The Externally Focused Church Paperback – June 9, 2004

The title of this book indicates that it emphasizes the outward mission of the church and that it will focus on projects outside the church walls and congregation. The authors highlight Scriptures pointing toward service to the poor, needy and lost. They exegete these and interpret them to encourage readers to see the Biblical imperative to be externally focused. The book mainly consists of myriad and diverse examples of churches engaging in externally focused activities. These are exciting missions that churches are practicing among local communities and globally. These examples ought to inspire readers to begin asking God how they can respond according to their own calling to help others. The authors assert that any ministry to those outside the church, especially to the marginalized, the poor, the needy, etc, is ministry to Jesus himself according to Scripture. They show how such ministries can offer major impacts to individuals, families, schools, businesses and entire cities.If any reader is not thinking about projects outside the four walls of the church, this book will definitely spur you toward those good deeds. The many ideas will inspire creative projects that any church can initiate, as God leads them.I would encourage readers to keep in mind that this book aims to inspire an external focus. At times, it seems it promotes external focus on civic-minded projects over and against the worship of the church. I think it is good to keep in mind that worship and mission are both necessary and neither should be promoted over the other. Jesus must remain the center and focus of the church--whether during Sunday services, prayer groups and Bible study or during civic or pastoral projects.The book examines the early church's innovative care for others such as the sick and poor that was an anomaly in the first centuries. The authors highlight how that caught the world's attention and drew people to the church and to Christ; the same can occur today when the church looks outside itself. The authors did not mention how this accompanied the empowerment of the church by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the early church was engaged in their cities; however, Jesus commanded them to wait until they received power from on High, as they did on Pentecost. The authors fail to make that same exhortation to churches. Christians today need that same Holy Spirit empowerment and equipping to engage in the Mission of God; otherwise, the church becomes another civic group like Rotary or Kiwanis or the local Secular Humanist Club. (I'm not knocking civic groups--I'm a big fan) They may do good works; but we want to do the works of God that produce everlasting fruit and glory to him specifically.Finally, the authors write that they don't know of any churches that claim to be internally focused but that they exist all the same. I dislike how the authors arbitrarily have decided that there are externally focused churches that are good and internally focused churches that are bad. This mindset can lead churches to ignore the very real needs within the congregation. For example, churches need to care for their own flock possibly before going out into the world. I don't think internal focus and external focus are mutually exclusive--no more than worship and mission. Regardless of how we look as churches, we need to continually humbly reform.Overall, I recommend this book for all Christians.

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)