The Shaping of Things to Come - by Alan Hirsch & Michael Frost (Paperback)

About the Book

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.

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

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.

About the Author

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.