The Definition of “Oikos”

The goal of this segment is to determine your closest relationships as well as recontacts for beginning the discipleship process.

The “Twenty” Exercise

The process of multiplying disciples begins with defining your “Oikos.” “Oikos” in Greek means “closest relationships” or “your circle of communication and acquaintances.” Usually, every person has 20 or more people who they see and interact with most often. This exercise will help you seen what kind of people are around you – believers or non believers.

Step 1: On a clean sheet of paper write in a column the names of 20 people with whom you are in contact most often. While doing this, write the names of all your friends and relatives, whether they are believers or not.

Example:

1. Ninette
2. Brother Alex
3. Nicholas
4. Mom
5. Neighbor Jack
6. ….. etc.

Step 2: After you have created your list, put one of the following symbols by each name: if this person believes in Christ, put a “+”; if not, put a “-“; if you aren’t sure about his/her faith, put a “?”.

Example:

1. Ninette +
2. Brother Alex +
3. Nicholas –
4. Mom –
5. Neighbor Jack ?

If you mostly have “+” then most people surrounding you are believers. On one hand this is good; there are people are you who can help you grow spiritually. But on the other hand, you have a few people to go to begin the discipleship process. If you want to start the process of a disciple making movement, you must enter a new circle of relationships.

If you mostly have the “-” sign then you have a good start for the disciple multiplication process. You have specific people that you can start working with. You need to share the Good News with them.

If you have the “?” sign then you need to determine your own walk with God. Usually, when you’ve spent enough time with a person, you can determine if they believe in Jesus or not. If you have many “?” then maybe you are not living out the Gospel in front of your “Oikos.”

Step 3: Pray for those on your list, especially those “-” and “?”. Call or text your top 5 “-” or “?”. Tell these people that you have been thinking about them and praying for them. Ask them if there is anything you can pray for.

The “Oikos” Exercise

Each of us has several spheres of “limos” Here are some of them:

• The “relationship” oikos – people with whom you have an ongoing mutual relationship. For example, family members, relatives, friends, coworkers, classmates, etc.
• The “interests” oikos – people with whom you share a common interest. For example: work, ministry, sport, fishing, dogs, gardening, and etc.
• The “contacts” oikos – people with whom you have neither mutual relationships or interest, but with whom you periodically meet. For example: a doctors, auto mechanic, bank worker, head teacher, store salesman.

Draw similar “oikos” circles in your notebook. Think about the different spheres of “oikos” in your life. Make a list of people for each category of “oikos.” You can use the names that you wrote from previous exercises.

After you finish, pray about the people in each category. Underline the names of those people you feel God is call you to visit this week.

Behind every person on your lists there are at least 20 of his/her friends and family, so multiply the total number of people on your lists by 20. There is a great number of people you can influence.