Lately, I’ve been carrying this nagging feeling, this little struggle in my spirit. It’s about how we, in the American church culture, often approach this whole “disciple-making” thing. Does it ever feel… clunky to you? Like we’ve built this intricate machine with so many moving parts that it ends up feeling more like it’s sputtering and stalling than actually, you know, making disciples?
We’ve tried all sorts of things, haven’t we? We’ve tried to make church more “attractive,” and hey, that’s brought people to Jesus, which is amazing! But sometimes I wonder if we’ve focused so much on the “attract” part that we’ve inadvertently made the actual following and becoming part feel… well, a bit overwhelming.
Then, I stumbled upon this little book, “8 to 15, The World Is Smaller Than You Think” by Tom Mercer. And honestly, it was like a breath of fresh air. Mercer talks about this concept called the Oikos Principle. Now, “Oikos” is just the Greek word for “extended family,” but the way he breaks it down is so simple, but yet so profound.
Think about it:
- Your extended family (literally, that’s the Greek meaning!).
- The most natural place for sharing your faith to happen. Isn’t it true? The people who already know you, who see your life up close.
- That core group of 8 to 15 people with whom you’re already doing life. Your closest friends, family, neighbors, colleagues – your inner circle.
- The very people God wants to equip you to be an instrument of His grace for. That’s a powerful thought, isn’t it?
- A mini-version of the whole world, the very world Jesus came to save, so that everyone who believes in Him can truly live life to the fullest.
What grabbed me about this Oikos Principle was its beautiful simplicity. It just clicks. It feels right. Here’s what I’m really enjoying about it:
- It’s rooted in the Bible. This isn’t some trendy new idea; it echoes how Jesus Himself invested deeply in a small group, and how the early church spread like wildfire through natural connections.
- It’s the pattern Jesus set and the early church embraced. That gives it some serious weight, doesn’t it?
- It’s crystal clear. No complicated formulas or endless steps. Just your people.
- It’s wonderfully simple. And in our complex world, isn’t that refreshing?
- It’s easily reproducible. Anyone can do this, right where they are, with who they already know.
- It’s inherently fruitful. Authentic relationships are fertile ground for the seeds of the Gospel.
But here’s where I get a little… frustrated, maybe? There’s this little voice in the back of my head, a cultural bias I see creeping into how we respond to ideas like this:
- We tend to raise an eyebrow at anything that isn’t super “sophisticated.” Like, if it’s not a ten-week program with a workbook and a leader’s guide, we might subconsciously think it’s not “deep enough.”
- We have this weird habit of wanting to “own” ideas. We like to repackage things and present them as our own brilliant innovation, sometimes missing the beauty of a simple, effective principle that’s already out there.
- And then there’s the classic: “That works over there, but not here.” As if the fundamental human need for connection and the power of genuine relationships somehow change based on zip code.
Honestly, I think we might be overthinking this whole disciple-making thing. Maybe the most powerful way to share Jesus and help others grow in their faith isn’t through elaborate programs, but through the genuine, everyday connections we already have.
So, here’s my honest recommendation, friend to friend. For the price of a latte or two ($10.97 on Amazon, last I checked!), grab a copy of “8 to 15.” Read it with an open heart. Pray about it. And then? Try it out. Start looking at your “Oikos” – those 8 to 15 people God has already placed in your life. What if disciple-making wasn’t this huge, daunting task, but simply about intentionally loving and investing in the people right around you?
I have a feeling it might just be the key to unlocking a more natural, relational, and yes, even simpler way to see God’s Kingdom grow, one relationship at a time.
What are your thoughts? Does this resonate with you? I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments below!
Photo by Sandeep Singh on Unsplash
