The Externally Focused Church

by Rick Rusaw, Eric Swanson

If Your Church Vanished, Would Your Community Weep? Would Anyone Notice? Would Anyone Care?

"I will never forget the comment of one fourth-grade teacher as she stood there, amazed at the work being done on her classroom by complete 'If this is Christianity, then I'm interested,' she said."
from Forward by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson

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 members.

Use case studies from churches that have mastered community service, and apply the action steps
From the minister to the mechanic and the teen to the tenured, your church will expand God's kingdom when it extends his love to the people in your community.

Genres: Church, Leadership, Evangelism, Christian, Theology, Ecclesiology, Spirituality

222 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2004

Reviews

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this along with the missions team at my church. I thought it was excellent. There was enough strategy to form a plan around without being too formulaic. There were a ton of real life examples and ideas to go from. We had great discussion around this book and can't wait to implement our learning!

[k_streebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Ok this book left me kind of speechless. I don't want to spoil what goodness is in this book but if you are a pastor you must read this. If you are serving in your church you must read this. If you haven't been serving in your church or anywhere else you must read this book!

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skimmed this one. The analysis of church "phases of maturity" was very insightful. What to do about it was not. This book is very clearly focused on churches with 500 or more members. Most of the suggestions did not seem to apply to a church with fewer than 25 active members (many of whom are related). Maybe I'm just too jaded.

[Marc Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book engaging and easy-to-read. The authors provide support for the ideas they share to develop an externally-focused church. They provide several ideas and real-life stories about engaging with the community.

[Chris Shallenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!!!

This book has radically changed my thinking as a pastor in the local church setting...it speaks to the true heartbeat of ministry that God has called me into.

[Pgchuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it difficult to give a star rating to this book: I agree wholeheartedly with the basic points about what the church is for and what it should be doing, but I found the book too long (I was skimming it by the end). Also I could have done with fewer real life examples as these became repetitive and perhaps more encouragement for when things don't work out or service is rejected or misunderstood. Both the authors are from the US and so all the examples were from American churches - it would be good to read something similar about Canada or the UK.

[Gary Allred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our long range strategic planning team read and discussed this book over the summer. A very practical how to book. Reading it helped us affirm many things we are doing well as a missional community of faith. It also helped us think in new directions as we move forward with an eye to fulling our purpose statement: "We are a caring community that invites and equips people to follow Jesus". And, that's what this book is about!

[Michael Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a good book to expand our thinking of what our ministry should look like. Many practical ways to be a blessing to the community and build goodwill. Evangelism is not easy today. Building relationships is important is showing people we care and allows us the right to be heard. However, we always must be careful in seeking to build relationships to be too tentative to actually share the gospel.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this one a year and a half ago. Not sure how I missed writng a review at the time. It is an exciting book. It's goal is to get us all to consider ourselves as ministers, especially to the poor, the sick, widows, orphans, and aliens. Well written with helps for discussion and with guides for action.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with the premise of this book. The church is to be externally focused. This book offers many real life examples for churches & church members. It's practical & inspiring. I found myself wanting to go out & get started! I'm not in church leadership, but I feel that I've gained insight, perspective & some ideas on how to help the church, any church, be externally focused.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise is important: "the way to inwardly build a church is through outward service."

Theology and some social positions are not always a match for us, but read past it for the excellent points at the core, and some helpful strategies.

I dog-eared more pages than usual, and made lots of highlights. That's the tell for me, when it comes to practical theology books.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does an excellent job of dispelling the notion that the church must decide between proclaiming truth and engaging in social action. The authors include several stories of churches that have successfully combined the two and give suggestions on how other churches may follow their example. This book proves that you can work to change your community without compromising the gospel message.

[Darrel Bartell · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent topic, very well written by these two authors, explaining how your church doesn't need to dream up new ways to serve their communtitys, rather be encouraged and inspired by these stories of what other churches have done.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on how churches can do outreach in the community. We bought one for every member of our church council, and it gave us great ideas for ministry to those in our neighborhood and community.

[Sally Cronkright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our church is reading this together and discussing how we can be more of an Externally Focused Church.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our church staff is currently reading through this book and discussing it.

[Walt Walkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical read. These guys talk about how they have seen this work in their own churches and communities.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new here-- lots of padding with stories. Ending chapters were probably the most useful.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. If churches focused on their communities instead of themselves - the returns would be greater than any could imagine.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on how to inwardly build a church through outwardly service. Warning: you may have to see your community differently.

[David Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rusaw and Swanson describe "service" in a fresh way that makes sense for unleashing our church into serving our community.

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is 3.5 stars, actually, because it picked up in the second half.

[Shirley Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focused and well presented. I appreciated their approach

[Randy Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insights in how a church can love its neighbors.

[Rick Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text for a class.

[William Chamberlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helps with evangelism and understanding our culture

[Bekah Backman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with practical ideas on mobilizing Believers in the things that really matter not just doing the easy things so we can pat ourselves on the back. Not the best writing style but otherwise excellent!