Sacred Roots Workshop

170 Sacred Roots Workshop: Retr ieving the Great Tradi t ion in the Contemporary Church

Bercot, ed., A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs , Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998, p. 148]).

1. Oikos evangelism is biblical – Jesus and apostles ministered in this fashion.

2. Oikos is our most natural and least threatening network of existing relationships (no cold calling, or the truest form of lifestyle and friendship evangelism).

3. Oikos individuals are usually receptive to other members (builds on shared history, experience, and concerns).

4. Oikos relationships are “built in” or resident mission field.

5. Oikos relationships make follow-up less strained, impersonal.

6. Oikos allows entire family groups to be targeted.

7. Oikos relationships constantly re-seed new contact base.

8. Implications for urban evangelism

a. Think economically ( oikos ) in all outreach and mission; always win souls with the oikos in mind.

b. Lay a proper foundation for continued penetration within the relational web.

c. Aim for the entire oikos , even while seeking solid individual conversions.