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5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ
In the pages of this book, Alan Hirsch takes us on a really deep dive into the fivefold (APEST) typology of ministry as articulated in Ephesians 4:1-16, but he takes us to a depth and scope that few (if any) have ventured before. By laying out the most comprehensive model of APEST to date--one that incorporates deep theology as well as innovative practice--Hirsch once again demonstrates an almost uncanny capacity to change not only the nature and content of conversation itself, but also the scorecard on how we understand calling, church, leadership, and organization.
260 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2017
155 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Alan Hirsch
92 books81 followersAlan 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 5, 2019
I was eager to read this book because I was looking for a non-charismatic perspective on the “Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors, Teachers” section of Ephesians 4. Much to my surprise, I found little of value in this book.
For one, the writing style was grating to me. Many sections, especially in the beginning, were needlessly academic. And even saying “academic” is maybe giving too much credit, for the real issue was the use of needlessly complicated words or neologisms or syntax that added nothing to the content— and in fact only made what content there was more difficult to access. Other sections were annoyingly colloquial and even condescending— I definitely did not need to be told, “soft eyes, padawan” over and over again, or to be told multiple times how the author’s own 5Q insights “blew my own mind when I discovered them.” At that point it reads more like someone on facebook trying to sell Monat than it did a serious treatment of Ephesians 4.
As to the actual content, the first half is an exploration of how you can see “5Q” —that is, the APEST fivefold ministry described in Eph 4— in every aspect of creation and society and history and economic systems. And while this was at times interesting, the thing it most convinced me of was that the human brain is exceptionally good at finding patterns that aren’t necessarily there, and if they are there, aren’t really all that useful anyway. Hirsch is undoubtedly brilliant, but this section reminded me of my friends from undergrad who would get high and become runaway pontificators— they were sometimes interesting, but never as profound as they thought they were.
Both of my complaints thus far could have been addressed by a good editor; I actually stopped several chapters in to see who had published this thing, because it was starting to read like it had been self-published. Turns out it was published by 100movements, the consulting group founded by Hirsch. So.
The second half gets more practical, and there is one chapter devoted to going through the 5 types of APEST. But this chapter is basically just Hirsch going through what he thinks each of the types are, and if there was any serious engagement with various passages of scripture (really what I was looking for here), they didn’t make it into the book. Instead, we get basically a mapping of APEST onto current business leadership models. Apostle is the CEO, Evangelists are the “marketing department.” Prophets are the mystics… or they’re the ones engaged with speaking truth to power. Or they are both… For me, the lack of any clear digging into scripture made this feel like just a lot of opinions.
Once past this chapter, the remainder of the book reads like an infomercial for his 5Q system of assessment of individual and corporate spiritual health. Besides the gimmicky name, I was annoyed to have paid money to subject myself to a couple hours of advertisement.
I realize this is a very critical review, and I actually made myself wait a week to see if my opinion settled at all. But the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced this is simply not a very worthwhile book. It is virtually never the case that I find myself finishing a book without some good takeaways— yet here we are.
To end on a somewhat positive note, Hirsch is clearly brilliant and has spent a ton of time thinking about this stuff (though it seems he’s thought of it more from a “business leadership” perspective than that of a theologian). I would imagine his 5Q assessments would be interesting and perhaps have some significant value. I am sure he would be an extremely good and engaging conversationalist on this topic. But the book is simply not worth the time or the money.
For one, the writing style was grating to me. Many sections, especially in the beginning, were needlessly academic. And even saying “academic” is maybe giving too much credit, for the real issue was the use of needlessly complicated words or neologisms or syntax that added nothing to the content— and in fact only made what content there was more difficult to access. Other sections were annoyingly colloquial and even condescending— I definitely did not need to be told, “soft eyes, padawan” over and over again, or to be told multiple times how the author’s own 5Q insights “blew my own mind when I discovered them.” At that point it reads more like someone on facebook trying to sell Monat than it did a serious treatment of Ephesians 4.
As to the actual content, the first half is an exploration of how you can see “5Q” —that is, the APEST fivefold ministry described in Eph 4— in every aspect of creation and society and history and economic systems. And while this was at times interesting, the thing it most convinced me of was that the human brain is exceptionally good at finding patterns that aren’t necessarily there, and if they are there, aren’t really all that useful anyway. Hirsch is undoubtedly brilliant, but this section reminded me of my friends from undergrad who would get high and become runaway pontificators— they were sometimes interesting, but never as profound as they thought they were.
Both of my complaints thus far could have been addressed by a good editor; I actually stopped several chapters in to see who had published this thing, because it was starting to read like it had been self-published. Turns out it was published by 100movements, the consulting group founded by Hirsch. So.
The second half gets more practical, and there is one chapter devoted to going through the 5 types of APEST. But this chapter is basically just Hirsch going through what he thinks each of the types are, and if there was any serious engagement with various passages of scripture (really what I was looking for here), they didn’t make it into the book. Instead, we get basically a mapping of APEST onto current business leadership models. Apostle is the CEO, Evangelists are the “marketing department.” Prophets are the mystics… or they’re the ones engaged with speaking truth to power. Or they are both… For me, the lack of any clear digging into scripture made this feel like just a lot of opinions.
Once past this chapter, the remainder of the book reads like an infomercial for his 5Q system of assessment of individual and corporate spiritual health. Besides the gimmicky name, I was annoyed to have paid money to subject myself to a couple hours of advertisement.
I realize this is a very critical review, and I actually made myself wait a week to see if my opinion settled at all. But the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced this is simply not a very worthwhile book. It is virtually never the case that I find myself finishing a book without some good takeaways— yet here we are.
To end on a somewhat positive note, Hirsch is clearly brilliant and has spent a ton of time thinking about this stuff (though it seems he’s thought of it more from a “business leadership” perspective than that of a theologian). I would imagine his 5Q assessments would be interesting and perhaps have some significant value. I am sure he would be an extremely good and engaging conversationalist on this topic. But the book is simply not worth the time or the money.
October 29, 2017
I have read most of Alan's work over the past few years and he has heavily influenced me on my missional journey. Each book leaves me thinking and strategizing how to become a 'sent one' in my context. 5Q was no different. Alan goes to great lengths to describe how 5Q is not only important to the health of the Church, but also to Jesus' ascension. Furthermore, he beautifully describes how Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers work together to create and sustain the Jesus-Movement. I believe this book will set the stage as the Western Church (hopefully) seeks to move away from the European model of church to a Movemental paradigm.
August 12, 2017
Alan's thoughts in the expansion of APEST are nothing short of genius!! Delving deep into the DNA identity of humanity and discovering the Ephesians 4 calling as an archetype & hermeneutic brings a clarity of beauty and creative imagination for readers to experience God's mission in personal enriching transformational discipleship and communal commissioning. Love love love his brilliance!! ~ Erikus
June 29, 2022
3.0 the author is very influential within my group of friends. I have personally met him & heard from him, but the book didn’t deliver what I really hoped for.
July 3, 2019
Repetitive and patronizing. He needs an editor of a publishing company that’s not funded or organized by his own church. Who would want to edit or challenge the head pastor’s prose and literary style? Not much, I presume.
In the early chapters, he ramps up or blows out of proportion this contribution that he claims isn’t new at all (because it’s “biblical”) but talks as if it was never-before-written-about. Therefore, his book is a novel contribution to church model. That’s fine — he might be right, but I’m doubtful since he operates with generalities (e.g., is it really true that no church in history and worldwide has operated with what he claims to be the 5Q?).
With that being said, how is his idea? I would give props for his at face value simplicity: 5Q is easy to remember and use. But then building too much on it seems like a case of putting all your eggs in one basket. I question his grounding of 5Q in theology: which is more normative — his apparatus (5Q) or God or Christology or the biblical evidence? Sometimes, I think he stretches things to fit his model. It would’ve been better he claimed that there are traces or vestiges of 5Q in God or Christ, not the other way around.
Honestly, I might have enjoyed this better if his language or prose wasn’t so patronizing. Why did he think using “grasshopper” or “Padawan” was a good idea to engage his readers? Also, as a leading white male with some prestige, using the former term is suspect — it’s a bit of a racist trope from older Hollywood Asian kung fu films.
In the early chapters, he ramps up or blows out of proportion this contribution that he claims isn’t new at all (because it’s “biblical”) but talks as if it was never-before-written-about. Therefore, his book is a novel contribution to church model. That’s fine — he might be right, but I’m doubtful since he operates with generalities (e.g., is it really true that no church in history and worldwide has operated with what he claims to be the 5Q?).
With that being said, how is his idea? I would give props for his at face value simplicity: 5Q is easy to remember and use. But then building too much on it seems like a case of putting all your eggs in one basket. I question his grounding of 5Q in theology: which is more normative — his apparatus (5Q) or God or Christology or the biblical evidence? Sometimes, I think he stretches things to fit his model. It would’ve been better he claimed that there are traces or vestiges of 5Q in God or Christ, not the other way around.
Honestly, I might have enjoyed this better if his language or prose wasn’t so patronizing. Why did he think using “grasshopper” or “Padawan” was a good idea to engage his readers? Also, as a leading white male with some prestige, using the former term is suspect — it’s a bit of a racist trope from older Hollywood Asian kung fu films.
September 27, 2020
This is a thoughtfully written book that I recommend for anyone in church ministry. It discusses the five-fold expression of Christ as Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd and Teacher (APEST) and why they should all be evenly represented in the church of today.
February 19, 2021
Be very careful if you use this book.
Some people get very concerned that the book promotes 5-fold ministry and not 4-fold. There is a strong argument that pastor-teacher is one ministry. I support this view, but for me, this is a minor point. I believe that if the modern church wishes to distinguish between pastor and teacher, it has every right to do so. Besides, there are several other concerns with this book, and these are of much higher significance.
The book starts off with incorrect theology: i.e. that every believer should function in the APEST ministries. The book assumes that at least one of the five gifts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher) applies to each individual Christian. This is not true. The whole book and its teaching falls because of this error.
Hirsch isolates Ephesians 4:11 from all other teachings in the NT on spiritual and ministry gifts – he never refers to any other passage on gifts. The APEST are gifts of Jesus. These were gifts, not of skills or abilities to all individuals, but were gifts of capable leaders to equip, train and prepare the saints. We need to be careful with language. Where gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Titus, etc., the gifts are definitely skills or abilities; including prophECY, teachING, exhortaTION, healING, discernMENT, etc. In Ephesians 4:11 the gifts are not skills or abilities but ministers (people or officers); they are apostLES, prophETS, teachERS, etc.
Hirsch would have us believe that we should read Eph. 4:11 such that some Christians are apostles, some are prophets, some are evangelists, some are shepherds (pastors), and the rest must therefore be teachers. But that is not what Eph. 4:11 says; it says he gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip (train, guide and lead) the saints (church members) so that the church members can perform works of service for the kingdom. If we were talking about a football team, we may say that the owner of the team provided a manager, defensive coach, attacking coach, sports scientist and a physiotherapist to equip the team to play at an improved level. Nobody would understand this sentence to mean that everyone in the squad must be either a manager, a coach, a sports scientist or a physiotherapist, so why do we read Eph. 4:11 in that way?
Hirsch then sets about trying to prove and illustrate his thinking, but because he has isolated the Eph. 4 teaching, and because the rest of the New Testament does not support his basic theology, he has to rely on humanistic philosophy and mythology to argue his point. We should note that the basic thinking in the 5Q APEST book is nothing new. This is a standard management tool that most people in secular employment have been using for many years. The use of archetypes and Jungian philosophy, together with the personality mapping and competency assessment are things that business management consultants have used to develop employee development plans. Hirsch has a degree in business studies and clearly sought to apply his business skills to managing church.
The first part of Hirsch's APEST teaching is preoccupied with measuring a person's spiritual walk against the benchmark of Campbell’s “hero's journey” (Campbell was not Christian, but was a humanist/pantheist). This is followed by assessing each individual’s personality traits, not against scripture, but against the Jungian archetypes (Jung was a humanist). This gives humanistic/pantheist anti-Christian philosophy the same credibility and authority as the Bible as these are the only measures provided as a means to assess spiritual maturity. The 5Q book and associated material provide links to external sources to help with these assessments. The external archetype test recommended provides test results that define a person's character in accordance with a particular humanistic archetype and the individual's zodiac sign. It also gives “spiritual guidance” with links that suggest the use of eastern religions (Buddhism, yoga, tantra, Hinduism, etc.) and gives other advice, such as fashion items that suit the person's character, personality-specific products they may wish to purchase and bedroom sex tips.
Be very careful with this book. I believe in the 5-fold ministry, but I can't recommend this book as a good resource to explore this subject.
Some people get very concerned that the book promotes 5-fold ministry and not 4-fold. There is a strong argument that pastor-teacher is one ministry. I support this view, but for me, this is a minor point. I believe that if the modern church wishes to distinguish between pastor and teacher, it has every right to do so. Besides, there are several other concerns with this book, and these are of much higher significance.
The book starts off with incorrect theology: i.e. that every believer should function in the APEST ministries. The book assumes that at least one of the five gifts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher) applies to each individual Christian. This is not true. The whole book and its teaching falls because of this error.
Hirsch isolates Ephesians 4:11 from all other teachings in the NT on spiritual and ministry gifts – he never refers to any other passage on gifts. The APEST are gifts of Jesus. These were gifts, not of skills or abilities to all individuals, but were gifts of capable leaders to equip, train and prepare the saints. We need to be careful with language. Where gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Titus, etc., the gifts are definitely skills or abilities; including prophECY, teachING, exhortaTION, healING, discernMENT, etc. In Ephesians 4:11 the gifts are not skills or abilities but ministers (people or officers); they are apostLES, prophETS, teachERS, etc.
Hirsch would have us believe that we should read Eph. 4:11 such that some Christians are apostles, some are prophets, some are evangelists, some are shepherds (pastors), and the rest must therefore be teachers. But that is not what Eph. 4:11 says; it says he gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip (train, guide and lead) the saints (church members) so that the church members can perform works of service for the kingdom. If we were talking about a football team, we may say that the owner of the team provided a manager, defensive coach, attacking coach, sports scientist and a physiotherapist to equip the team to play at an improved level. Nobody would understand this sentence to mean that everyone in the squad must be either a manager, a coach, a sports scientist or a physiotherapist, so why do we read Eph. 4:11 in that way?
Hirsch then sets about trying to prove and illustrate his thinking, but because he has isolated the Eph. 4 teaching, and because the rest of the New Testament does not support his basic theology, he has to rely on humanistic philosophy and mythology to argue his point. We should note that the basic thinking in the 5Q APEST book is nothing new. This is a standard management tool that most people in secular employment have been using for many years. The use of archetypes and Jungian philosophy, together with the personality mapping and competency assessment are things that business management consultants have used to develop employee development plans. Hirsch has a degree in business studies and clearly sought to apply his business skills to managing church.
The first part of Hirsch's APEST teaching is preoccupied with measuring a person's spiritual walk against the benchmark of Campbell’s “hero's journey” (Campbell was not Christian, but was a humanist/pantheist). This is followed by assessing each individual’s personality traits, not against scripture, but against the Jungian archetypes (Jung was a humanist). This gives humanistic/pantheist anti-Christian philosophy the same credibility and authority as the Bible as these are the only measures provided as a means to assess spiritual maturity. The 5Q book and associated material provide links to external sources to help with these assessments. The external archetype test recommended provides test results that define a person's character in accordance with a particular humanistic archetype and the individual's zodiac sign. It also gives “spiritual guidance” with links that suggest the use of eastern religions (Buddhism, yoga, tantra, Hinduism, etc.) and gives other advice, such as fashion items that suit the person's character, personality-specific products they may wish to purchase and bedroom sex tips.
Be very careful with this book. I believe in the 5-fold ministry, but I can't recommend this book as a good resource to explore this subject.
June 30, 2017
5Q is my favorite work on the fivefold ministry. As a wife, homeschool mom, business owner, and lay ministry leader I wanted to learn more about the fivefold but got bogged down in Alan Hirsch's book on the fivefold, The Permanent Revolution. I like the things I read in it but it was quite tedious, long, and over my head (with lots of small print) and I still have yet to finish the book four years later. Thankfully, 5Q dives into the fivefold/APEST in a more concise and understandable way. 5Q offers a very practical and useful look at APEST as it explores how APEST integrates into every facet of life beginning with God's creation of the world to Christ's life and throughout history and now today as it's played out in the business world and in church life.
In 5Q, Hirsch adequately shares the importance of APEST as demonstrated in God, Christ, the church, and as individuals. Hirsch uses thorough diagrams and charts for each of the roles helping us understand what APEST looks like in every day life and then how it translates into church life. I really enjoyed how Hirsch explains the plight of the church and how we've gotten to where we are in churches because we are operating mainly in Shepherd/Teacher roles leaving out the pioneers (A/P/E). He then paints an exciting but logical and theological picture of what APEST would look like in our churches and also challenges us to consider what APEST would look like in our current context.
Throughout the book, Hirsch continually ensures that Jesus is in the center of it all so we as the church can experience the fullness of Christ. He explains how APEST leads us into greater maturity and how that is God's design. I'm familiar with base (life role) and phase (seasonal role) ministries but I really enjoyed how Hirsch challenges us with growing in each of the five roles as individuals, not just our base/phase roles (there is no such thing as a comfort zone with APEST, is there?!).
At the end of the book, Hirsch gives us practical tools to help us think about and implement APEST not only in our lives but in our churches and how to assess if/how APEST is working in our context. I'm excited to try a couple of these tools in our workplace in the upcoming weeks.
5Q is about exploring APEST in a deeper way and giving insight to what it could look like and the impact it would make in our lives, our churches, and the world if we would seriously put it into practice in each of these areas. This is definitely a much easier read than Hirsch's other books and it was a great read for this mom-on-the-go who needed the encouragement to keep embracing my uniqueness as I share God with others in creative ways and who needed a nudge to gently influence those in my circles to think differently with me--to be the change we want to see in our churches and to carry it out in our corner of the world in such a way that our lives are pointing others to Christ.
In 5Q, Hirsch adequately shares the importance of APEST as demonstrated in God, Christ, the church, and as individuals. Hirsch uses thorough diagrams and charts for each of the roles helping us understand what APEST looks like in every day life and then how it translates into church life. I really enjoyed how Hirsch explains the plight of the church and how we've gotten to where we are in churches because we are operating mainly in Shepherd/Teacher roles leaving out the pioneers (A/P/E). He then paints an exciting but logical and theological picture of what APEST would look like in our churches and also challenges us to consider what APEST would look like in our current context.
Throughout the book, Hirsch continually ensures that Jesus is in the center of it all so we as the church can experience the fullness of Christ. He explains how APEST leads us into greater maturity and how that is God's design. I'm familiar with base (life role) and phase (seasonal role) ministries but I really enjoyed how Hirsch challenges us with growing in each of the five roles as individuals, not just our base/phase roles (there is no such thing as a comfort zone with APEST, is there?!).
At the end of the book, Hirsch gives us practical tools to help us think about and implement APEST not only in our lives but in our churches and how to assess if/how APEST is working in our context. I'm excited to try a couple of these tools in our workplace in the upcoming weeks.
5Q is about exploring APEST in a deeper way and giving insight to what it could look like and the impact it would make in our lives, our churches, and the world if we would seriously put it into practice in each of these areas. This is definitely a much easier read than Hirsch's other books and it was a great read for this mom-on-the-go who needed the encouragement to keep embracing my uniqueness as I share God with others in creative ways and who needed a nudge to gently influence those in my circles to think differently with me--to be the change we want to see in our churches and to carry it out in our corner of the world in such a way that our lives are pointing others to Christ.
June 18, 2021
I wrote a long review for this that was then deleted accidentally. Long story short: while I agree with Hirsch that the five-fold gifts/functions of Eph. 4 need to be better expressed in the church today, and while I was excited to see how Jesus perfectly embodies the five-fold gifting, that's pretty much where my agreement ends with Hirsch. I'm probably about to sound like a grumpy, grandpa, arm-chair theologian, and I'm not trying to be mean or nit-picky, but this book felt like a hot mess to me. Besides the fact that Hirsch writes with a patronizing, self-aggrandizing tone (constantly calling his reader "Padawan;" literally calling himself "Yoda," and "Gandalf;" and then unashamedly comparing his discovery of 5Q to Luther's discovery of Sola Fide?!), Hirsch tries to apply APEST to the business world by subjectively construing the APEST gifts as personality traits that are present all throughout the world. Hirsch constantly flip flops on whether or not his view of APEST is the right way to see things. At times he is content to say that 5Q is a useful "heuristic," at other times it is THE WAY in which Jesus interacts with and is present in the church. He even tries to use the fact that no one in church history talks about APEST like he does as a point in his favor. Hirsch caps the whole thing off by directing readers to his (paid) 5Q online assessment that helps the reader discover his/her spiritual gifts. This begs the question: how did the early church function or discover their spiritual gifts prior to having online, paid, "spiritual gift" inventories? Oh wait...they functioned just fine.
June 29, 2017
Why do we read books? I mean, seriously, have you ever thought about that? Sometimes the answer for me is, “Because I can.” It is one of the great joys of life. I can get caught up in a great story. I can learn something new. I can be mad, glad, and sad — sometimes all within the same book. I can go places I’ve never been and perhaps never will go. I can identify places I must go.
I hope you get the point. Reading for me is like eating. And as someone who has recently had to focus on a heart-healthy diet, I’m often asked about my diet restrictions. I tell people, “I can eat anything I want. I just have to want to eat better things.”
A couple of days ago I completed this feast of a book. It contained some of my favorite tastes, but also some flavors that were unfamiliar. There were bites that were tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness, but also some chewy pieces that required some effort.
If you were to ask me whether it falls into the “tastes good” or “good for you” category, I’d have to say, “Yes!”
Alan Hirsch’s book, “5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ,” is tender and chewy, nutritious and delicious, strange and familiar—and it has made me hungry for more.
I hope you get the point. Reading for me is like eating. And as someone who has recently had to focus on a heart-healthy diet, I’m often asked about my diet restrictions. I tell people, “I can eat anything I want. I just have to want to eat better things.”
A couple of days ago I completed this feast of a book. It contained some of my favorite tastes, but also some flavors that were unfamiliar. There were bites that were tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness, but also some chewy pieces that required some effort.
If you were to ask me whether it falls into the “tastes good” or “good for you” category, I’d have to say, “Yes!”
Alan Hirsch’s book, “5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ,” is tender and chewy, nutritious and delicious, strange and familiar—and it has made me hungry for more.
July 6, 2019
5Q is a wonderful book explaining in depth the APEST functions of the Church as the ascension gifts Jesus bestows upon His body, the Church. For a Church to be healthy and mature they need the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding and teaching fully functioning- as they are all present in the earthly ministry of Jesus.
It is a book that will leave you excited with the possibilities of the Church if the APEST functions are activated as a body, rather than staying dormant in His people. I love Hirsch's critique of the history of the Church using APEST as a top down model of authority and how damaging that can be fostering a celebrity culture and an ungodly view of leadership as 'God's anointed' who can never be challenged or disagreed with.
The critique of the reformers view is challenging and his point that the AP parts of APEST have been particularly lost rings true. What would the ecclesia look like if these dormant gifts were activated? 5Q make you prayerfully wonder and long for that to happen. Not only that but Hirsch has formulated tools to help it move from theory to real life practice. A must read.
It is a book that will leave you excited with the possibilities of the Church if the APEST functions are activated as a body, rather than staying dormant in His people. I love Hirsch's critique of the history of the Church using APEST as a top down model of authority and how damaging that can be fostering a celebrity culture and an ungodly view of leadership as 'God's anointed' who can never be challenged or disagreed with.
The critique of the reformers view is challenging and his point that the AP parts of APEST have been particularly lost rings true. What would the ecclesia look like if these dormant gifts were activated? 5Q make you prayerfully wonder and long for that to happen. Not only that but Hirsch has formulated tools to help it move from theory to real life practice. A must read.
April 4, 2024
Read this for a class. Jumped around a bit. Didn't read it from front to back. I thought Hirsch's approach was intriguing. And his desire to mobilize and equip followers of Jesus is noble.
My only qualm with this book is that it is basically saying every single person on earth fits into one of the five archetypes found in Ephesians 4.
I feel that this leads to an oversimplification of who people are. Almost 8 billion people on earth, consisting of different cultures and backgrounds yet we are led to believe we all fit into primarily one of the five.
Still a super useful tool to analyze our calling and identify areas of our life where we are gifted. Just not buying into the whole picture.
My only qualm with this book is that it is basically saying every single person on earth fits into one of the five archetypes found in Ephesians 4.
I feel that this leads to an oversimplification of who people are. Almost 8 billion people on earth, consisting of different cultures and backgrounds yet we are led to believe we all fit into primarily one of the five.
Still a super useful tool to analyze our calling and identify areas of our life where we are gifted. Just not buying into the whole picture.
October 18, 2022
This book had some good ideas in it and helpful explanations, but it could have been a quarter to half of the length. I got bogged down and ended up skimming so many sections. I feel like he could have written the same main content in 100 pages or less.
The practical application also seemed to be, “now that you’ve spent money reading my book, go buy my test, get coaching from me, give me more money because I’m the only one who understands this stuff.”
While some of the content was interesting and informative, it could have been presented with a little more humility and walking alongside the reader.
The practical application also seemed to be, “now that you’ve spent money reading my book, go buy my test, get coaching from me, give me more money because I’m the only one who understands this stuff.”
While some of the content was interesting and informative, it could have been presented with a little more humility and walking alongside the reader.
June 19, 2019
Alan Hirsch's career has centered around the APEST giftings given to the church and helping communities of faith break free from the institutional ruts that keep it stuck from experiencing the fullness of the Kingdom of God to view themselves as apostolic movements that engage in discipleship that fully engages and equips all gift sets in the community. 5Q is a practical toolbox to experience community in a way that lifts up and balances all gifts for the good of the community.
December 17, 2019
I like the premise the author took about the problems with the Western church, and I agree with many of them. But I felt that this was written from a specific liturgical tradition. So the gaps he sees are different from ones I've experienced. So I left with a feeling of, you're right! But I'm not sure that model addresses the issues I have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2022
DYNAMITE
This book can change everything in your personal life and organization as you become aware of the 5 gifts Christ gave the Church when He ascended. Alan beautifully moves beyond church understanding and reveals a world of intentional design waiting to be discovered and implemented.
This book can change everything in your personal life and organization as you become aware of the 5 gifts Christ gave the Church when He ascended. Alan beautifully moves beyond church understanding and reveals a world of intentional design waiting to be discovered and implemented.
May 9, 2017
Alan has taken truths of scripture that have been hidden in plain sight, and given life and renewed understanding. Practical insight for the church to become an effective movement and relief for the leader thinking the weight of it all falls on them. Fantastic!
September 12, 2018
Agree with the general value of the 5 offices he refers to and a renewed appreciation of all 5 in the church. Book is highly repetitive though. The first couple chapters is really all you need in my opinion.
June 10, 2019
Centering
Alan Hirsch seeks to center us in Jesus and show in more concrete, New Testament categories what it means to be disciples. People have a latent power ready to be activated. Good stuff.
Alan Hirsch seeks to center us in Jesus and show in more concrete, New Testament categories what it means to be disciples. People have a latent power ready to be activated. Good stuff.
November 2, 2021
I enjoyed aspects of this book, particularly the section on the APEST identity that is observed within various areas of creation and humanity. I did however feel a little let down as I compare it to The Forgotten Ways. Still a worthwhile read.
December 9, 2017
An excellent explanation of the Church's fivefold gifting. A greater guide for recapturing much of what is lacking in the modern Church.
November 29, 2018
Profound at points, verbose at others.
May 28, 2019
Made me rethink a lot about how we do church and what I can do about that.
February 6, 2020
Foundational for every leader in the body of Christ
January 9, 2021
Wow
Game changer....not to overstate, the way forward for the Church to regain its real beauty, power, and efficacy. Master Piece!
Game changer....not to overstate, the way forward for the Church to regain its real beauty, power, and efficacy. Master Piece!
May 7, 2021
An overview of his other books, it unpacks gifting without limits
July 31, 2023
While his ideas are great, his language is overly dense and the book lacks strategy for execution.
February 2, 2020
Great book. I struggled with the first half of the book because Hirsch is writing to church leaders. He makes his case rather meticulously, but I didn't really need to be won over as to why APEST is critically important for the church. But I'm glad persevered. Read my full review at Think Theology: http://thinktheology.org/2020/01/27/w...
September 2, 2024
Hirsch first interested me with The Forgotten Ways, where my interest in his fivefold thinking first piqued my interest.
As far as the expansion of his APEST ideas go, the content is great. It’s also about twice as long as it needed to be. Hirsch wrote “academically” in that too much of the book reads as if it were written to make something *more* complicated — on an already complex subject.
Errors and typos are littered throughout (self-published works tend to lean that direction) and the simultaneously condescending tone and culturally tone-deaf movie references (young grasshopper) made it difficult to push through at times.
Still, the ideas expressed in 5Q as well as the descriptions and charts are truly helpful for leaders looking to leverage fivefold thinking in their church or organization.
As far as the expansion of his APEST ideas go, the content is great. It’s also about twice as long as it needed to be. Hirsch wrote “academically” in that too much of the book reads as if it were written to make something *more* complicated — on an already complex subject.
Errors and typos are littered throughout (self-published works tend to lean that direction) and the simultaneously condescending tone and culturally tone-deaf movie references (young grasshopper) made it difficult to push through at times.
Still, the ideas expressed in 5Q as well as the descriptions and charts are truly helpful for leaders looking to leverage fivefold thinking in their church or organization.
October 20, 2020
honestly slogged through this one but the framework is solid and honestly explained a lot about myself.
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