I did a little devotional for a coffeehouse staff today.
Great opportunity to remind ourselves of why we're doing what we're doing. The vision for Ebenezers has always been a place where the church and community can cross paths.
The conventional place to congregate in first century Israel was the synagogue, but Jesus hung out at wells. Wells were more than just a place to draw water. They were natural gathering places in ancient culture! I think coffeehouses are natural gathering places in post-modern culture. And instead of drawing water we pull shots of espresso!
I shared some thoughts from John 4.
A Samaritan woman has a Christ encounter at Jacob's well. And a single conversation changes her spiritual trajectory. In fact, Jesus stayed there for two days and many of the Samaritans in that town became Christ followers! Generations of families were impacted and it all traces back to Jesus hanging out at wells!
The significance of that is this: if Jesus had stayed in the synagogue he would have never met this woman! She wasn't welcome in the synagogue--she was a Samaritan and she had a long sexual history! And I think that is precisely why Jesus hung out at wells. I think we've forgotten that ministry is proximity!
Here is my sixth sense: I think God is calling the church out of the church and back into the middle of the marketplace.
Ebenezers is a response to that callling.
Great opportunity to remind ourselves of why we're doing what we're doing. The vision for Ebenezers has always been a place where the church and community can cross paths.
The conventional place to congregate in first century Israel was the synagogue, but Jesus hung out at wells. Wells were more than just a place to draw water. They were natural gathering places in ancient culture! I think coffeehouses are natural gathering places in post-modern culture. And instead of drawing water we pull shots of espresso!
I shared some thoughts from John 4.
A Samaritan woman has a Christ encounter at Jacob's well. And a single conversation changes her spiritual trajectory. In fact, Jesus stayed there for two days and many of the Samaritans in that town became Christ followers! Generations of families were impacted and it all traces back to Jesus hanging out at wells!
The significance of that is this: if Jesus had stayed in the synagogue he would have never met this woman! She wasn't welcome in the synagogue--she was a Samaritan and she had a long sexual history! And I think that is precisely why Jesus hung out at wells. I think we've forgotten that ministry is proximity!
Here is my sixth sense: I think God is calling the church out of the church and back into the middle of the marketplace.
Ebenezers is a response to that callling.
2 Comments:
That is so true. If Jesus went where the people were, it makes sense that we should do the same.
And who doesn't love a great cup of coffee?!
Mark,
Was doing some reading for school this week and one of the articles we had to read was from a pastors.com toolbox email that talked about a convo at a coffeehouse between a pastor and the barista. I thought of you guys the entire time while I was reading it.
Just a thought.
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