Alan Hirsch explains his ministry background and worldview on which his ministry sets in two parts. The first part is a highly personal exploration of his ministry at an inner city church in Melbourne, Australia. The second is a sociological perspective of the changes in Western culture that have been ignored or poorly addressed by the Church. 

Hirsch's personal account of ministry provides the reader with some understanding of why he feels passionately about mission, Christ, and each person. Much of it reads like a personal retelling of many emerging church ministry strategies popular in hushed evangelical corners. 

The second part was much more provocative. Hirsch takes a stab at evaluating Christendom, that is Christianity since the time of Constantine, from a missional perspective. At the time of Constantine, Christianity shifted into a centralized religion (in Rome), with formalized membership guidelines, hierarchy, and an established role in society and politics. However, Hirsch goes on to point out that the secularization of society since the Enlightment has not changed the way we "do" church. 

Hirsch gives a concise history and sociological overview of current research on emerging church practices, such as attending house churches, focusing on missional lifestyles, and rejection of historical denominationalism.

Questions to ponder and to respond:

1.  As a worker in the church (professional or volunteer), how have you seen your community change? Has your church adapted with the change?

2.  How do we respond to the growing numbers of believers who do not subscribe to any particular denomination? How do we discern faithful believers? How does that change the way we do ministry in our congregations? How can we be faithful to our Lutheran doctrine and adapt to this growing change?