The title sounds silly to us Christians. However, as a protestant, I have been more than a little confused at what I am supposed to do when I attend a Catholic wedding mass, or similar service. And, have you ever been to a religious service at another religion (Muslim, etc)? Well, it may be that some of the people in our communities are just as confused about how THEY should act in one of our services!

Rick Rusaw has written an article, “Escaping the Church ‘Donkey Syndrome‘” published on the SermonCentral website. The theme of the article is the Externally Focused Church. He defines “Four Characteristics of Externally Focused Churches.”

• First, externally focused churches are convinced that good deeds and good news can’t and shouldn’t be separated.
• Second, they see themselves as vital to the health and well-being of their communities.
• Third, externally focused churches believe that ministering and serving are the normal expressions of Christian living.
• Fourth, externally focused churches are evangelistically effective.

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