Work the Problem

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. —ACTS 2:47

Jesus came to change the world, which is why He chose to use multiplication. (He knew that addition would simply take too long.) Hence, the daily in Acts 2:47.

Over time, things can add up, but slowly. Yet they can multiply out rather quickly, and churches that understand how to leverage that idea tend to reach more people. The oikos principle is an exponentially effective principle because it multiplies your efforts.

Leveraging the oikos principle is what pastors have always encouraged their churches to do. “Hey, invite your friends and family to church!” Or, “Let’s try to share Jesus with our friends and family this week!” Nothing new there. But exponential ideas (like oikos) have a difficult time taking root in non-exponential environments (like most local churches).

Most pastors think exponentiality is a great concept, but like everything else in leadership, it’s one thing to agree that something is a great idea, it’s another thing to embrace it as a great idea. When exponentiality is not embraced as a foundational element of a pastor’s vision, even ideas that have the potential to reach more people are either met with resistance or simply die before they have a chance to gain traction.

Living an exponential life is hard. Leading an exponential church is even harder. But building a culture of exponentiality in a local church is harder still, because it pushes back on familiarity and comfort. That’s why most churches just add stuff. Addition is more manageable and doesn’t challenge what we’ve become used to on the weekends.

Actually, at some point, most pastors have begun “exponential” dialogue with their church families, but most of those conversations don’t last very long and few of them end very well.

“Let’s add another worship service.”


Pushback: “But we won’t be able to know everyone and all be together!”

“Let’s make a commitment to small groups.”


Pushback: “But we love our Sunday School Class!”

“Let’s target different generational venues.”


Pushback: “But how will the young people ever benefit from the wisdom of the older ones?”

“Let’s utilize multiple preachers and teachers.”


Pushback: “But we don’t like it when (so and so) isn’t speaking!”

“Let’s pursue our vision on multiple campuses.”


Pushback: “But now we won’t see (so and so) every weekend!

“Let’s embrace the oikos principle and commission multiple evangelists.”

Pushback: “But my friend needs to talk to the pastor, because I don’t know the Bible well enough to answer their questions!”

The first time the idea of exponentiality threatens to push a local church out of their comfort zone (probably when someone brings up the idea of starting a second worship service), the resistance is significant. But, as exponential thinking begins to take root and subsequent conversations ensue, the resistance gains less traction. And, after a while, the idea of exponentiality permeates a church culture. When it does, and exponentially-based changes are proposed, they are received as intuitive ways to conduct a local church ministry.

The benefits of exponential thinking are pervasive.

·     Exponential thinking takes the focus off of the leaders and places Kingdom-building ministries into the hands of a prepared church family.

·     Exponential thinking significantly multiplies a local church’s ministry potential. By a lot! For example, are there more people in your church family than you have leaders? If so, then you’d reach more people if your church family got involved in the Church’s mission. That’s simple math.

·     Exponential thinking provides a ministry environment where the oikos principle naturally germinates.

And when it does, there will be other problems. Like what to do with all the new people.