The Gospel According to Starbucks

Below you find a well written write up on the book Betsy has just finished. Here you will find random thoughts from a dyslexic, horrible speller that just finished a book called "The Gospel According to Starbucks" by Leonard Sweet (I hear an 'Amen' from the older fellow in the back - Gene Jennings.)

It is funny to see people's faces when they ask me what book I am reading right now, and I tell them "The Gospel According to Starbucks." They look at me like I am going to say "Sike!" or "Are you serious?" No matter what you think of Starbucks or the title - this is a great book.

Sweet discusses the things the church can learn from Starbucks (one of the fastest growing companies and known names in the world - they do have Starbuck in Isreal!) One of the major points he talks about is that you don't go to Starbucks for the $3 coffee. You go for the experience. You go for the atmosphere Starbucks offers you. Raising the question what are the atmospheres in our churches? Do people enjoy the community that happens on Sundays? Are we doing our best to make people feel welcomed and not like they are walking into a holy huddle. Starbucks goes out of its way to make sure community happens. From the big soft chairs, to the arrangement of the chairs...almost like a living room!

Sweet brings up an excellent point that in today's home we don't build large front porches. Instead we spend money on large decks in our backyard. Why? Because we don't want to see our neighbors walking by. We want to shield ourselves from the world, and be all about us. He goes further to say that Starbucks has become our front porch in today's world. Again, a place we feel comfortable to have conversations. A place where discuss life. Where we see our neighbors. (tonight at Starbucks - Betsy and I saw people from TNC and we sat outside to have conversation)

Didn't know this, but the CEO at Starbucks is not the "Chief Executive Officer" but the "Chief Evangelist Officer." Apparently the hip thing to do in the Corporate world is to be an Evangelist. A word that the church is scared to use. Is now being picked up by the world. Funny! Basically they are preaching their "gospel." Whether it is Starbucks, Coke, Nike - they are out spreading the "good news" about their company. I find that very interesting.

That is just a few things from the book - but if you are interesting learning more about what the church can learn from Starbucks. This is a good read.

One more thing. Leonard says, "Coffee is the Baptist beer." And that "Starbucks in their pub." Great Quote.