Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

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F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

e. Discipling new believers and bringing them into the church family occurred “house to house,” Acts 20.20.

f. Christian education for children, Eph. 6.4

g. Discipling of young wives, 1 Cor. 14.35

Conclusion

» The ministry of evangelizing the lost, discipling believers, and planting churches was done in conjunction with the households (i.e., oikia ) of the NT families! » The early Church expanded through the structure of the oikos , or household evangelism. An oikos is that web of common kinship relationships, friendships, and associations that make up a person’s larger social circle. » This social network played a crucial role in every dimension of the spread of the Gospel in both apostolic evangelism and church planting in the NT. Please take as much time as you have available to answer these and other questions that the video brought out. As we consider the best ways to penetrate the complex urban neighborhoods with the good news of the Kingdom, we ought to study afresh the ways in which the apostles carried forth the Word through the cities of the Roman empire. From a study of the book of Acts, it is clear that the early Church was impacted by and expanded the Word through the natural social structures of the oikos, or household evangelism. An oikos is that web of common kinship relationships, friendships, and associations that make up a person’s larger social circle. We must make certain that we understand its dimensions and nature if we are to apply its wisdom to our situation today. Think through the following questions carefully, making certain that they are consistent with the teaching of Scripture.

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Student Questions and Response

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1. What are some of the pressing problems that confront today’s urban poor neighborhoods? How specifically do these problems impact our ability to