Reflections on Externally Focused Church Seminar

A good day on Wednesday.
Rick Rusaw Visionary / Practitioner
Eric Swanson Concept / Practitioner

Both Rick and Eric presented Externally Focused thoughts, principles, stories, and how to's. here are some notes from the day.

2 concepts both important...Not either or.

Attractional church...Come and See...attracting not yet believers in creative, sustainable, environmental on campus. Is this a church I would attend? Does it attract? Is the language, vibe and environment attractive?

Missional church...going beyond the 4 walls out into the community. Would our community miss us if we no longer existed? Are we making a difference in our community? Are we salt, leaven and light in our community?

Connecting with pre-existing community groups, schools, YMCA's, food pantries, health agency's, etc.

Good deeds create good will that opens doors for the good news.
Good Deeds + Good Will + Good News = True Outreach.

Deeds verify our words
Words clarify our deeds

No ulterior motives we serve others because we are Believers...Followers of Jesus serve because they are followers of Jesus.

Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
The Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.
As the Father has sent me so am I sending you...

3 stories

Our story... How did my journey begin? What is my story? Where is my journey heading? How does my story connect?
Their story...What is this persons story? Where are they heading? Discovering a person's spiritual address
God's story... How can I help this person take their next step toward the Good News of God's redemptive story found in Jesus Christ?

Biblical Thought Eph 2:8-10 NIV

• 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Believers believe the two verses above...
We know God, or are known by God by God's grace found in Jesus Christ. He is the grace giver...We are the grace receivers... faith in God's grace, undeserved, unearned, not worked for... but grace received by faith allow us to become the saved...

vs 10 gives us an indication what we were saved for...

• For we are God's workmanship,
  
• created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
  
• which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Externally leaders role: Help people discover the good works that God has prepared for them to do by creating opportunities for service and celebrating the good works they are already doing in our community.

Much more... a good day of training