I promise this is my last blog of the day. I think I set my blogging record today! I’ve had this recurring thought recently that I wanted to get some blog reaction to. I think there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of. Part of what has gotten me thinking about this is our prayer meetings. We didn’t really have an “agenda” going into them and it was so cool to see how the Lord led us by prompting different people to share different things. It was exciting to see the way the Spirit led. I’m afraid that most churches and most services are missing that element of surprise.

I really want to think long and hard about our Saturday night service at Ebenezers. I have a feeling that it’ll be it’s own animal. I think it’ll feel very different than our services @ the theaters. I really want an interactive element. I’ve dreamed for years of doing a service that allows for Q & A. I used to be afraid of that idea, but now it excites me. I don’t even mind questions that are confrontational or controversial. I think it allows for honest dialogue that is missing from so many churches. Those can be some of the best “teaching moments.”

I don’t really want the “service” to feel like a church “service.” I want it to feel like something else. Maybe it’s part talk-show, part rock concert, part prayer meeting, and part conference. I’m not sure how the elements combine, but I want to “invent” a new format or way of doing church. I don’t want it to be different for difference sake. I just want it to be unique because the Holy Spirit gives us unique ideas.

All of that is to say this: feel free to share any ideas about what a “dream” coffeehouse service would look like? No holds barred. What elements would it contain? Are there any “secular” models that we could learn from? Have you had any past experiences that you’d like to see incorporated into the coffeehouse service? Speak now or forever hold your peace. Actually, you can speak later too. I think we’ll be thinking about this for several months. I’m planning on two reconaissance trips to check out a couple churches that are doing things different. Two churches on my hit list are Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis and Mars Hill in Michigan. I want to see how they do their Doubt Night.