The Missional Coffee House

I like to listen to a lot of different teachers/preachers, but I have a select few that I listen to on a constant basis. I want to hear topics and subjects that deal with things that I’m going through, but at the same time, are relevant to my students.

Some of the best podcasts are:

The City Church - Judah Smith

NewSpring Church - Perry Noble

Northpoint Community Church - Andy Stanley

Elevation Church - Steven Furtick

The Village Church - Matt Chandler

The RAMP

The RAMP School of Ministry

Jesus Culture Leadership Podcadt

Bethel Church - Bill Johnson

What is the job of the church? What is our purpose?

I ask myself these questions a lot. The reason being…I believe the church tends to lose it’s focus every now and then.

We (myself included) get to a point where we think about our comforts, instead of fulfilling the Great Commission, which ultimately leads to “Country Club Church.” In “Country Club Church”, we care more about the duration of the service, flavors of coffees and types of pastries in the coffeeshop, the style of music being played, and whether or not the childcare is up to our standards.

I’m not saying that all of those are bad things, or even hinting that if you have them in your church, you’re a “Country Club Church” and that you somehow love Jesus less. I WANT a coffeeshop at my church….Desperately. What I am saying, is that we can’t focus on those things and leave out the most important thing…

BRINGING THE KINGDOM OF GOD INTO THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS

The job and function of the church is to be a gathering place and training center for disciples. It’s meant to be a place where we come to get filled with the Word and the Spirit, and then go out into the world and bring the Kingdom of God to places where the kingdom of darkness is reigning. It’s meant to be our spiritual bootcamp. A missional community.

The problem facing most modern churches…They can’t get out of the “Country Club Church” mindset. Honestly, I believe that this mindset was started with great intentions, but then morphed into the mutated monster of what was church DNA.

I’m not bashing the church in any way, shape, or form. I’m simply pointing out that a lot of churches have lost there purpose and focus. It’s time for the church to regain focus, regain purpose, and start doing what we’re called to do.