The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating Apostolic Movements

by Alan Hirsch, Ed Stetzer (Foreword), Jeff Vanderstelt (Afterword)

Alan Hirsch's paradigm-shifting classic remains the definitive statement of the church as dynamic missional movement. The bestselling first edition ignited a conversation about how to harness the power of movements for the future growth of the church. In this major update, Hirsch shares significant insights gained along the way, provides fresh new examples of growing churches, and reflects on the last ten years of the missional movement. The new edition has been thoroughly updated and revised throughout and includes charts, diagrams, an expanded glossary of terms, new appendices, an index, a new foreword by Ed Stetzer, and a new afterword by Jeff Vanderstelt.Known for his innovative approach to mission, Hirsch is widely acknowledged as a thought leader and mission strategist for churches across the Western world. He considers The Forgotten Ways the guiding work to all of his other writings. The book explores the factors that come together to generate high-impact, exponentially explosive, spiritually vibrant Jesus movements in any time and context. This extensive update to Hirsch's influential work offers a system of six vital keys to movements that will continue shape the future of the missional movement for years to come.

Genres: Christian, Discipleship

517 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2016

About the author

Alan Hirsch is the founding director of Forge Mission Training Network. Currently he co-leads Future Travelers, an innovative learning program helping megachurches become missional movements. Known for his innovative approach to mission, Alan is considered to be a thought-leader and key mission strategist for churches across the Western world. Hirsch is the author of The Forgotten Ways; co-author of The Shaping of Things to Come, ReJesus, and The Faith of Leap (with Michael Frost); Untamed (with Debra Hirsch); Right Here, Right Now (with Lance Ford), and On the Verge (with Dave Ferguson).

Alan is co-founder and adjunct faculty for the M.A. in Missional Church Movements at Wheaton College (Illinois). He is also adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary, George Fox Seminary, among others, and he lectures frequently throughout Australia, Europe, and the United States. He is series editor for Baker Books' Shapevine series , IVP's Forge line, and an associate editor of Leadership Journal.

His experience in leadership includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized as well as heading up the Mission and Revitalization work of his denomination. He has been on leadership team with Christian Associates, a mission agency planting churches throughout Europe. Alan is adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary and lectures frequently throughout Australia, Europe, and the U.S

Reviews

[Benoit Guillot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great deal of biblical confusion on the nature and purpose of the Church

There is a great deal of biblical and theological confusion in this book about the nature of the church, its purpose and its mission. The assumption that the church as a movement will grow based on a better strategy defined as apostolic genius is simplistic and confusing. The church has to turn toward Jesus and believe the power of the gospel so that God will transform more lives.


Maybe it's important to say that the Church is God's creation. It is the body of Christ. Church is not a project or a movement of our own that, by using a strategy, we can grow. We have a heart problem, that is derived even in evangelicalism in some kind of over institutionalisation of our faith. The divine power to be the church God created in Jesus resides wholly in God. We are the church because God made us the church. We don’t do church, grow churches or plant churches. To assume that we have to do something to build the church or grow the movement is to take on us the work of the creator (it becomes dangerously a human religious endeavour or worst leads to legalism). We are church. Growth or movement is a result of being God's creation; it’s a result of us being the church God wants us to be in Jesus and the power of the Gospel.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much in this book. In one chapter you can be deconstructing everything you know about church. The next chapter reconstructing. The next challenging your thinking around what and how you grow as a Christian and how the church can grow and then you can be looking at incredible models of growth from past and what could be perceived as great models for the future. So I guess I would say that it was at times overwhelming, encouraging, challenging and thought provoking.

[Rob Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

Though at times a bit technical in his terminology, Hirsch presents a picture of the elements of church that existed before Constantine and, if the church is faithful and Jesus tarries, will long outlast Constantine's influence.

[Chris Everson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by a friend in ministry and it has opened new possibilities as our church moves through a mission/vision process.

Very academic, but if you are looking for a fresh look at the missional church I recommend this book!

[Ryan Hiney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book

[Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, if laborious

It's a solid book, that honestly should be cut in half. It's incredibly repetitive, and he seems to write some chapters simply to unveil yet another chart. But overall his point is, well, on point. There is much to be gained via these missional, incarnational movements. Taking church to the people rather than demanding they come to you really is the key to moving forward. I'm not sure he's correct in what the NT church actually was, and it's function. But nevertheless, it's a good read that will take some time to decipher.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long read but worth it

Some chapters went into depth too much for what I need, but I appreciate the research behind it. Quite sobering and definitely thought-provoking in regards to the state of the church today, and what we can do to start a movement of how it was intended originally!

[Mark Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. But they're ate things when our feels over complicated. The principles are bout complex, just neglected...

[BEN A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full and helpful

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered what it would look like to live like the early church today.

[Casey Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good foundational reading for understanding the Missional Church Movement.

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that, once read, can't be unread. It ruins you forever for church in the best possible way.

[Kevin Casto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully challenging book on the nature of "the Church" who we are and what we are and how we adapt to the world and the calling of Christ.

[Levi Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Not only does it successfully diagnose the plight of the Church in it's departure from the mission, but it casts a vision for a return to our calling as God's people. Hirsch is a brilliant thinker and a great communicator; he presents his case not just biblically and historically, but also in light of science and culture and philosophy. I'll be chewing on this for a while.

[Jonathan Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll just pop this on my "Essential to ReRead" shelf. Depth, insight, breadth and passion, with lots of paradigm shifts and analysis. But in all the ideas and systems of thought this is still an intensely practical book for reigniting a movement of reproducing Jesus-people and churches.