The Forgotten Ways Handbook: A Practical Guide for Developing Missional Churches - Softcover

Hirsch, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1587432498 ISBN 13: 9781587432491

Publisher: Brazos Press, 2009

Synopsis

In his bestselling missional book The Forgotten Ways, internationally known missional church expert Alan Hirsch offered a vision for the future growth of the church coming about by harnessing the power of the early church. Now The Forgotten Ways Handbook moves beyond theory to practice, offering ways for any missionally minded person to apply the ideas contained in The Forgotten Ways to their life and ministry.

This intensely practical handbook includes many helpful tools: summary sections encapsulating the ideas contained in each chapter in a popular way; suggested practices to help readers embed missional paradigms concretely; and adult learning-based techniques and examples from other churches and organizations that enable readers to process and assimilate the ideas in a group context.

EXCERPT
Make no mistake about it; the scope of the change that is required to shift to the kind of movement described in The Forgotten Ways is nothing less than paradigmatic. Every element of mDNA poses a direct challenge to the prevailing ways of doing church and mission. When taken together, all six elements of Apostolic Genius make the task seem enormous. But we don't think it is actually as difficult as it seems. And it is certainly not impossible. The Chinese church proves that a highly institutionalized form of Christianity can become a remarkable movement given the right circumstances. And we don't believe that we have to have persecution to activate Apostolic Genius. Less intense forms of adaptive challenges can, and do, force the church to respond. What we are witnessing in our own day indicates that. Because the church carries the gospel as well as the full coding of Apostolic Genius in her, the potential for world transformation is always present in us. We can always draw upon latent resources and instincts. God is able and very willing to stir his church up. In fact we see this as one of the very special works of the Holy Spirit--to awaken God's people to their calling and destiny as a movement that can and will change the world.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Put into Practice the Best-Selling Missional Guide The Forgotten Ways

"The business of engaging in mission to the West begins with a new imagination or, as Alan says, 'a new way of thinking.' Imagination and thought need to be grounded in practical reality. Alan and Darryn use the classic action learning model to great effect in making profound concepts useful in the art of movement making. This workbook could be the most helpful tool you will acquire this year."--Martin Robinson, Together in Mission

"At last, a practical guide for missional leaders! In this unique work, you have not only a wealth of real-life leadership ideas, reflections, and practices but also a deep reservoir of biblical insights that will position you and your community in the center of where God is and where he's taking the church."--Hugh Halter, author of The Tangible Kingdom

"The Forgotten Ways Handbook is a wonderful tool to help leaders translate the timeless truths on which the church is built into anointed actions that bring the authentic church to life again in this generation."--Steven M. Pike, Assemblies of God Church Multiplication Network

"In The Forgotten Ways, Alan Hirsch set out the needed impulses and environmental ingredients to catalyze a true missional movement. In this handbook, he breaks it down into simple steps that can open our eyes to see what is missing and what is working. If you read The Forgotten Ways and found yourself excited but were left wondering how do I do this? you need to read and distribute this book."--Neil Cole, author of Organic Leadership

"The Forgotten Ways Handbook is a crucial tool for every church planter and missional leader. I'm looking forward to going through this with my team!"--Dave Ferguson, author of The Big Idea

"For too long there has been talk about the missional church without enough discussion about how it is worked out in local communities of faith. This book is an essential first step in moving from maintenance to a truly missional position."--Cam Roxburgh, national director of Church Planting Canada

About the Author

Alan Hirsch is the founding director of Forge Mission Training Network and a sought-after speaker and trainer who travels the world extensively sharing his missional church experience. He is coauthor of The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church.

Darryn Altclass is a practitioner with direct, current experience in initiating and developing the incarnational approach in difficult social settings in Australia.

Edition details

• Publisher: Brazos Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1587432498
• ISBN 13: 9781587432491
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224