The Oikos Evangelism Strategy: Your Sphere of Influence

Oikos means "household" - your personal community of relationships. The average person has 8-15 people in their oikos: anyone they talk to, relate to, work with or live near.

Biblical foundation:

• Acts 16:31 - "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household."

• Acts 10:1-2, 22-27 - Cornelius brought his whole household to hear Peter

• Mark 2:15 - Levi invited his tax collector friends to meet Jesus

The power of oikos evangelism:

• 75-90% of Christians came to faith through a friend or relative

• Only 2-3% came through visitation

• Less than 1% through evangelistic crusades

• 1% through special needs

Oikos Evangelism

1. Awareness - Who are the lost people in your oikos?

Help each member identify lost people in their oikos:

• Family members

• Neighbors

• Coworkers

• Classmates

• People they see regularly (barber, mechanic, etc.)

• If your group members do not have anyone in their oikos who doesn’t know the Lord, help them expand their relational circle through starting a new hobby, going to a new coffee shop, new gym etc.

2. Training - Is your group trained?

Train your group members how to

• share the Gospel using the bridge diagram

• share their testimony in 2 minutes

• and to pray for the sick.

3. Involvement & Accountability - Obedience in Action

Each member should be actively building relationships with lost people, not just praying for them. Talk about how you are doing this as a group.

In every lifegroup meeting, take time to:

• Share oikos prayer requests

• Pray for each other's lost friends by name

• Celebrate progress in relationships

• Strategize next steps together