The Forgotten Ways
- Christian Living
- Evangelism & Missions
- Publisher: Brazos Press (Baker Publishing Group)
- Published: 2016
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Publisher's Description
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.
Endorsements (21)
Foreword
“Alan puts forth his ideas for a new generation longing to rediscover the church’s missional nature and reactivate anew its forgotten ways. When I read Alan’s words, I want to drop what I’m doing and focus my attention again on God’s mission. After reading this book, I imagine you will as well.”
Afterword
“I am thankful for how Alan . . . calls us back to what is true of God’s people and prophetically catalyzes us toward a vision for what life looks like when we remember who we are. . . . May our memories be jogged, as our hearts are stirred, to live in the forgotten ways of our Savior, Lord, and King, Jesus Christ!”
“A fascinating and unique examination of two of the greatest apostolic movements in history and their potential impact on the Western church. Hirsch identifies and describes the primal energies of apostolic movements and describes the components that make for catalytic, spontaneous expansion. The book may well become a primary reference book for the emerging missional church.”
“Reading The Forgotten Ways when it was first published revolutionized the way I understood God’s mission, the essence of the church, and my participation in both. I didn’t think it was possible, but with this second edition, Hirsch provides even greater clarity and challenge. If you are serious about the future of the church, then read every page and allow it to activate a movement within you and throughout the life of the church.”
“The Forgotten Ways was a catalytic force of God in my own life, and it remains on my must-read list for anyone interested in the church and mission. In the new edition, Hirsch ignites our imaginations with deep hope and raw honesty and convinces us that the church’s finest hour is ahead of us. Prophet, priest, teacher, and leader, Hirsch is an essential voice to our generation.”
“In this second edition, Hirsch does what he does best: he helps us remember our past so that we can reimagine our future. It’s time for the church to become a movement again. Read the book and become part of this emerging future; too much is at stake to settle for anything less.”
“It is refreshing to read a book related to the missional church that provides theological depth coupled with creative thinking. Hirsch reestablishes the essential links between Christology, missiology, and ecclesiology. The Forgotten Ways helps to rescue the concept of church from the clutches of Christendom, setting it free to become a dynamic movement in place of a dying institution.”
“In this rebel camp we call the church planting community, The Forgotten Ways has long been one of the great fires around which we have gathered to dream. Now, with fresh and important fuel for a radical rethinking of church, this fire is spreading a new hope for apostolic movement within every part of the church.”
“Alan Hirsch has been a major influence in the way I think about the mission of the church and more importantly, the way I live church. The Forgotten Ways must be remembered, must be read, must be integrated into your life, leadership, and local church context.”
“An amazing work of analysis, synthesis, and application. Hirsch provides a timely, well-informed overview of the range of current thinking and writing on movemental Christianity and draws rich insights that, if ignited by the Holy Spirit, can revolutionize many churches today.”
“Only a handful of books have set the stage for God to have a conversation with the whole church about his mission. The Forgotten Ways is one of those books, now available with critical updates. Hirsch has placed before the church a timeless conversation about the future, the mission, the people, and the practices of a God-breathed movement.”
“In this fresh, reworked edition of The Forgotten Ways, Hirsch continues to engage, challenge, and inspire us as we explore what it means to fully be God’s church in an ever-changing cultural landscape. Hirsch holds tightly to the deep truth that in order to move forward we must renew our commitment to journey down an ancient path—the rugged, narrow way found in the life of Jesus Christ. This book is a must-read.”
“Hirsch’s prophetic voice and unique passion beckons the church to rediscover the ancient path and follow where it leads. The Forgotten Ways is a navigational chart for pastors and churches willing to brave a journey of faith, courage, and sacrifice beyond the safety of comfortable shores for the sake of the gospel.”
“I heartily recommend The Forgotten Ways to church planters and ministry leaders around the world. This significant text’s fresh recovery of and call to a dynamic missional movement paradigm has shaped my thinking and practice.”
“This book clearly demonstrates Alan’s original and creative thinking. There are few books that one can describe as markers in the field of mission—this is one such book. It is essential reading for all those who are grappling with the key issue of what the church can and must become.”
“I referred to the first edition of this book as a ‘full-blooded and comprehensive call for the complete orientation of the church around mission,’ and that is no less true for this updated version. With the benefit of ten years of experience in teaching these concepts around the world, Hirsch has freshened his groundbreaking work for a new generation of readers. The Forgotten Ways is as relevant and as powerful as ever.”
“Many people have been helped by The Forgotten Ways. For those of us in the institutional churches, the book has been bracing and challenging; we don’t always agree with it, but it contains many lessons to be learned. Hirsch’s book is a call to reimagine the church, and this call applies as much to the new types of church increasingly emerging in the global North as to the older ones. The church, even new versions, needs to be constantly re-formed. Hirsch offers a comprehensive and illuminating guide for the task.”
“The Forgotten Ways has been a road map for missional movements. The map is now updated with even more insight and ten more years of learning.”
“Hirsch revisits The Forgotten Ways like a jackhammer revisits concrete. This book shatters our narrow vistas, revealing the broad panorama of Jesus’s mission. It assails imagination and redefines an apostolic approach to a culture evermore scornful of current Christian ministry and thought.”
“It is AD 30 all over again. While many church leaders are trying desperately to retrofit institutional expressions of Christianity in hopes of achieving better results, Hirsch helps us understand the necessity for us to reengage the movement in its primal missional form. This volume identifies a missional, not a methodological, fix if we want to experience first-century Christianity.”
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