The Externally Focused Church Eric Swanson Leadership Network, Dallas, TX

Birth of the EFC Movement EFC movement is a “God-thing” All church sizes Multiple regions Internationally Across denominations “ This is a wave that God has caused and we are riding or a wave that man has started and God is blessing.” Leadership Journal, Spring 2003

EFC movement is a “God-thing”

All church sizes

Multiple regions

Internationally

Across denominations

Attractional and Missional Churches Matthew 22:2-5, Luke 14:18-20 ” The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to come but they refused to come . Then he sent out more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet. But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business….and… all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come’”. Then he said… Go out …into the streets and alleys… Go out to the roads and country lanes…so that my house will be full.”

Matthew 22:2-5, Luke 14:18-20

” The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to come but they refused to come . Then he sent out more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet. But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business….and… all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come’”.

Then he said… Go out …into the streets and alleys… Go out to the roads and country lanes…so that my house will be full.”

Four Characteristics of EFCs They believe Christians don’t grow until they begin serving They understand the power of service The partner with other entities They understand that “critical mass” is the willing

They believe Christians don’t grow until they begin serving

They understand the power of service

The partner with other entities

They understand that “critical mass” is the willing

Christians don’t grow until they begin serving For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

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

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

Ephesians 2:8-10

Needs and Dreams of the City Mandates and Desires of God Callings and Capacities of the Church Common Grace Salvation Service Control Evangelism is our ultimate motive, not our ulterior motive They understand the power of service

Do you believe like I believe? “ Centered Set” Do you care about what I care about? “ Bounded Set” They partner with other entities People of good faith working together with people of good will

“ Critical Mass” is the willing Innovators 3% Middle Adopters 34% Laggards 16% Late Adopters 34% Early Adopters 13%

The Externally Focused Church Eric Swanson Leadership Network, Dallas, TX