Have we forgotten that the gospel mandate is actually to "make disciples of the nations"? Missiologist and author Alan Hirsch believes that we have. In this new eBook, Hirsch highlights the missional priority of discipleship and helps leaders reframe their understanding and practice of evangelism in the context of disciple making. By reframing mission and evangelism around discipleship, not only do we grow more obedient, but also make space for long-term, authentic, loving relationships with the people in our lives. Hirsch points out that if every follower of Jesus simply did this with just two or three people in their lifetime and asked those people to do the same—disciples making disciples making disciples—in just a few generations we would accomplish what we have sought to accomplish through most of our reductionist evangelistic efforts. “Disciple making lies at the very core of the church’s 'sentness' and mission,” he writes. “It has never been an optional extra.”
Key highlights:
In this eBook, Alan Hirsch helps us discover/rediscover:
- Why reimagining evangelism through the lens of discipleship is crucial to the local church and accomplishing the Great Commission.
- The theological significance of discipleship and how it encompasses evangelism.
- How reframing mission and evangelism around discipleship makes space for long-term, authentic relationships.
- What Jesus-shaped discipleship is and how leaders can teach their churches to rediscover it.
- Why the key to growth, renewal and expansion in the church is NOT evangelism.
Author(s)
Alan 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 and The Forgotten Ways Handbook; 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); On the Verge (with Dave Ferguson); and The Permanent Revolution (with Tim Catchim). His experience includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized, developing training systems for innovative missional leaders, and heading up the mission and revitalization work of his denomination.
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 a contributing editor of Leadership Journal.
Sponsors
A special thanks to the sponsors of this eBook. This eBook is available to you thanks to their generosity. Please consider showing your gratitude to these sponsors by visiting their web sites.
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