Our Stories
Oikos
By Debbie Hancock | posted 05/10/2007
“The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him!” (Acts 17:25-27, The Message)
Oikos. It’s a funny word. I have been thinking about that word lately. Oikos is a Greek word. It is in a family of words based on the idea of home or household. A person’s oikos can be one’s family, friends, neighbors and associates. It could also be people who share a common interest, like a hobby or employer. Relationships. A social web of people. The family of God.
When in prison Paul wrote to the Philippians and let them know that his imprisonment had not hindered the spread of the Gospel. The Good News. He shared that it had actually opened doors to new relationships in Caesar’s oikos.
Some of Caesar’s oikos became believers. Paul was locked up with a Roman guard. God used that to bring salvation to Nero’s family.
It is recorded in Luke that Jesus gave sermons about how to spread the Gospel. He said “oikos”, translated as house, in Luke 10:5-7: “When you enter a house (oikos), first say, ‘Peace to this house (oikos).’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house (oikos), eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house (oikos) to house (oikos).”
So to me that sounds like the Lord is telling us that in oikos, the Good News, Gospel, Kingdom of God is spread to people who don’t know Him yet.
In Athens, Paul spoke to an audience of intellectuals and philosophers about God’s intentional influence:
When I read that I had to look at every translation. He is near. We live and move in him. And best, we can’t get away from Him. It makes sense that relationship is God’s design to reach the world.
My relationship with God, who I know Him to be, who He has revealed himself to be to me is a strong witness in all my relationship/oikos.
I am devouring a book called “Organic Church”. On page 166 there is a heading: “A Relational Kingdom”. In the chapter it shows how Jesus leads by example with this. It shows how Jesus invested in relationships that would multiply and spread the Kingdom. He mentored a core team of leaders for the global movement of the Kingdom of God. It began in His oikos and spread to other people’s oikos.
I know people, in my oikos, who are dying to see a new way of life. People who want to be known and who want to belong. Who need Jesus. I am trying to get to know them in an authentic way, and let them know me. I want them to get Jesus from our relationship. Intimately “get” Him. Sometimes it takes a long time. It is an investment.
There is another part of this that is really where it all starts. Prayer. Getting into where people are broken and hurting is hard. Life in all its ugliness hurts and is uncomfortable. Sometimes it smells like cigarette smoke and liquor or drugs. God’s heart is broken. And I ask Him to break my heart. I don’t have the answers. I don’t have a degree in psychology. But I “get” where they are. And I know Jesus is the answer.
It’s in spiritual intimacy of prayer that God is near. It is the place where there is restoration, forgiveness, healing, deliverance, wholeness. Where His power flows like a river.
So this oikos thing is rocking my world … and prayer. Relationship and intimacy are two things God has restored, forgiven and healed in my life. Jesus delivered me out of bondage. He continues to make me whole.
I appreciate the people in my life so much more with this insight. I also appreciate the new doors that are opening to new relationships. There are so many Kingdom opportunities.
Debbie
To respond to this message, email Debbie at djh_is@truthrelationshippurpose.com.
“The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable; with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide and seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him!” (Acts 17:25-27, The Message)
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“The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him!” (Acts 17:25-27, The Message)
Oikos. It’s a funny word. I have been thinking about that word lately. Oikos is a Greek word. It is in a family of words based on the idea of home or household. A person’s oikos can be one’s family, friends, neighbors and associates. It could also be people who share a common interest, like a hobby or employer. Relationships. A social web of people. The family of God. When in prison Paul wrote to the Philippians and let them know that his imprisonment had not hindered the spread of the Gospel. The Good News. He shared that it had actually opened doors to new relationships in Caesar’s oikos. Some of Caesar’s oikos became believers. Paul was locked up with a Roman guard. God used that to bring salvation to Nero’s family. It is recorded in Luke that Jesus gave sermons about how to spread the Gospel. He said “oikos”, translated as house, in Luke 10:5-7: “When you enter a house (oikos), first say, ‘Peace to this house (oikos).’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house (oikos), eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house (oikos) to house (oikos).” So to me that sounds like the Lord is telling us that in oikos, the Good News, Gospel, Kingdom of God is spread to people who don’t know Him yet. In Athens, Paul spoke to an audience of intellectuals and philosophers about God’s intentional influence: “The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable; with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide and seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him!” (Acts 17:25-27, The Message) When I read that I had to look at every translation. He is near. We live and move in him. And best, we can’t get away from Him. It makes sense that relationship is God’s design to reach the world. My relationship with God, who I know Him to be, who He has revealed himself to be to me is a strong witness in all my relationship/oikos. I am devouring a book called “Organic Church”. On page 166 there is a heading: “A Relational Kingdom”. In the chapter it shows how Jesus leads by example with this. It shows how Jesus invested in relationships that would multiply and spread the Kingdom. He mentored a core team of leaders for the global movement of the Kingdom of God. It began in His oikos and spread to other people’s oikos. I know people, in my oikos, who are dying to see a new way of life. People who want to be known and who want to belong. Who need Jesus. I am trying to get to know them in an authentic way, and let them know me. I want them to get Jesus from our relationship. Intimately “get” Him. Sometimes it takes a long time. It is an investment. There is another part of this that is really where it all starts. Prayer. Getting into where people are broken and hurting is hard. Life in all its ugliness hurts and is uncomfortable. Sometimes it smells like cigarette smoke and liquor or drugs. God’s heart is broken. And I ask Him to break my heart. I don’t have the answers. I don’t have a degree in psychology. But I “get” where they are. And I know Jesus is the answer. It’s in spiritual intimacy of prayer that God is near. It is the place where there is restoration, forgiveness, healing, deliverance, wholeness. Where His power flows like a river. So this oikos thing is rocking my world … and prayer. Relationship and intimacy are two things God has restored, forgiven and healed in my life. Jesus delivered me out of bondage. He continues to make me whole. I appreciate the people in my life so much more with this insight. I also appreciate the new doors that are opening to new relationships. There are so many Kingdom opportunities. Debbie To respond to this message, email Debbie at djh_is@truthrelationshippurpose.com. |
