In my last two posts, I’ve been wrestling with something that feels increasingly prevalent in American churches: the tendency to overcomplicate discipleship. We can get so caught up in the quest for the “perfect” program, the most cutting-edge strategy, that we inadvertently lose sight of the simple, relational heart of following Jesus and inviting others to do the same. We sometimes dismiss approaches that aren’t our own, or fall into the trap of believing that what flourishes elsewhere will somehow wither on our own soil.
I’ve been particularly drawn to unpacking the Oikos Principle, a concept woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Strategically, Jesus and the early church leveraged this – and “Oikos” is simply the Greek word for “extended family” – to witness remarkable multiplication of disciples. You can dive deeper into this by checking out my previous thoughts:
- Feeling the Friction? Maybe Disciple-Making Doesn’t Have to Be So… Complicated
- Beyond Programs: Reclaiming Relational Discipleship and The Oikos Principle
This exploration has led me to reflect on a pivotal moment early in my seminary journey. As a fresh-faced student, brimming with (perhaps misplaced) confidence, I advocated to skip my Discipleship Cohort. So, I found myself sitting across the desk from the program director. When he asked me to demonstrate my ability to share the gospel, a different question echoed in my mind. Perhaps it was the legacy of the seminary itself – founded by Dr. Bill Bright, the visionary behind Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) – but I sensed he was really asking: could I recite the “Four Spiritual Laws” verbatim?
Prior to seminary, I had interned at Skyline Church in the college ministry and was certainly familiar with the tool. However, committing it to memory hadn’t been a priority. What followed were a few awkward minutes of fumbling, a clear demonstration to both of us that the “Four Spiritual Laws” were not etched in my memory. Even after diligently completing the Discipleship Cohort, that verbatim recitation remained elusive, which brings me to the crux of the matter. Surely, there must be a simpler, more accessible way to communicate the life-transforming message of the gospel.
Stripping it Back: The ABCs of Good News
In his insightful book, “8 to 15, The World Is Smaller Than You Think,” Tom Mercer offers a refreshing and wonderfully simple framework for understanding and sharing the gospel.
The ABC’s of the Gospel
- A – Admit that you are a sinner who needs a Savior.
- B – Believe that Jesus is the only Savior available.
- C – Choose to follow Christ, to place your faith in Him alone.
*Used with permission
Relationality at Its Core
What strikes me about this framework is its inherent relationality. It begins with a shared human experience – the admission of our need. It then points to the unique answer in Jesus, inviting belief and trust. Finally, it culminates in a personal choice, a step into a relationship with Christ.
This simplicity stands in stark contrast to the often intricate and program-heavy approaches we can adopt. The Oikos Principle reminds us that discipleship often begins within the natural flow of our relationships. Our extended family, our friends, our neighbors – these are the initial fields ripe for the seeds of the gospel.
Imagine the freedom if we shifted our focus from finding the perfect curriculum to simply living out our faith authentically within our Oikos, ready to share the core message in a way that resonates – perhaps even through the simple ABCs. It removes the pressure of needing to be a theological expert or a master of a specific evangelistic technique. It empowers every believer to participate in the work of making disciples, right where they are.
Let’s Reclaim Simplicity
Perhaps the friction we feel in our disciple-making efforts isn’t a sign of a missing program, but a yearning for a return to the relational heart of Jesus’ approach. Let’s consider:
- Empowering our people to see their relationships as mission fields.
- Equipping them with simple, memorable ways to articulate the gospel.
- Fostering a culture of natural invitation within our church communities.
- Valuing the diverse ways the Holy Spirit works through individual believers.
Maybe, just maybe, the most effective disciple-making strategy isn’t the most complex one, but the one that flows naturally from authentic relationships and a clear, simple presentation of the good news. Let’s embrace the simplicity of the ABCs and the power of our Oikos, and watch how God can multiply disciples in ways we never imagined.
Photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash
