Evangelism and Church Revitalization: Why “Oikos” Still Works Today
- Brent Madaris
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
When pastors think about revitalization, evangelism often feels like the most obvious solution: “If we just reach more people, the church will grow again.” Yet research shows evangelism is not just about numbers—it’s about restoring the health of a declining church. Evangelism is also not a standalone remedy!
In my own research on revitalization measures for struggling churches, pastors consistently ranked leadership first, community engagement second, discipleship third, evangelism fourth, and programmatic emphases fifth.
Evangelism is not the only factor, but it is a crucial part of the recovery process. While I do not dismiss any form of evangelism, I want to focus this article on one type…oikos evangelism.
Jarvis Baker’s research, Leadership Matters, confirms this truth by highlighting evangelism as one of the four pillars of the early church (alongside worship, learning, and love). His research shows that declining churches often neglect evangelism, while revitalized churches reclaim it as a central practice.
The question is: how should pastors think about evangelism in the revitalization process?
1. Evangelism in the Early Church
Acts 2:41–47
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
In Acts 2:41–47, the church grew through two primary mechanisms: Public preaching and personal evangelism. Preachers preached, and believers naturally shared their faith in everyday life. Baker describes this as the evangelizing church—a congregation marked by gospel witness, not just programs.
Research takeaway: Churches that intentionally practice evangelism show greater vitality than those that neglect it.
Pastoral application: Evangelism is not optional for revitalization; it is essential for health and life. Note: Although I would never minimize public evangelism we must also remember that we only find public preaching on a massive scale (with multitudes believing) a couple of times in the book of Acts. The majority of evangelism was more personal, an "oikos" evangelism.
2. Declining Churches Often Neglect Evangelism
One of Baker’s research findings is sobering: plateaued and declining churches often stop prioritizing evangelism. Energy shifts inward—toward maintaining programs, budgets, or traditions—rather than outward to reaching people.
Research takeaway: Churches in decline often forget their mission.
Pastoral application: Revitalization requires re-centering on the Great Commission, not just survival.
3. My Research: Evangelism as the Fourth Revitalization Measure
In my study of revitalization, pastors identified five key measures for struggling churches. These top five, in order of importance were:
Leadership
Community engagement
Discipleship
Evangelism
Programmatic emphases
Notice that evangelism came in fourth—not first. That surprised some, but the lesson is clear: evangelism thrives when leadership is strong, the church is engaged with its community, and discipleship systems are in place. Evangelism is most effective as part of a holistic recovery plan.
Understanding the Word Oikos
The Greek word oikos (οἶκος) means “house,” “household,” or “family.” In the New Testament, it describes more than a physical dwelling—it refers to the network of people connected through family, servants, and close associates who lived under one household influence.
This concept is foundational to understanding how the gospel spread in the early church:
Acts 10:2 – Cornelius was “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house (oikos).”
Acts 16:31–34 – The Philippian jailer believed and was saved “and his house.”
1 Corinthians 16:15 – “The house of Stephanas” was the firstfruits of Achaia and devoted to ministry.
Acts 2:46 - And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
In the first century, conversion often spread along these household or relational lines. Faith was not isolated to individuals—it naturally flowed through trusted relationships. The oikos model shows that evangelism in Acts was intensely personal and relational, carried out through everyday conversations among family, friends, and coworkers.
4. Why “Oikos” Still Works Today
The early church’s evangelism flowed through public preaching and oikos networks—households, families, and close relational circles. People came to Christ because believers shared the gospel with those they already knew.
This same principle applies today:
Members don’t need a stage to evangelize; they need a table.
Evangelism is most natural when it grows out of existing relationships.
Revitalizing churches should find ways to get the gospel, publicly, to the people and equip members to reach their family, friends, and coworkers.
Application for pastors: Implement public preaching opportunities. Also, instead of launching a flashy outreach campaign, train your people to share the gospel with the five or six people in their immediate circle. That’s where revitalization begins.
5. Evangelism Anchored in Scripture and Spirit
Research provides the evidence, but Scripture provides the authority. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) and the witness of Acts remind us that evangelism is not a program but a lifestyle. Research confirms what the Bible already teaches: healthy churches are evangelizing churches.
Yet some may ask, “Why do we need research at all? Isn’t the Bible enough?”The answer is simple: research does not replace Scripture—it reveals how faithfully (or unfaithfully) churches are living out its commands. Research is like holding up a mirror to the church; it shows where obedience is strong and where it is weak. The Bible gives us the truth; research helps us see how that truth is being practiced in real life.
Think of it this way: a doctor uses a medical test not to replace the body’s design, but to understand what’s happening inside it. In the same way, research is a tool to help pastors “take the pulse” of the church’s spiritual health. Or imagine a farmer checking the soil before planting—he already knows seedtime and harvest are God’s laws, but research helps him understand what conditions may hinder the harvest in his field.
Used rightly, research strengthens—not supplants—our biblical convictions. It gives context, not commands; it helps us apply Scripture wisely within our own communities. In short, the Bible gives us the pattern, but research helps us see where we’ve drifted from it and how we might return.
Conclusion: Evangelism Is Part of the Whole
Both Baker’s research and my own findings point in the same direction: evangelism is essential for revitalization, but it is not a stand-alone solution. It works best when leadership is healthy, the church is engaged with the community, discipleship is intentional, and programs are aligned with mission.
The early church’s oikos approach shows us that the most regular, powerful evangelism is relational, natural, and Spirit-led. The recovery of oikos evangelism is not a strategy borrowed from sociology; it is a rediscovery of how the Spirit originally worked through ordinary believers in everyday relationships.
If declining churches will return to that model, they will not only see growth in numbers—they will regain life in Christ.
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