Rick Rusaw – The Externally Focused Church

Externally Focused Churches
Are not defined by size, location, or denomination.
Are defined by perspective and purpose.

5 Characteristics of an EFC
1. They believe that the community cannot be healthy without the church.
2. They believe that Christians cannot grow until they serve. (Growth will not happen in a 101, 201, 301 system.) Ephesians 2:8-10
3. They understand the power of service. Lenin didn’t outlaw Christianity in USSR but outlawed acts of service by the church. You have to rake a lot of leaves before the community begins to ask your opinion.
4. They are evangelistically effective.
5. They partner with other entities.

Micah 6:8…Acts of mercy allow you to get traction in order to do justice.

Rick’s Comment: The American Church has lost the ability to speak into the culture because we have withdrawn from it…because it’s dirty. We’ve got to get close enough where we can whisper into people’s lives.
Robert’s Digestion: PCA should be finding ways to help public schools along with educating children in a “protected” system. They need to be building up kids so that they can direct culture. Harmony should think about doing as much for public schools as it is for PCA.

The question we always need to be asking, “How do we take the unchanging message of Jesus to the always, rapidly changing world?” We always need to be evaluating the delivery, and looking or creating new kinds of delivery options.