Comments on: Book Review: The Externally Focused Church http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:21:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Parke http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/#comment-614 Parke Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:32:27 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/#comment-614 Sounds worth picking up. Thanks for the reviews, dude. Sounds worth picking up. Thanks for the reviews, dude.

]]> By: thainamu http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/#comment-629 thainamu Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:53:48 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/#comment-629 I think it comes down to what is the role of the church. Many times in scripture we are commanded to live a life of good deeds. Sometimes those good deeds appear to be general, towards everyone; other times the good deeds are toward other believers. But I think the command to do good deeds may be to individuals, not necessarily organized churches. I'm not sure that is the role for the organized church. I think it comes down to what is the role of the church. Many times in scripture we are commanded to live a life of good deeds. Sometimes those good deeds appear to be general, towards everyone; other times the good deeds are toward other believers. But I think the command to do good deeds may be to individuals, not necessarily organized churches.

I’m not sure that is the role for the organized church.

]]> By: Jasen Tracy http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/#comment-630 Jasen Tracy Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:36:06 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/book-review-the-externally-focused-church/#comment-630 Well, don't you think that churches should help encourage and equip people to do good deeds? (Not as the only role the church does of course). I also don't see any problem in churches organizing groups of people to do things that individuals can't. In any case, I think the quote I used at the beginning is pretty instructive. I don't think it's healthy for churches to have the vast majority of their money tied up into buildings that are only of use to church members a few times a week and paid staff. (Not that I'm against paid staff, although I do think some churches do have too many people on the pay role and I think that does lead sometimes to people having a view that the church exists solely for them - after all they're paying the experts). Besides buildings and payroll, most churches have the rest of their money and energy tied up into "ministries" that are for church people - youth ministry, women's ministry, etc. Most churches have little to no budget or activities for outreach or service of any type. Well, don’t you think that churches should help encourage and equip people to do good deeds? (Not as the only role the church does of course). I also don’t see any problem in churches organizing groups of people to do things that individuals can’t.

In any case, I think the quote I used at the beginning is pretty instructive. I don’t think it’s healthy for churches to have the vast majority of their money tied up into buildings that are only of use to church members a few times a week and paid staff. (Not that I’m against paid staff, although I do think some churches do have too many people on the pay role and I think that does lead sometimes to people having a view that the church exists solely for them - after all they’re paying the experts). Besides buildings and payroll, most churches have the rest of their money and energy tied up into “ministries” that are for church people - youth ministry, women’s ministry, etc. Most churches have little to no budget or activities for outreach or service of any type.

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