A new brand of apostolic ministry for today's world The Permanent Revolution is a groundbreaking work of theological re-imagination that focuses on the twin issues of ministry and leadership appropriate to our times. The authors draw widely from the areas of biblical studies, theology, organizational theory, leadership studies, and the social sciences, to make a comprehensive case for on the abiding significance of the Ephesians 4 vocations of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher in the church that Jesus intended. They particularly emphasize the strategic importance of the apostolic role for generating missional movements, facilitating ongoing renewal in the life of the church, stimulating ecclesial innovation, and creating adaptive but highly sustainable organizations.
Shows how to view leadership and ministry through a biblical perspective and continue "the permanent revolution" that Jesus initiated
Outlines the essential characteristics of apostolic movements and how to restructure the church and ministry to be more consistent with them
Alan Hirsch is a leading voice in the missional movement of the Christian West
This seminal book will likely initiate a much needed re-assessment about how we think of, and subsequently do, ministry in 21st Century contexts.
Review
A very PROVOCATIVE and INFORMATIVE book! It is an argument worth serious consideration given the problems associated with the clergy/laity dichotomy that continues to exist in so many of our churches today." --Craig Van Gelder, professor of congregational mission, Luther Seminary
"The Permanent Revolution is an example of the kind of theological work that is urgently needed to 'equip the saints for the work of ministry' apostolically, prophetically, evangelistically, pastorally, and instructively." --From the Foreword by Darrell Guder, Winters Luce Professor of Missional and Ecumenical Theology
"Hirsch and Catchim have opened up the difficult issue of leadership, imagination, and gifting with no holds barred. If you care about leadership and mission you will want to grapple with this book." --Martin Robinson, president, Springdale College; National Director of Together in Mission
"The Permanent Revolution ... is a well- researched and thoroughly engaging study of the dynamic that Jesus planted at the heart of the church and now calls us to rediscover." --Steve Addison, Australian director, Church Resource Ministries; author of Movements That the Change the World
"Outside the New Testament, in this one man's humble opinion, The Permanent Revolution is the seminal work on apostolic ministry." --Rob Wegner, pastor, Life Mission Granger Community Church; lead catalyst, EnterMission; experience director, Future Travelers; author, Missional Moves
From the Inside Flap
The Permanent Revolution
The Permanent Revolution is an original work of theological re-imagination and re-construction that draws from biblical studies, theology, organizational theory, leadership studies, and key social sciences. The book elaborates on the apostolic role rooted in the five-fold ministry from Ephesians 4 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers), and its significance for the missional movement.
Throughout the book, the authors propose a revolutionary missional ecclesiology that is shaped by the New Testament account of apostolic imagination, ministry, and strategy. The aim is to reclaim the ministry by which the church is to remain centered on its calling to be the instrument of God's mission, and that everything it is and does ought to relate to and demonstrate that calling. To (re)capture the practice of apostolicity, the authors explore how the apostolic ministry facilitates ongoing renewal in the life of the church and focus on leadership in relation to missional innovation and entrepreneurship. They examine the nature of organization as reframed through the lens of apostolic ministry and explore how apostolic leadership provides new and missionally creative ways forward.
The Permanent Revolution is filled with challenging concepts and is replete with innovative ideas. Rather than providing a prescriptive model for leadership, it offers spiritual prods and suggestive thought experiments that are designed to stimulate imagination as well as action. If faithful leaders are to take up the work of ministry as laid out in the New Testament, this book offers a significant pathway to help equip them to better fulfill their mission.
Description:
A new brand of apostolic ministry for today's world The Permanent Revolution is a groundbreaking work of theological re-imagination that focuses on the twin issues of ministry and leadership appropriate to our times. The authors draw widely from the areas of biblical studies, theology, organizational theory, leadership studies, and the social sciences, to make a comprehensive case for on the abiding significance of the Ephesians 4 vocations of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher in the church that Jesus intended. They particularly emphasize the strategic importance of the apostolic role for generating missional movements, facilitating ongoing renewal in the life of the church, stimulating ecclesial innovation, and creating adaptive but highly sustainable organizations.
This seminal book will likely initiate a much needed re-assessment about how we think of, and subsequently do, ministry in 21st Century contexts.
Review
A very PROVOCATIVE and INFORMATIVE book! It is an argument worth serious consideration given the problems associated with the clergy/laity dichotomy that continues to exist in so many of our churches today."
--Craig Van Gelder, professor of congregational mission, Luther Seminary
"The Permanent Revolution is an example of the kind of theological work that is urgently needed to 'equip the saints for the work of ministry' apostolically, prophetically, evangelistically, pastorally, and instructively."
--From the Foreword by Darrell Guder, Winters Luce Professor of Missional and Ecumenical Theology
"Hirsch and Catchim have opened up the difficult issue of leadership, imagination, and gifting with no holds barred. If you care about leadership and mission you will want to grapple with this book."
--Martin Robinson, president, Springdale College; National Director of Together in Mission
"The Permanent Revolution ... is a well- researched and thoroughly engaging study of the dynamic that Jesus planted at the heart of the church and now calls us to rediscover."
--Steve Addison, Australian director, Church Resource Ministries; author of Movements That the Change the World
"Outside the New Testament, in this one man's humble opinion, The Permanent Revolution is the seminal work on apostolic ministry."
--Rob Wegner, pastor, Life Mission Granger Community Church; lead catalyst, EnterMission; experience director, Future Travelers; author, Missional Moves
From the Inside Flap
The Permanent Revolution
The Permanent Revolution is an original work of theological re-imagination and re-construction that draws from biblical studies, theology, organizational theory, leadership studies, and key social sciences. The book elaborates on the apostolic role rooted in the five-fold ministry from Ephesians 4 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers), and its significance for the missional movement.
Throughout the book, the authors propose a revolutionary missional ecclesiology that is shaped by the New Testament account of apostolic imagination, ministry, and strategy. The aim is to reclaim the ministry by which the church is to remain centered on its calling to be the instrument of God's mission, and that everything it is and does ought to relate to and demonstrate that calling. To (re)capture the practice of apostolicity, the authors explore how the apostolic ministry facilitates ongoing renewal in the life of the church and focus on leadership in relation to missional innovation and entrepreneurship. They examine the nature of organization as reframed through the lens of apostolic ministry and explore how apostolic leadership provides new and missionally creative ways forward.
The Permanent Revolution is filled with challenging concepts and is replete with innovative ideas. Rather than providing a prescriptive model for leadership, it offers spiritual prods and suggestive thought experiments that are designed to stimulate imagination as well as action. If faithful leaders are to take up the work of ministry as laid out in the New Testament, this book offers a significant pathway to help equip them to better fulfill their mission.