A Blog by Jason Salamun

At Project Church, we hold a monthly event called Beer & Bible.  In short, it’s a casual conversation where folks inside and outside our church can connect and discuss current hot topics and theology around a frosty beverage.

I’ve received a number of emails from people wanting to do something similar where they live and I’m often asked what this time looks like.

Here is a simple guide to help those wanting to start a Beer & Bible in their cities.

Know
Know where you (and your church) stand as it relates to alcohol.  If you want to learn more about what the scriptures teach on alcohol, I recommend three books: God Gave Wine (Gentry), Drinking with Calvin and Luther! (West), and The Radical Reformission (Driscoll).

Here’s a brief blog post on where I stand in terms of Christians drinking alcohol.

Plan
Choose a regularly time and location.  Visit pubs and bars and see which is in the best location and is best suited for discussion.  If possible, get tables near the entrance so people can find you.

Invite
Invite your friends and encourage them to invite their friends. Social networking works great to get the word out.

Guidelines
We have just a few groundrules to guide our time.
1)  Keep it real (Honesty reigns)
2)  Keep it cordial (Respect one another’s opinions / Don’t be a jerk)
3)  Control your drinking  (Don’t get hammered)

Format
Here’s what our typical time looks like:

1. Open in prayer
2. Have one big question to explore related to culture, theology, whatever.
3. Allow anyone and everyone to give their take on that topic. This might go on for a bit.
4. After everyone’s given their thoughts on the topic, we have one passage of scripture that relates to the topic at hand.
5. Someone reads it outloud.
6. Then we ask this question: In light of what this passage says, how would you answer the one big question?
7. Allow time for robust dialogue and questions.
8. Let the conversation flow and people to have natural conversations as you end your time.

If the group gets too big, just split them up.  We tend to keep it to 6-12 people per discussion group.

Why Do This?
The idea is to allow people to think through life, culture, theology, etc. through a biblical lens. Sometimes people will answer the one big question with opinions. Then, as we look at the scriptures, we sometimes see that the Bible contradicts us (that’s a good thing), and we learn to live in light of what the scriptures say.

Also, understand that people are coming from different places. Some don’t believe. Some are exploring. Some are trying to live out what they believe.  Let this be a safe zone to doubt and ask questions.

Resources
To help you out, here is a graphic I created for Beer & Bible in png format. Below is an example of how we use it.

Download: Beer & Bible graphic (png)

(Note: It’s a take it or leave it sort of thing. Due to time constraints, I’m unable to provide other sizes, formats, etc. Thanks for understanding.)

In closing, remember 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Enjoy!

Really cool music video for the song “This Too Shall Pass” by OK GO.  We played it prior to the message I shared this week at Project Church as an illustration of what a chain reaction looks like.

Give it looksy.

What do micro-breweries, indie artists, and church plants have in common?

They are the little guys.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always rooted for the little guy.

Rocky and Drago

It began when I read “The Little Engine That Could” in first grade which preached determination and perseverance against all odds. As a child of the 80’s, I was a huge fan of the Rocky movies and recall the profound effect it had on me when the underdog American hero Rocky Balboa defeated the unstoppable, cyborg-Russian Ivan Drago. I remember hearing the PG version of the David and Goliath story in church which further cemented my affinity for the little guy.

It seems it’s the little guy that’s on the verge of what’s next; who’s the catalyst for change; who’s always pushing the envelope and challenging the status quo. They are the outlaws, the mavericks, and renegades.  Ordinary people who aren’t content with ordinary lives. Pioneers driven by dreams and fueled with hope. Their passion is unmatched.

Perhaps it’s good to always be “the little guy” at something. To feel the odds stacked against you; to need help from another; to resist complacency.

Even when the micro-brewer has a large distribution, the indie-artist has a top 20 hit, or the new church grows in influence, it’s wise to continually put ourselves in position to be the little guy. We should always be striving for something that’s too big for us. As C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

I guess the reason I root for the little guy is because I am the little guy.

May it always be so.

We showed this classic video from The Hoff prior to my message at Project Church. It will change your life!!! Okay, maybe it won’t change your life but it does make for a good laugh.

After watching it, you can give the podcast on freedom a listen.

Each year I create an intentional reading plan as part of my personal growth and development. There are bound to be exceptions as I discover new titles throughout the year, but this pretty much tells the story of the knowledge that will be dropped in my mind. There are even a few re-reads.

Look it over and let me know any books on this list that you’ve read and what you liked/disliked about them.

Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning (Annual Re-read)
Renewal as a Way of Life – Richard Lovelace
Counterfeit Gods – Tim Keller
Untamed – Alan Hirsch
The Canon of Scripture – F.F. Bruce
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years – Donald Miller
Hear No Evil – Matthew Paul Turner
Spiritual Leadership – J. Oswald Sanders
Eat This Book – Eugene Peterson
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction – Eugene Peterson
The Jesus Way – Eugene Peterson
The Blue Parakeet – Scott McKnight
Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals – William Webb
The Homiletical Plot – Eugene Lowry
Sex, Lies, and Religion – Randy Elrod
The Divine Commodity – Skye Jethani
Resident Aliens – Stanley Hauerwas
Galatians – Martin Luther
Forgotten God – Francis Chan
Doctrine – Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Finally Alive – John Piper
Heaven – Randy Alcorn
Simply Christian – N.T. Wright
Church in the Making – Ben Arment
The Trellis and the Vine – Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
The Normal Christian Life – Watchman Nee
The Meaning of the Pentateuch – John Sailhamer
The Lost World of Genesis One – John Walton
The Gospel-Driven Life – Michael Horton
From Eternity to Here – Frank Viola
Messy Faith – A.J. Gregory
Your Jesus is Too Safe – Jared Wilson
Primal – Mark Batterson
The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society – Lesslie Newbigin
The Return of the Prodigal Son – Henri Nouwen
Classic Christianity – Thomas Oden
The Seeking Heart – Fenelon
Leading on Empty – Wayne Cordeiro
How People Change – Timothy Lane
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands – Paul Tripp
The Book of God – Walter Wangerin
Decision Making and the Will of God – Garry Freisen
3 Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare – Clinton Arnold
The Cross of Christ - John Stott
The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards – George Mardsen
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount – David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and The Principles of Screenwriting – Robert McKee
Linchpin – Seth Godin
Drive - Dan Pink
A Whole New Mind – Dan Pink
Switch – Chip and Dan Heath
Thinkertoys – Michael Michalco
Have a Little Faith – Mitch Albom
My Life Outside the Ring – Hulk Hogan
The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown
East of Eden – John Steinbeck

I’m a sucker for “Best-of” lists and thought I’d share my top 9 things of 2009. This list isn’t so much about what was released in 2009 but things I enjoyed in 2009.

The categories are books, films, and music and I’m giving a brief review of each.

Favorite 9 Books I Read in 2009
Crazy Love by Francis Chan // A call to live what you believe.
Matthew by Stanley Hauerwas // Opened my eyes to Matthew’s message of discipleship.
Total Church by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester // Greatly shaped my ecclesiology.
ReJesus by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost // Jesus…untamed.
Deep Church by Jim Belcher // Explored the tension I’ve been living in with regards to church.
Traveling Light by Eugene Peterson // Unpacked the freedom in Galatians.
Missional Rennaissance by Reggie McNeal // Handbook for the missional church.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott // Writing advice from one of the best.
So Beautiful by Leonard Sweet // It’s like Sweet intercepted the pass of the current church culture and went the other way for a score.

Favorite 9 Albums I Listened to in 2009
Leonard Cohen: Live in London // Most played album in my rotation
The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You // Like modern-day Buddy Holly songs.
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme // I discovered jazz this year & this is my fav.
Derek Webb: Stockholm Syndrome // Too honest for Christian radio.
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion // Beautifully weird and melodic.
The Welcome Wagon: Welcome to the Welcome Wagon // Simple and Sufjanesque.
Elvis Presley: From Elvis in Memphis // It’s not just a classic album, it’s an experience.
Neko Case: Middle Cyclone // Bold singing of story songs.
Monsters of Folks: Self-Titled // Indie supergroup that doesn’t sound like it. (That’s a good thing).

Favorite 9 Films I Watched in 2009
Gran Torino // Eastwood’s performance is powerful.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button // Unique storyline that’s hard to pull off.
Where the Wild Things Are // Light-hearted & serious at the same time. My kids liked it.
District 9 // A mirror for our society in the form of an alien flick.
Seven Pounds // Stories of sacrifice still resonate.
Taken // Tapped into the desire for justice and outrage of injustice.
Slumdog Millionaire // Left me speechless which is hard to do.
Zombieland // Funniest movie I saw this year.
Star Trek // Summer blockbuster without the cheese.

What are your favorite things of 09?

A friend bought this Jesus chapstick in Las Vegas.  The packaging offers up these little gems:

“Looking Good For Jesus.”

“Virtuous Vanilla”

“Be Worthy. Be Noticed.”

“Get Tight With Christ.”

“Look Your Sunday Best.”

“Protects. Preserves (with natural beeswax.”

Most disturbing is the image with the two chicks.

Anyone else watch this cartoon as a kid?  There was nothing like the WWF (WWE) in the 80’s. Those were simpler times.

The list below are the top search keywords people have used over the last month when they arrive at the Project Church website.

This fascinates me because it reveals the curiosity of people about our church.  It also shows us what we’re associated with.  Our name, beer and bible, coffee house (not anymore), missional, me, and most of all, Jesus.

I look at Google Analytics for our website every month and each time I learn something new.   What do you make of this list?

Keywords
project church
church project
projectchurch.net
project church rapid city sd
beer & bible
project church rapid city
projectchurch
beer and bible
churches rapid city
project chuch
“beer and bible” dowtown
“being sent” church
“missional” community in rapid city south dakota
“project church”
against religion just jesus
church as project
church list for rapid city, sd
church rapid city
church services at alternative fuel in rapid city
church+project
churches in rapid city south dakota
churches rapid city sd
coffee shop church rapid city
divine conversation
epic hero jesus christ
find a church on facebook

http://projectchurch.net/

jason salamun church launch
jason salamun, pastor, project church, rapid city, sd
listing of churches in rapid city, sd
no religion church
non denominational churches in rapid city
project church + beer and bible
project church net
project church rapid city, sd
project church, rapid city, sd
project church, rapid city,sd
rapid city churches
saturday night church services in rapid city, sd
sent movement
service projects church
south dakota “coffee house” jesus
starting a church
the church project
to project church
what kind of project is a church
www.projectchurch.net

If you’re pumped like I am for the “Where the Wild Things Are” movie then you’ll be excited about yet another movie based on a classic children’s book, “Everyone Poops.”

Enjoy!