Bibliography 

Thompson, Jr, W. Oscar . Concentric Circles of Concern.

Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

 

 

Author Information

 

W. Oscar Thompson, Jr., was an instructor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of evangelism. He was a pastor for twenty years before joining the seminary staff and was also president of the Oscar Thompson Evangelistic Association. He died of cancer in 1980.

 

Content Summary

 

Concentric Circles of Concerns is dynamic plan of specifics through love, to develop disciples for Christ. Thompson through the entire book links the importance of relationship, love, prayer, and organization as a fortified team to accomplish discipleship. He states that there are seven stages in this process: get right, survey, pray, build bridges, show love, make disciple, and begin again. (Pg.30-31) He makes a stance of declaring that the word relationship is the most important word in the dictionary.That word alones provides a stem or basis from which everything else can and will grow. He is very adamant about relationship being the glue that holds everything together in the area of discipleship. He states throughout the entire book the premise, that if you do not have a right relationship with those close to you, how can you have one with those far away. He goes even deeper by saying that you can’t have a right relationship with God and then treat others adversely. (pg93) 

He furthers his case by then moving to the concept of love. He shows the direct affect that relationships have on your ability to display love. He lays out a message of love through the words that Christ shared in the Mark. Christ allows us to see in the book of Mark that when you love the least of mine you are showing your love to me. Thompson explains that text by telling us that Christ loves comes through when we meet the needs of other people. (pg.153)

 He also shows the importance of prayer throughout the entire process of discipleship to others. As he tells the different stories of reconciliation and salvation prayer becomes the backdrop of the all that was done in the people lives. It was amazes to see lives changed through the prayer while sometimes the person praying never had any contact previously. (pg.183) It was clear that being directed by the Holy Spirit through prayer was essential to development of others. Thompson displays this throughout the book to help the believer see that nothing can really be down outside of prayer.

As you read the book you find out one other thing, which was so important that he really does not mention much but is displayed through the book. That one thing is organization. With this he makes a few points as to know people names when you meet them because to love them is to remember their name. Through the seven stages he shows the importance of keeping up with many people from different places and paths. He repeats more than once, that God wants us to pray for specifics in our lives and the lives of others. The organization is not so much based on being neat but more so on making sure that all that are in your circles will be prayed for in your prayer time.

Thompson finishes the book by challenging the reader to now take someone else through the process that was just taught. He spells out the entire premise of a disciple and what it means to be a disciple. (pg. 191) Once the reader understands what a disciple is he or she then can go back out a make other disciples. At the end of the day that was what Thompson was after, making disciples. (pg. 200)

             

 

Evaluation

This may be one of the most convicting books that I have ever read. Thompson addresses themes directly and with passion. He give primary sources for many of the things that happen while either teaching or actually out in the field. He then gives biblical text to back up his thoughts throughout the book that brings home his presentations of the different stages.

As he writes, it is as if he holds the mirror in front of your face and then tells you to look at before you make a decision. I found it to be very refreshing that every time he was presented with a question he would respond with, what did your time in prayer led you to do. He would not convict the person but he would allow the Holy Spirit to convict the person. He says throughout the book that people convince others to come to Christ but the Holy Spirit convicts. He teaches throughout this work to let the Holy Spirit guide you to do that which you are called to do which is love those in your circle. He continually brings conviction by displaying the attitudes that when you become a believer you lose the right to choose who you want to love. That one statement is an enough to make me go into prayer and repent.

This book will be given to all my friends as a must read. I can say honestly that this book has made a drastic impact on me and challenge me to mend broken fences. I have to start at home then work out to those who are far from me. This has revolutionized by evangelistic approach. I believe he has hit the target and the aim with this book beyond anything that he ever imagined.

I believe that Thompson lived out what he wrote in this book which made it so real to him. He was a man that was out there witnessing to people but always looking for the better way to reach God’s people. After finding out the way, that he perceived Jesus to have taught the disciple, he instantly changed his whole teaching method and the way that he evangelized. That speaks volume because that is rare. He changed his whole method of teaching and lifestyle to fulfill what he believed to be the blueprint from the bible.

If I had one complaint about the book it would be that Dr. Thompson makes everything appear to be so systematic. He doesn’t really give a lot of room for uncertainty in any of stories but makes everything finite. I believe he addresses those areas of concern with the, continue to pray statements. I still find it scarce in this book that it always worked regardless of anything.. For a person who holds the sovereignty of God to be the utmost, there may be a bit ambiguity hidden in this text. I believe it would be minimal but I can see where they may have an issue. Thompson makes it appear that our prayers can actually change the will and mind of God. Pure Calvinist would have a problem with some of the ways that Thompson presents his message.

All in all, I believe this is a great book and should be used a paradigm for churches and other bible study groups. This book has made an impact through it stories and personal testimonies as well as the revelation that Thompson provides from the scriptures.