Currently there are about 12,000 Starbucks stores across the United States.* These 12,000 stores are strategically located in high end strip malls, busy corners and Target Store entrances. They are designed to draw us in and give us the coffee (and snacks and atmosphere and, did I say, coffee?) we love.
Starbucks has done the best job of any coffee company in existence of penetrating the market and saturating the nation. Their green and white circle sign of deliciousness draws us weary travelers in like a bee to a honey flavored Frappuccino. (Is there such a drink? Just wait and I’m sure there will be!)
So how can Starbucks saturate the physical cravings of decaffeinated Americans, and the church cannot satisfy the spiritual thirst of Americans with the living water? After all, there are only 12,000 Starbucks coffee shops in the United States and there are over 300,000 Protestant churches! That’s right! We outnumber Starbucks by 25 to 1!
So, with this as a backdrop, here’s what Starbucks can teach the Church when it comes to evangelism:
1. Train more “baristas” to serve excellent drinks consistently.
Too many times the pastor is the only barista in the church. You have to go to church to get served the good news. Of course the pastors should be sharing the Gospel in their sermons, but the primary job of the pastor according to Ephesians 4:11-12 is to “equip God’s people for works of service.” Part of this is equipping their congregations to share the Gospel with their friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, classmates and teammates.
Do you have a plan to train your people to share the Gospel? Check out Dare 2 Share’s two free faith-sharing mobile apps to help you do just that! You can also check out our brand new adult small group curriculum that will help you “gospelize” your entire congregation!
2. Only buy the best beans.
Starbucks takes great care to buy the best. We need to make sure we are serving the best Gospel! As Paul wrote to the Galatian believers, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-8.
Too many times too many churches preach a “gospel” that is no gospel at all. It is a works-based “turn, try, cry” gospel which robs the cross of its power and makes salvation about what we do for Jesus instead of what Jesus has done for us. This kind of Gospel is accursed and will leave a bitter aftertaste in the soul of the thirsty sinner.
