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Rick’s Comment: The American Church has lost the ability to speak into the culture because we have withdrawn from it…because it’s dirty.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.

Bob Russell – Wise words

Wise Words…

When problems surface in the church and confession is not made but someone is confronted then it is highly likely that there is more to the story.

Whoever wrote, “A picture is worth one thousand words.” used words. So, preach the Bible it will always be relevant.

Key Preaching Principles
1. Preaching will always be relevant.
2. The Bible is the ultimate source of power – rely on it. MEANING: preach fewer “eye catching” topics, make edification main purpose not evangelism, don’t be obsessed with innovation, preach through books of the Bible or on its characters.
3. Study time should be scheduled. MEANING: 20 hours a week in preparation by reading, developing examples, and condensation.
4. Consistency is critical in building a healthy church – maintain it. MEANING: If you can’t bring the sermon with the same energy the week after Easter as you did Easter weekend then get someone else to preach.
5. A sense of passion/intensity is essential for an effective delivery
6. Sharing the whole counsel of God takes courage – preach it!

Rick Rusaw – At LifeBridge Christian Church

At LifeBridge Christian Church

At LifeBridge they focus on saving the lost and serving the least. They do that by helping the lost discover grace, then encourage people to grow in grace and to live gracefully(serve the lost).

All of their staff is required to volunteer 15 hours a week either in the community or church or both. “How can you lead where you aren’t willing to go?”

Often when we say service we mean serve us, but it needs to transition to serve others – Ephesians 2:10. LifeBridge values inside and outside service. They value the Little League coac as much as the children’s worker. LifeBridge is trying something where they took four small groups and are giving them back half of their giving to find some service to do.

Start with people who are already doing it.

Use big events as an entry point into consistent service. (painted three middle schools one summer)

If big events are the only thing you do for service then stop.

At LifeBridge everybody does something externally focused. Mens, womens, childrens, youth, small groups have an externally focused arm.

They measure all kinds of metrics at LifeBridge, but what they do not do is measure metrics on how service is impacting attendance, because they want to protect the integrity of their service.