I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest Leonard Sweet fan. I think his books drone on and on and he fills page after page with fluff and filler. Maybe I grasp the point quicker than others, but I think he’s verbose. But, I do have to admit that, while he may go on and on, he usually has good points. The Gospel According to Starbucks is the perfect example of what I mean. While I wish the writing were more succinct, the points he makes are valid for the church today. His main point is that we as a church can learn a lot from the culture. Using Starbucks as his cultural stand-in for the church, Sweet points out that the reasons that Starbucks is successful can translate into success in the church as well. He uses the acronym EPIC to lay out for points – Church should be Experiential, Participatory, Image rich, and Connectional. By experience he means that the church should reach out to provide a full range of experiences touching all senses. Parcipatory means the church should be one in which worship is a participatory act and not a show. Images are a rich part of the church and should be used thoughtfully. Connection with others and with God should be a thought out part of ministry. All valid points and should help us be intentional in building a church that reaches our culture without giving in to our culture.
My next book to review is Praise Habit by David Crowder (yes, that David Crowder!)
Sadly, Starbucks is friendlier and easier for a first timer to negotiate than many churchs.
True. Churches can do much better receiving guests. The reality is that most people will only come if they have friends who invite them. The “cold call” visitor is in a very awkward position in most churches.