__If ever there was a time for an innovative missionary effort in the West, it is now.__   
The great paradox of our age is that while the need for the gospel has seldom been greater, the relevance of the church to the culture at large has seldom been less. With keen insight, The Shaping of Things to Come explores why the church needs to rebuild itself from the bottom up, presenting a clear understanding of how the church can change to face the unique challenges of the twenty-first century. Now thoroughly revised and updated with current case studies, this missional classic assesses the state of the church--and is still very much able to show us what lies ahead.  
  
  
"The Shaping of Things to Come . . . calls us forward to a grander view of the church-in-mission than the one to which we have become all too accustomed. I am personally grateful for this new edition."--Mark Batterson, lead pastor, National Community Church; author, The Circle Maker   
"Not often does a title of a book prophesy itself. But The Shaping of Things to Come has shaped things to come in the global Christian world like perhaps no one book published in the past decade. It truly is a 'classic,' and this new edition promises to continue its tradition of shaking and shaping."--Leonard Sweet, author; professor, Drew University and George Fox University   
  
"One of those rare books that . . . gets deep into your psyche and alters your perspective on what it means to be the church today, what it means to follow Jesus on his adventurous mission."--Dan Kimball, author, They Like Jesus but Not the Church   
"As we look at the depth and breadth of the missional movement, I continually direct people back to The Shaping of Things to Come. Things have definitely shaped around the concepts of this book, and it continues to be a plumbline for missional thought leadership and practice."--Hugh Halter, author, The Tangible Kingdom and Sacrilege   
  
__Michael Frost__ is the founding director of the Tinsley Institute, a mission study center at Morling College in Sydney, Australia. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Exiles and The Road to Missional. He lives in Sydney.  
  
__Alan Hirsch__ is founding director of Forge Mission Training Network and leader of Future Travelers. He is the author of numerous books, including The Forgotten Ways and Untamed. Alan lives in Los Angeles.

Michael Frost is professor of evangelism and missions at Morling College in Sydney, Australia, and a Baptist minister. He is the author of Exiles and the coauthor of The Shaping of Things to Come. He lives in Australia.  
  
Alan Hirsch is founding director of Forge Mission Training Network, cofounder of Shapevine.com, and leader of Future Travelers. He is the author of numerous books, including The Forgotten Ways. Hirsch lives in the Los Angeles area.

In a time when the need for and the relevance of the Gospel has seldom been greater, the relevance of the church has seldom been less. The Shaping of Things to Come explores why the church needs to rebuild itself from the bottom up. Frost and Hirsch present a clear understanding of how the church can change to face the unique challenges of the twenty-first century. This missional classic has been thoroughly revised and updated.

This forward-thinking book presents an innovative vision of how the church can be more relevant and responsive to the spiritual hunger seen in the Western world.

Frost, Michael ;Hirsch, Alan

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Endorsements

Dedication

Epigraph

You Must Read This Bit First

Part One: The Shape We’re In

1 Evolution or Revolution?

2 The Missional Church

Part Two: Incarnational Ecclesiology

3 The Incarnational Approach

4 The Shape of the Missional Church

5 The Contextualized Church

6 Whispering to the Soul

Part Three: Messianic Spirituality

7 The God of Israel and the Renewal of Christianity

8 Action as Sacrament

9 The Medium Really Is the Message

Part Four: Apostolic Leadership

10 The Genius of APEST

11 Imagination and the Leadership Task

12 Organizing the Revolution

Glossary

Additional Resources

Notes

About the Author

Back Ads

Back Cover

In a time when the need for and the relevance of the Gospel has seldom been greater, the relevance of the church has seldom been less.The Shaping of Things to Comeexplores why the church needs to rebuild itself from the bottom up. Frost and Hirsch present a clear understanding of how the church can change to face the unique challenges of the twenty-first century. This missional classic has been thoroughly revised and updated.

You Must Read This Bit First  
Part 1 – The Shape We’re In  
1\. Evolution For Revolution?  
The Missional Church  
Part 2 - Incarnational Ecclesiology  
The Incantational Approach  
The Shape F The Missional Church  
The Contextualised Church  
Whispering Soul  
Part 3 - Messianic Spirituality  
The God Of Israel And The Renewal Of Christianty  
Action As Sacrament  
The Medium Really Is The Message  
Part 4 - Apostolic Leadership  
The Genius Of Apest  
Imagination And The Leadership Task  
Organising The Revolution  
Glossary  
Additional Resources

Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch open their 'The Shaping of Things to Come with this quote from Machiavelli: "And let it be noted that there is no more delicate matter to take in hand, nor more dangerous to conduct, nor more doubtful in its success, than to set up as the leader in the introduction of changes. For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.''

In a time when the need for and the relevance of the Gospel has seldom been greater, the relevance of the church has seldom been less. The Shaping of Things to Come explores why the church needs to rebuild itself from the bottom up. Frost and Hirsch present a clear understanding of how the church can change to face the unique challenges of the twenty-first century. This missional classic has been thoroughly revised and updated.

"This book may shock the traditionalist, but the Billy Graham style outreach no longer brings in the seekers. Why? because over the last 20 years the culture has changed. Without compromising the Gospel, this book analyses the cultural changes and suggests new ways to engage culture with examples of successes. We expect people to come to church, but this book is encouraging Church to go to the people, to get out of our comfort zones, and really think what Christendom has created and how this is a barrier to effective evangelism.  
This book will challenge the reader and may disturb the vicar who is often entrenched in a comfort zone of traditionalism." - Other Retailer's Reveiwer.

"\[Frost and Hirsch s\] contribution brings an in-depth theological reflection as well as providing a broad scope informed by their extensive reading in theology, culture and mission as well as their on-site visits to missional churches in the USA and the United Kingdom." - Eddie Gibbs, Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth, Fuller Theological Seminary.

"This book is a bountiful multi-course meal, each serving presented with charm and class. It will satisfy even eclectic appetites, and please the most discriminating palates. Four Stars." - Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, George Fox University.

Missional classic on the need for change and innovation in the Church thoroughly revised and updated

The Shaping of Things to Come [eBook]

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