The Forgotten Ways - 2nd Edition by Alan Hirsch (Paperback)

About the Book

This definitive statement of the church as missional movement by a visionary leader, educator, and strategist offers six proven characteristics of thriving churches. This bestseller is now updated and revised throughout.

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

A Fully Revised Edition of the Paradigm-Shifting Classic

"No book has influenced my thinking about leading a church and a church planting movement more than The Forgotten Ways. Alan Hirsch is the leading missiologist of our day and his genius is on display in this work, which helps us rediscover what the church of Jesus Christ was always meant to be. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to every church leader!"
--Dave Ferguson, lead pastor, Community Christian Church; lead visionary, NewThing

"Alan Hirsch will ignite your imagination, challenging you to dream bigger and experience the kingdom more fully. The Forgotten Ways is a focused yet comprehensive book that beautifully and effectively moves us forward as God designed. Simply put, this book continues to be a game changer."
--Jen and Brandon Hatmaker, authors, humanitarians, and church planters

"A seminal book that has changed and continues to change the landscape of church multiplication. It challenges our current paradigm of church growth and unleashes the power of the early church's initial advances. This book is a critical tool in the arsenal of anyone seeking to multiply the church."
--Todd Wilson, director, Exponential

"The Forgotten Ways is one of those few books that I find myself revisiting again and again and again. It is foundational for understanding mission and irreplaceable as a guide for the church's new situation in the West--a landmark book for our missional movement. This new edition speaks to the power and vision of Alan Hirsch. I could not be more grateful for this book."
--David Fitch, author of Faithful Presence; Northern Seminary

"Hirsch has discovered the formula that unlocks the secrets of the ecclesial universe like Einstein's simple . . . formula (E=mc²) unlocked the secrets of the physical universe. There are some books good enough to read to the end. There are only a few books good enough to read to the end of time. The Forgotten Ways is one of them."
--Leonard Sweet, theologian, author, and futurist

"For a decade, Hirsch has simmered on the revolutionary ideas he presented in the first edition of The Forgotten Ways. In this new edition, he develops his thoughts further and recommends ways to apply them and move confidently into a hopeful, vibrant, movemental future. Stunning."
--Linda Bergquist, church planting catalyst and coach; coauthor of Church Turned Inside Out

"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."
--Greg Nettle, president, Stadia

"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."
--Howard A. Snyder, author of The Problem of Wineskins; visiting director, Manchester Wesley Research Centre

"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."
--Hugh Halter, author, church planter, and director of Forge America

About the Author

Alan Hirsch is founder of Forge Mission Training Network, Future Travelers, and 100Movements. He has authored numerous award-winning books, including The Shaping of Things to Come; ReJesus; The Faith of Leap; Untamed; Right Here, Right Now; On the Verge; and The Permanent Revolution. His experience includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized, developing training systems for innovative missional leadership, and heading up the mission and revitalization work of his denomination. Hirsch is an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, Portland Seminary, Asbury Theological Seminary, and Wheaton College among others, and he lectures frequently throughout Australia, Europe, and the United States. He is series editor for Baker Books's Shapevine series and IVP's Forge line and is a contributing editor of Leadership Journal.