Forgotten Ways Handbook, The: A Practical Guide for Developing Missional Churches (Paperback)

~ (Author), Darryn Altclass (Author)
Key Phrases: apostolic genius, apostolic environment, one idea from this section, The Forgotten Ways Handbook, Practice Two, Practice One (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587432498
• ISBN-13: 978-1587432491
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,170 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and invaluable resource for the Missional church, September 1, 2009

By	Bob Hyatt (USA) - See all my reviews

It's difficult to think of a more influential voice in the missional church movement at this than Alan Hirsch. Maybe his writing partner Mike Frost?

Their books have not only defined the questions we need to be asking about church in our time and context but gone a long way towards providing the answers.

The Forgotten Ways Handbook is a crucial piece of that. The original volume, The Forgotten Ways was an erudite discussion of the shape, structure and direction of missional church. The Handbook is a down-to-earth, practical guide to putting the ideas of missional church into action. Whether as an individual or a community, this resource will help you think through contextualizing the Gospel and shaping your life along the path of the missio dei, the mission of God in this world.



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stirring Innovative Missional Action, July 14, 2009

By	C. Christopher Smith "Englewood Review of Books" (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

[ This review originally appeared in
The Englewood Review of Books ]

THE FORGOTTEN WAYS HANDBOOK is a praxis-oriented companion to Alan Hirsch's excellent 2008 book THE FORGOTTEN WAYS: REACTIVATING THE MISSIONAL CHURCH. The purpose of this handbook is "to provide frameworks and offer suggestions as a means to inspire God's people into mission" (11). This guide consists of an introduction and six chapters - one on each of the elements of what Hirsch calls mDNA (the `m' is for missional, i.e., mDNA is the defining essence of a missional church). These elements are:

* Jesus is Lord
* Disciple Making
* Missional-Incarnational Impulse
* Apostolic Environment
* Organic Systems
* Communitas, not Community

Each chapter explores a particular element, offering suggestions to help us more fully embody that element in our churches and concluding with three sets of questions intended to be discussed corporately in the church context. The first set of questions is focused on exploration and the second one is designed to spur deeper reflection. The third and final set of questions is oriented toward action. The authors also provide frameworks for action plans, which will assist in the implementation of these ideas.

THE FORGOTTEN WAYS HANDBOOK certainly offers much for churches to consider and to discuss. Hirsch, and his co-author Darryn Altclass, do set a high bar, and I imagine that a church conversation that would proceed through this book from beginning to end would be quite grueling. However, I also imagine that discussing the topics here at a more leisurely pace - perhaps interspersed with other conversations - might bear some excellent fruit. The best use of this book, I suspect, would be for church planters as their church communities discern their missional identity together in the early stages of the plant.

If your church is headed in the missional direction, or at least is intrigued by missional ideas, read Hirsch's THE FORGOTTEN WAYS first and then if you want to share or discuss his ideas throughout your church, this handbook is an excellent way to spark conversation, and Lord willing, also "to stir innovative missional action for Jesus in this post-Christian world" (11).