Good Books: The Externally Focused Quest

The Externally Focused Quest, by Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw
One of the occupational hazards of small group leadership is becoming internally focused and forgetting that your group does not exist in a vacuum. Surely, every group should serve its own members' needs--but not exclusively. When we neglect the community around us, we become irrelevant to all those who are seeking what we have to offer.

Small groups are among the church's most effective resources when it comes to meeting needs in the community. Whereas service projects are often hamstrung by the need to publicize a cause, recruit volunteers, arrange convenient meeting or service times, as well as by the lack of cohesion that often occurs when strangers undertake a project together for the first time, all of these factors are eliminated or minimized when small groups take advantage of their existing relationships, schedules, and networks by serving together.

This book answers the why question: Why should we be concerned about what's going on in the community outside or group? and Also the how question: How can we get started.

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Resources: Unlock Spiritual Gifts

Whether your theology includes 16, 23, or even more spiritual gifts, your group is missing out if you're not talking about them. This Training Tool will show you how to help your group members discover and embrace their spiritual gifts. The first two articles will give you a great foundation for talking about gifts—whatever your theology. The rest of the resource includes articles that help identify spiritual gifts, give creative ideas for using your gifts, and share how you can model using your gifts appropriately.

To learn more or to order, click here.