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

Praise for The Externally Focused Quest

"Swanson and Rusaw are unmatched in their grasp of church andculture! This book contains the information and insight that willresource my preaching, refine my strategy, and reignite my passionas a pastor."

[ Dr. Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor, Northland A ChurchDistributed, Longwood, Florida]

"The Externally Focused Quest is a must–read for every followerof Christ today. Like me, you will come away with a heart burstingwith fresh vision for the world outside the four walls of yourchurch. I am making this book required reading for students in thecolleges I oversee. It will challenge and dismantle your excuses;then it will inspire you, instruct you, and compel you to action. Iam different for having read this book."

[Dr. Wayne Cordeiro, founding and senior pastor of New HopeChristian Fellowship and chancellor of Pacific Rim ChristianCollege Consortium]

"Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw continue to challenge the church tolook outward to join Jesus on his mission in a hurting world,and to show and share the love of Christ. If you are serious aboutbeing the church for your community, this book will help providethe insight and tools you need to make it happen."

[Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research]

"Wake up, Church, and read the challenges of our world asopportunities for the church. We are called to serve, and at notime in history has the church had such amazing opportunities to bea transformative presence in the world. In The Externally FocusedQuest, Swanson and Rusaw set our hearts on fire for becoming thechurch that will change the world and then provide concreteexamples of how to begin wherever you are in the church and theworld. Swanson and Rusaw are redefining the church to be not simplya group of people who believe the same things, but a group ofpeople who are on a mission together as big as the world we arecalled to serve."

[Diana Garland, dean, School of Social Work, BaylorUniversity]

"I am a big fan of Swanson and Rusaw. They are helping thechurch become what she has been destined for to be outwardlyfocused. This is another great book that will help you get beyondyourself."

[Steve Sjogren, president, ServeCoach.com]

Acknowledgments

Foreword (Alan Hirsch).

Introduction.

Chapter 1: What Kind of Day Is Today?

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

Chapter 3: Purpose: They Practice Weight Training, NotBodybuilding.

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

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

Chapter 9: Creativity: They Innovate, Not Replicate.

Chapter 10: Outcomes: It′s About the Game, Not the PregameTalk.

Notes.

The Authors.

Eric Swanson is a missional leadership specialist withLeadership Network, leading initiatives with externally focusedchurches that are missionally engaging their communities, cities,and the world. With Rick Rusaw he is the cofounder of theExternally Focused Network.

Rick Rusaw is the senior pastor at LifeBridge Christian Churchand an innovative leader, speaker, author, and trainer. With Eriche is the cofounder of the Externally Focused Network.

Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw are coauthors of The ExternallyFocused Church and The Externally Focused Life. They frequentlyspeak and train at seminars and conferences on missional/externallyfocused churches.