quote from Spurgeon always comes to mind and it stresses the importance of evangelism and the effects of not telling people the gospel.
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
Turning everyday conversations into gospel conversations is a good short book that helps the ‘average Christian’ (whatever that is) think through how to transition from normal conversations about life, politics, children, work… to having gospel centred conversations. The authors say;
“Scripture is clear that the Great Commission isn’t just given to a select few trained pastors. It’s given to everyone. I’m convinced that more people are interested in hearing the gospel than most Christians are in sharing it.”
So often you get the feeling that people assume Church leaders and people in full-time ministry are being paid to do evangelism and they can take a back seat. This is just not the case. So often people in full-time ministry are in a Christian bubble and don’t actually know many non-Christians, which is a sad thing. This idea that only trained people, people with a theology degree, or only the most energetic and ‘holy people’ can evangelise is just wrong. The global church wouldn’t be the size that it is now if throughout history we only let the ‘educated ones’ spread the gospel, in fact the gospel wouldn’t have even left Jerusalem all those years ago!
The authors describe our world as Humpty Dumpty; we have fallen of the wall, we are all broken, and we can’t figure out how to put all the pieces back together again. That’s where you come in!
Every Christian is called to be an ambassador for Christ, a declarer of the gospel. For some that will mean preaching from a pulpit, for some that might mean having a conversation over coffee but for every Christian out there it means to take the opportunity and to tell people the good mews about Jesus.
This book gives you an example of how to transition from a normal everyday conversation and turn it into a gospel conversation. It also comes with a simple system of ‘three circles’ that help the individual explain the gospel message, and if that involves too much drawing for you they’ve even developed an app. Here is an image of what the final picture should look like:
This is one of the few ‘systems’ that I have seen that starts its explanation right at the beginning with God’s design of the world. The great thing about this system is that you can make it your own, use the Bible verses you know and bring in your own story, it helps you get the conversation going.
The authors can come across in a slightly ‘use this to see people coming to faith’ but I don’t think that this was their intention. This system, whilst being very helpful, is not a guarantee that people will understand and become Christians, but it is a way to get people sharing the gospel from the get go.
Coupling this method with good biblical discipleship in which you wrestle with the Bible and some difficult questions could mean that many more Christians feel equipped to evangelise. The only thing that stand in people’s way are their own excuses and fears.
Whenever I speak about evangelism and the need for it this quote from Spurgeon always comes to mind and it stresses the importance of evangelism and the effects of not telling people the gospel.
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2019
This was a difficult book for me to think through and review. There's a lot of good here, although using this technique won't necessarily work for everyone or in every situation. I do praise God for the wonderful work that Jimmy Scroggins and the church he ministers with are accomplishing in South Florida. Their passion for reaching the unsaved is admirable and should be imitated. He also has excellent insight in recognizing that simply inviting someone to church is usually not enough to get a response. People are not seekers, and that is becoming clearer every day. We also have to find ways to motivate and mobilize people in the pews to reach others; evangelism is not just a job for pastors or church staff. Also, discipleship must happen; converts cannot be allowed to just slip between the cracks and disappear. Scroggins helps keep a passion for evangelism within his church through often sharing stories of members sharing their faith, successfully or not. This is a great strategy for keeping a vision in front of people.
Chapter 1 explains the overall strategy behind the book. Chapter 2 is about the essentials of the gospel. Chapter 3 is an encouragement for ordinary believers to bring up the gospel in everyday conversations. Chapter 4 talks about how to transition a conversation from everyday events or problems to the gospel, while chapter 5 is an explanation of the 3 circles technique of sharing the gospel. Chapter 6 deals with different responses to the gospel, and chapter 7 is about involving new Christians in evangelism.
Chapters 4-5 have some good content if you use 3 circles properly and understand its limitations. Using a practiced or memorized technique is a great way to get people more comfortable sharing the gospel, but it can lead to people relying on the technique instead of the gospel. Specific techniques reach some people effectively, but not others (for a discussion on tailoring gospel discussions to individuals, see Os Guinness' great book, Fool's Talk). I do appreciate that there is flexibility built into the 3 circles technique to allow it to reach different individuals. Also, there's a danger in evangelism today of emphasizing that the gospel saves us from brokenness rather than sin. Brokenness is the consequences and results of sin; sin is disobedience to God. Brokenness is the symptom, sin is the problem. Scroggins makes it clear throughout the book that salvation includes repenting from sin. However, if our primary point of contact with someone is the brokenness that they experience, we must be careful to make it clear that Jesus died for our sin, not to fix our problems in life. Presenting the gospel as the answer to brokenness deals with felt needs like guilt or depression, but it may not be clear that we have a personal responsibility for our sins, and that unless we repent, we will answer to a holy God. Also, receiving the gospel doesn't mean that the brokenness we experience will go away. We must be careful not to over-promise solutions in this life that may not occur. Christians still deal with problems in life because we live in a fallen world. The book makes it clear that Scroggins understands the gospel completely, but those who use this technique should be careful to make individual responsibility for sin clear.
If you take anything from this book, take a passion for reaching the unsaved in everyday conversations. If you use the technique, recognize that it may not fit every situation, and make the nature of sin and judgment clear. I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
Chapter 1 explains the overall strategy behind the book. Chapter 2 is about the essentials of the gospel. Chapter 3 is an encouragement for ordinary believers to bring up the gospel in everyday conversations. Chapter 4 talks about how to transition a conversation from everyday events or problems to the gospel, while chapter 5 is an explanation of the 3 circles technique of sharing the gospel. Chapter 6 deals with different responses to the gospel, and chapter 7 is about involving new Christians in evangelism.
Chapters 4-5 have some good content if you use 3 circles properly and understand its limitations. Using a practiced or memorized technique is a great way to get people more comfortable sharing the gospel, but it can lead to people relying on the technique instead of the gospel. Specific techniques reach some people effectively, but not others (for a discussion on tailoring gospel discussions to individuals, see Os Guinness' great book, Fool's Talk). I do appreciate that there is flexibility built into the 3 circles technique to allow it to reach different individuals. Also, there's a danger in evangelism today of emphasizing that the gospel saves us from brokenness rather than sin. Brokenness is the consequences and results of sin; sin is disobedience to God. Brokenness is the symptom, sin is the problem. Scroggins makes it clear throughout the book that salvation includes repenting from sin. However, if our primary point of contact with someone is the brokenness that they experience, we must be careful to make it clear that Jesus died for our sin, not to fix our problems in life. Presenting the gospel as the answer to brokenness deals with felt needs like guilt or depression, but it may not be clear that we have a personal responsibility for our sins, and that unless we repent, we will answer to a holy God. Also, receiving the gospel doesn't mean that the brokenness we experience will go away. We must be careful not to over-promise solutions in this life that may not occur. Christians still deal with problems in life because we live in a fallen world. The book makes it clear that Scroggins understands the gospel completely, but those who use this technique should be careful to make individual responsibility for sin clear.
If you take anything from this book, take a passion for reaching the unsaved in everyday conversations. If you use the technique, recognize that it may not fit every situation, and make the nature of sin and judgment clear. I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
August 1, 2017
“Every Christian Is Either A Missionary Or An Imposter” -Spurgeon
In TURNING EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS INTO GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS, the three authors present a simple, non-scary method of sharing the Gospel. Their idea is to have an easy way to “transition the conversation to spiritual matters.” The authors note that their home church is in a very un-reached community. “There are 1.4 million people living in Palm Beach County, Florida, and 96 percent of them are irreligious and unchurched.”
We should LISTEN to the needs of others, and be ready to respond. “When was the last time you had a conversation and the person with whom you were talking shared a problem, issue, or concern? It happens a lot. These interactions are gospel opportunities, and we train people to recognize and seize them.”
So, to reach the lost, we need to drastically rethink our approach. “Since we aren’t going to get them to “come and see” what we’re doing, we need to figure out ways to take the good news to the places they live, work, and play. “
Although most of the book covers the workings of the 3-Circles Gospel method, I think the strongest point of the book is not the Circle Method, but a more strategic point. Current evangelistic methods don’t apply any more. Here’s the mistake Evangelicals make: “We think that people will want to come and see what we have to offer. The ever-shrinking Christian population and changing U.S. trends demand that we reconsider this strategy.”
All in all, I thought TURNING EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS INTO GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS presented a useful method for sharing the Gospel.
I thought this one sentence nicely summed up the philosophy of the book: “If God has put us back together, then He has also given us a job. He has tasked us with helping Him fix our broken world.”
Nicely stated.
Advance Review Copy courtesy of the publisher.
For another approach on presenting the Gospel, here is my #1 favorite book on Evangelism: Just Walk Across the Room.
In TURNING EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS INTO GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS, the three authors present a simple, non-scary method of sharing the Gospel. Their idea is to have an easy way to “transition the conversation to spiritual matters.” The authors note that their home church is in a very un-reached community. “There are 1.4 million people living in Palm Beach County, Florida, and 96 percent of them are irreligious and unchurched.”
We should LISTEN to the needs of others, and be ready to respond. “When was the last time you had a conversation and the person with whom you were talking shared a problem, issue, or concern? It happens a lot. These interactions are gospel opportunities, and we train people to recognize and seize them.”
So, to reach the lost, we need to drastically rethink our approach. “Since we aren’t going to get them to “come and see” what we’re doing, we need to figure out ways to take the good news to the places they live, work, and play. “
Although most of the book covers the workings of the 3-Circles Gospel method, I think the strongest point of the book is not the Circle Method, but a more strategic point. Current evangelistic methods don’t apply any more. Here’s the mistake Evangelicals make: “We think that people will want to come and see what we have to offer. The ever-shrinking Christian population and changing U.S. trends demand that we reconsider this strategy.”
All in all, I thought TURNING EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS INTO GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS presented a useful method for sharing the Gospel.
I thought this one sentence nicely summed up the philosophy of the book: “If God has put us back together, then He has also given us a job. He has tasked us with helping Him fix our broken world.”
Nicely stated.
Advance Review Copy courtesy of the publisher.
For another approach on presenting the Gospel, here is my #1 favorite book on Evangelism: Just Walk Across the Room.
November 5, 2019
"In the book of Acts, the gospel spread like wildfire. There were no denominations, seminaries, Tv preachers, Christian books, or gospel tracts. There were just ordinary people, extraordinary power, earnest prayer, and frequent gospel conversations." (86)
After proclaiming God's Word, that Christians need to tell others about Jesus ("The Great Commission"), Jimmy and Steve share the truth that not many tell others about the Gospel. The excuses vary of course with the most popular "what if they ask me a question I don't know" or "what if I mess up" ;however, there are no legitimate excuses to disobey our Savior. It is through encouraging others and equipping others to obey Christ and share the good news that they give the "3 Circles." Before revealing what the "3 Circles" are, they make clear what the Gospel is, the entire Gospel according to the Bible (God's Word)..because let's face it - the Gospel is the key. Once that has been throughly established, Jimmy and Steve give their method for how to share the Gospel in everyday conversations. They are quick to tell you that "3 Circles" is not a magical spell or formula- its simply a method to share the Greatest Story ever. They focus on practicing this method "just like you would practice your golf swing" and praying for opportunities. Their motivation is genuine and their passion is contagious. If I have any difficulties with the book or the method it would be a stronger presentation of sin and its consequences and perhaps the weightiness of repentance (meaning...cautious of Lordship salvation). Overall really good book to read and hopefully it will encourage and provoke Christians to see the need to obey Christ and share the Gospel with the World.
After proclaiming God's Word, that Christians need to tell others about Jesus ("The Great Commission"), Jimmy and Steve share the truth that not many tell others about the Gospel. The excuses vary of course with the most popular "what if they ask me a question I don't know" or "what if I mess up" ;however, there are no legitimate excuses to disobey our Savior. It is through encouraging others and equipping others to obey Christ and share the good news that they give the "3 Circles." Before revealing what the "3 Circles" are, they make clear what the Gospel is, the entire Gospel according to the Bible (God's Word)..because let's face it - the Gospel is the key. Once that has been throughly established, Jimmy and Steve give their method for how to share the Gospel in everyday conversations. They are quick to tell you that "3 Circles" is not a magical spell or formula- its simply a method to share the Greatest Story ever. They focus on practicing this method "just like you would practice your golf swing" and praying for opportunities. Their motivation is genuine and their passion is contagious. If I have any difficulties with the book or the method it would be a stronger presentation of sin and its consequences and perhaps the weightiness of repentance (meaning...cautious of Lordship salvation). Overall really good book to read and hopefully it will encourage and provoke Christians to see the need to obey Christ and share the Gospel with the World.
January 10, 2019
Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations is a Christian living book by author(s) Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright. I believe the authors wrote this book for a simple way for laypeople to share the gospel. This book was published in November 2016 so it’s not new but the truth still holds. I was interested in this book because of the title.
The introduction has several text messages giving testimony that sharing the gospel according to what is taught in this short book works. As a whole this book is about taking the gospel to a dying world despite our limitations.
I learned that the people we think will follow Jesus often don’t (ex. religious leaders, those who study scripture, etc.) and the people we think won’t follow Jesus often do (ex. prostitutes, murderers, etc.).
This book would make a great study for a group of Believers learning to advance the gospel. Did this book meet my expectations? I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am pleased that it laid out a foundation for even new Believers to present the gospel.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
The introduction has several text messages giving testimony that sharing the gospel according to what is taught in this short book works. As a whole this book is about taking the gospel to a dying world despite our limitations.
I learned that the people we think will follow Jesus often don’t (ex. religious leaders, those who study scripture, etc.) and the people we think won’t follow Jesus often do (ex. prostitutes, murderers, etc.).
This book would make a great study for a group of Believers learning to advance the gospel. Did this book meet my expectations? I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am pleased that it laid out a foundation for even new Believers to present the gospel.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
December 17, 2025
Just finished reading Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations with my small group, and it was both encouraging and stretching in the best way. This book reframes evangelism from something scripted or intimidating into something relational, natural, and rooted in genuine love for people.
What I appreciated most is how practical and accessible it is. Rather than offering formulas or pressure-filled tactics, the author emphasizes listening well, caring deeply, and trusting God to work through ordinary moments. It challenged me to see everyday interactions — with friends, coworkers, and neighbors — as meaningful opportunities, not interruptions.
Some ideas are revisited throughout the book, but in a group setting that repetition actually helped reinforce the core message and sparked good discussion. Overall, this was a timely reminder that gospel conversations don’t have to be forced — they grow out of authentic relationships and a heart aligned with Christ.
Highly recommend for individuals or small groups who want to grow in confidence and intentionality when it comes to faith-filled conversations.
What I appreciated most is how practical and accessible it is. Rather than offering formulas or pressure-filled tactics, the author emphasizes listening well, caring deeply, and trusting God to work through ordinary moments. It challenged me to see everyday interactions — with friends, coworkers, and neighbors — as meaningful opportunities, not interruptions.
Some ideas are revisited throughout the book, but in a group setting that repetition actually helped reinforce the core message and sparked good discussion. Overall, this was a timely reminder that gospel conversations don’t have to be forced — they grow out of authentic relationships and a heart aligned with Christ.
Highly recommend for individuals or small groups who want to grow in confidence and intentionality when it comes to faith-filled conversations.
June 7, 2022
I read this book based on a sermon I recently heard.
The negative... First of all, it's a very small book. So much so, that if you take out the oft-cited stats and numbers portions, it could really be a free pamphlet. Secondly, there is what I've found to be a typically Southern Baptist Focus on numbers and "multiplication" that I find kind of exhausting to read. Third, there is the concept of pushing for a decision—or giving an invitation. While this isn't bad in itself, context is everything and I don't think the authors are totally clear on that.
The positive... Having served outside of the US in a non-majority Christian context, I'm naturally skeptical of one-size-fits-all tools. However, this tool has some merit as long as it's allowed to be flexible. You don't HAVE to draw circles, etc.
At the end of the day, what I was hoping for was something that delved more into the ins and outs of moving from everyday conversations to Gospel conversations and felt that, other than a few transition examples, the authors didn't really go deep into what that looks like.
The negative... First of all, it's a very small book. So much so, that if you take out the oft-cited stats and numbers portions, it could really be a free pamphlet. Secondly, there is what I've found to be a typically Southern Baptist Focus on numbers and "multiplication" that I find kind of exhausting to read. Third, there is the concept of pushing for a decision—or giving an invitation. While this isn't bad in itself, context is everything and I don't think the authors are totally clear on that.
The positive... Having served outside of the US in a non-majority Christian context, I'm naturally skeptical of one-size-fits-all tools. However, this tool has some merit as long as it's allowed to be flexible. You don't HAVE to draw circles, etc.
At the end of the day, what I was hoping for was something that delved more into the ins and outs of moving from everyday conversations to Gospel conversations and felt that, other than a few transition examples, the authors didn't really go deep into what that looks like.
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