Book Review: On the Verge

In their book On the Verge: a journey into the apostolic future of the church, Alan Hirsch and Dave Ferguson seek to present a descriptive picture of a movement in Christendom that will mark the future of the church in the West. If you're looking for a book that simply presents another model for church growth and then wishes you luck at the end, this is not the book. If you're looking for a book that urges you to land on either the attractional or missional model of ecclesia, then again you shouldn't read it. The authors present some stark realities: of the 400,000 churches in America, only 1,200 are considered "mega-churches" (attendance of 2,000+). The average church in America has around 80 people. Simply put, churches cannot reproduce under the current church growth model. Though they have tried repeatedly over the last 40 years, most churches in America will never be a mega-church. I think that most church leaders who read this book understand that the church is going to look very different in the future. The question is, what are we on the verge of? There are two answers to this: either we are on the verge of complete irrelevance or a missional movement.

What is needed is a reimagining of the church in its apostolic form. Why? Because the most dynamic periods of movement in the history of Christianity have taken place as a result of a people-movement. Jesus instituted a lively, fluid, and adaptable organism called the body of Christ; somewhere along the way it became institutionalized (most mention Constantine's contribution to this). Elements central to an apostolic expression include: Jesus is Lord, disciple-making, Missional-Incarnational impulse, Apostolic Environment, Organic systems, and communitas. Out of these elements flow values and practices which together mark a paradigm shift, with the six aforementioned elements forming the core.

Churches that embrace the shift in paradigm are marked by a strong desire to reproduce at every level. Leadership is organic, with disciple-making at the forefront. These churches understand and embrace the power of the priesthood of all believers, and seek to tell the stories of people who are living out the mission of Jesus in their context.

What we are on the verge of, as Hirsch and Ferguson describe, is a powerful, reproducable people-movement centered on the values and principles of the church Jesus designed. We are on the verge of churches multiplying from the very beginning of existence, and becoming a transforming force in their communities.

This book is rich with content, but you don't get the sense that what they are saying is out of reach. It's perfectly within reach. One of the exciting realities is that every church has within it EVERYTHING it needs to accomplish its mission, as pointed out by Hirsch. What we are talking about is not so much a discovery of something new and untested. Rather, On the Verge presents a transformative recovery of the old. The old can be new again. This excites me personally. I am deeply encouraged after reading this book. I am reminded of how much Jesus is for the me, the church, and the city in which I live. This book is a powerful reminder of the potential that lies within every believer and every church to be a force for the kingdom.