The Externally Focused Church
by Rick Rusaw, Eric Swanson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Eric Swanson, Rick RusawEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-06
ISBN: 0764427407
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Group Publishing (CO)
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780764427404
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Externally Focused Church
Book Review: Best Book I Read Last Year!
Summary: 5 Stars
When contemplating the Church and its mission, Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson have written an excellent resource. The authors identify an externally focused church as: "internally strong, but they are oriented externally." (p 17) They encourage church leaders to ask, "Whose lives are different because of this church?"
Christians ought to engage their communities "with truth and grace, good news and good deeds." (p 16) Believers need to be both salt and light. Here are four characteristics identified with externally focused churches:
1) They are convinced that good deeds and good news can't and shouldn't be separated.
2) They see themselves as vital to the health and well-being of their communities.
3) They believe that ministry and serving are the normal expressions of Christian living.
4) They are evangelistically effective. (pp 24-27)
Key Strategies of externally focused churches are:
1) Identify needs of their communities and start ministries or programs to meet those needs.
2) Partner with existing ministries or human-service agencies that are already accomplishing a shared mission in the community. (pp 29-30)
The Externally Focused Church is definitely the best book I read in 2006. I have highly recommended it to other pastors, leaders and church planters. It helps readers to discover practical ways to serve those in their cities or towns. This book also has a great section at the end of each chapter with something to think about, talk about, and act upon, plus sermon/message ideas.
Finally, here's their understanding of how good works and good news work together:
"Good deeds, in spite of all the wonderful things they can accomplish, are not sufficient to lead a person to saving faith in Jesus. Good works can be the bridge or the road, but they are not the saving message that crosses that bridge or travels that road. Good works are the complement but never the substitute for good news." (p 120)
Summary of The Externally Focused Church
Learn from churches that have made serving their communities a priority--with dramatic results. Your church can be a firm pillar in your community because of the unwavering truth and love of its membeChurch Administration Books
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