Small Groups Reaching Out

Verses to read: Acts 4:13-14, Acts 2:46-47, Acts 20:20, Romans 16:3-5, Romans 16:10-11

Small groups and meetings in homes were an integral part of the early church. Discipling relationships are built in the small group.

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house. Philemon 2

What is God’s heart as we meet from house to house?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8, 

When our small group becomes ingrown, all we see are the imperfections of each other. We need to look to Jesus and discern how we can reach out to those around us.

Oikos principle

Oikos is a Greek word meaning “household” or “house of people.” Most Bible versions translate the word oikos in Acts 10:24 as “relatives and close friends.” The King James Version translates the word as “kinsmen and near friends.” Therefore, your oikos is a group of people to whom you relate on a regular basis. These are your sphere of influence—people you are influencing one way or another. It could be:

  • family and relatives
  • those with common interests (passions and hobbies)
  • those who live in the same geographical location as you
  • those who have a common vocation
  • others with whom you have regular contact.

Research indicates that 75–90% of people who accepted Christ as adults did so because of the influence of someone in their oikos. Oikos is the most effective form of evangelism, because it is based on existing trust and the power of personal influence in relationships.

Biblical examples of oikos evangelism

  1. Luke 5:27-32 – Levi invited other tax collectors to his home (oikos of vocation) to meet Jesus.
  2. Luke 19:1-9 – Zaccheus hosted Jesus in his home (oikos of household). Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house.”
  3. John 1:40-42 – Andrew told his brother Peter about Jesus (oikos of immediate family).
  4. John 1:44-45 – Philip told Nathanael about Jesus (oikos of a friend from the same town).
  5. Acts 10 – Cornelius invited all those he was in relationship with to his home (oikos of friends and neighbors).

Keys to small-group multiplication

The primary focus of every small group should be evangelism. The oikos method is the biblical model for evangelism.

Note that new Christians need daily contact and encouragement for (at least) the first month.

Evangelism is in the DNA of every believer. It is not an option. Neither is it a method; people are not projects. Evangelism takes place through relationships. Build relationships and just be yourself.

Jesus spent time with people. He built relationships. This is seen in Luke 5, 8, 19, John 1, and many other scriptures. Jesus ventured beyond normal limitations with the woman at the well (John 4).

What keeps me from reaching people?

  • Can I allow a spirit of love and acceptance to replace a spirit of condemnation?
  • Let the Holy Spirit convict of sin; do not try to tell others about their sins.
  • Who is looking for the Messiah as the Samaritan woman was? (John 4)
  • Learn to pray in a way that is not condemning.

Learn to share personal testimonies

  • Before you met Christ
  • Your experience of salvation; coming to Christ
  • What changed in your life after coming to Christ

Practical ideas for small-group evangelism

Small groups should be evangelistic. Small-group members should have a strategy for reaching people who live in their neighborhoods and communities. In this way, they expand their scope and vision, and the lost are brought into God’s Kingdom.

Don’t become discouraged if you don’t see immediate fruit from your outreach. There seems to be a spiritual principle here—as we reach out, growth comes. The very act of reaching out puts something in motion in our spiritual lives and in our small group. But the growth doesn’t always come specifically from the outreach.

For example, a small group might canvas a neighborhood door to door, but instead of somebody coming to the group from one of the houses that was visited, a group member’s relative might get saved and start to attend the small-group meetings.

Creative ideas for evangelism

  • Picnic outreach or block party
  • Serve people practically in the community
  • Prayer walks and prayer drives through your town
  • Adopt a neighborhood family in need
  • Conducting interviews or questionnaires in the community
  • Host a booth at a community night out or festival
  • Special evangelistic meeting or worship night in the park

Questions

  1. What is the key to reaching out?
  2. Who are the people in my oikos?
  3. Who do I need to share the gospel with?