The Externally Focused Quest: Becoming the Best Church for the Community

by Eric Swanson, Rick Rusaw

Overview

A practical approach for leaders to guide their congregations to become more externally focused

The Externally Focused Quest: Becoming the Best Church for the Community is designed for church leaders who want to transform their churches to become less internally focused and more oriented to the world around them. The book includes the clear guidelines on the ten changes congregations must adopt to become truly outwardly focused. This book is not about getting all churches to have an annual day of community service as a tactic but changing the core of who they are and how they see themselves as a part of their community.

• Outlines the ten changes needed for church leaders to transform their churches
• Presents a highly practical approach that shows leaders how to become more externally focused without having to give up programs that serve members
• A new volume in the popular Leadership Network Series

This book reveals what it takes to make the major shift from an internal to external focus and how that affects church leadership.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470500781
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/12/2010
Series:	Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series , #44
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	124,871
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

ERIC SWANSON is a missional leadership specialist with Leadership Network, leading initiatives with externally focused churches that are missionally engaging their communities, cities, and the world. With Rick Rusaw he is the cofounder of the Externally Focused Network.

RICK RUSAW is the senior pastor at LifeBridge Christian Church and an innovative leader, speaker, author, and trainer. With Eric he is the cofounder of the Externally Focused Network.

Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw are coauthors of The Externally Focused Church and The Externally Focused Life. They frequently speak and train at seminars and conferences on missional/externally focused churches.

ABOUT LEADERSHIP NETWORK

The mission of Leadership Network identifies and connects innovative church leaders, providing them with resources in the form of new ideas, people, and tools. Contact Leadership Network at www.leadnet.org.

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Table of Contents

About Leadership Network.

Acknowledgments

Foreword (Alan Hirsch).

Introduction.

Chapter 1: What Kind of Day Is Today?

Chapter 2: Focus: They Choose the Window Seat, Not the Aisle Seat.

Chapter 3: Purpose: They Practice Weight Training, Not Bodybuilding.

Chapter 4: Story: They Live in the Kingdom Story, Not a Church Story.

Chapter 5: Missions: The Few Send the Many, Not the Many Send the Few.

Chapter 6: Partnering: They Build Wells, Not Walls.

Chapter 7: Systems: They Create Paradigms, Not Programs.

Chapter 8: Evangelism: They Deploy Kingdom Laborers, Not Social Workers.

Chapter 9: Creativity: They Innovate, Not Replicate.

Chapter 10: Outcomes: It's About the Game, Not the Pregame Talk.

Notes.

The Authors.

Editorial Reviews

"Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw continue to challenge the church to look outward—to join Jesus on his mission in a hurting world, and to show and share the love of Christ. If you are serious about being the church for your community, this book will help provide the insight and tools you need to make it happen." —Ed Stetzer, Director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism

"The Externally Focused Quest is a must-read for every follower of Christ today. Like me, you will come away with a heart bursting with fresh vision for the world outside the four walls of your church." —Dr. Wayne Cordeiro, founding and senior pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, chancellor of Pacific Rim Christian College Consortium, president of New Hope Christian College

"This book is hands-down the most effective tool for casting this vision both inside and outside the church. While covering a lot of historical and technical ground, the authors' engaging style makes it hard to put down. It really is a must-read for everyone in your city." —Rebecca Walls, founder and executive director, Unite Greater Dallas

"I am a big fan of Swanson and Rusaw. They are helping the church become what she has been destined for—to be outwardly focused. This is another great book that will help you get beyond yourself." —Steve Sjogren, author, Conspiracy of Kindness

"Swanson and Rusaw are unmatched in their grasp of church and culture! This book contains the information and insight that will resource my preaching, refine my strategy, and reignite my passion as a pastor." —Dr. Joel C. Hunter, retired senior pastor, Northland—A Church Distributed, Longwood, Florida, and chairman, Community Resource Network, Orlando

From the Publisher