OIKOS: THE KEY TO EVANGELISM
Jack DeHart
I. DEFINITIONS:
A. Method: a way of doing something–a means or a manner of procedure.
B. Principle: a basic truth, law or assumption. A truth that is a foundation for other truth.
C. Oikia: in classic Attic Greek it defined a physical dwelling place, a house or home.
D. Oikos: in Attic Greek it defined the people dwelling in the house the inhabitants. Oikos in the New Testament is the most frequently used word dealing mostly with in inhabitants the house.
II. THE TREE UNIVERSAL UNITS OF SOCIETY
A. Common kinships– Family
B. Common community– Friend & neighbors
C. Common interests– Clubs, societies, classes, etc.
III. THE NEW TESTAMENT USED THE OIKOS AS THE MAIN FOCUS OF ATTENTION.
A. Jesus told the young man in Mark 5:19 (amplified) to “Go home to your own relatives, family, and friends….”
B. The Church immediately after Pentecost established a pattern. “In the temple, and breaking bread from house to house or oikos to oikos.”
C. The Pauline principle also included “…taught you publicly and from house to house.”
D. House to house does not mean door to door.
E. Door to door canvassing is a method not to be confused with oikos evangelism which is a divine principal.
EFFECTIVE OUTREACH
1. Begin with family.
2. Friends.
3. Associates.
4. Common interests
5. Develop new friends
IV. REVEALING STATISTICS
A. Statistics reveal that as little as 3-6% of people listed the Sunday School as the reason for them being in the church. As many as
70-90% revealed they came because of family, friend or associate.
B. As little as .0001% came in because of revivals, radio or T.V. ministries.
C. After interviewing 8000 people of all denominations it was found that:
1. 4-6% — Walk ins
2. 6-8% — Minister responsible; people go to church in spite of us!
3. 1-2% — Visitation
4. 2-4% — Church program
5. 3-6% — Sunday school
6. .0001% — Evangelistic crusade or radio-TV
7. 70-90% — Family or friends
V. OIKOS EVANGELISM WILL DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS FOR MY CHURCH.
A. It allows the Christian influence to work where it should be the most effective.
B. It will allow the Christian witness immediate access to the individual with the bridge building bearer removing process already
removed.
C. It eliminates fear to a large degree from the witnessing process.
D. It greatly enhances the discipleship process by tying the new convert with a caring system to help in the shepherding process.
E. It aligns the church in agreement with the New Testament pattern.
VI. PRACTICAL STEPS TO ESTABLISH “OIKOS EVANGELISM” IN MY CHURCH:
A. Begin building into my people the growth conscious biblical principles of Oikos Evangelism.
B. Have them define, pray for, and begin to evangelize their oikos network.
C. Begin to emphasize the importance of small cell groups with the oikos as its center.
D. Begin “Search For Truth” studies on an individual basis.
E. Introduce them to the collective gathering of the body.
FIVE AREAS OF OIKOS EVANGELISM
1. Family Assembly — Family devotions
2. Home sharing — Inviting a new convert, new family, sinner into home for dinner.
3. Home Bible Study
4. Community involvement — Community clubs and associations
5. Cell ministry
DEFINING MY PERSONAL OIKOS
In order to effectively evangelize my oikos, it is imperative that I define those therein. I understand that my oikos includes my near relatives and kinsmen, friends, and close business associates. Writing them down helps to crystalize these in my thinking. My goal is to win at least one in my oikos this year.
My Family My Friends My Associates
1. _____________________ ____________________ ____________________name name name
_____________________ ____________________ ____________________address address address
_____________________ ____________________ ____________________phone phone phone
2. _____________________ ____________________ ____________________name name name
_____________________ ____________________ ____________________address address address
_____________________ ____________________ ____________________phone phone phone
3. etc.
(The above material was published by the Home Missions Department.)
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