Theology Pub Tonight

by Joe Thorn on May 6, 2009

Theology Pub

Theology Pub

Theology Pub
photos by our own Brian Malcolm

About Joe Thorn

I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, and author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Jen is my wife, and Katherine, Elias, Madeline and Kilian are my kids.

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  • http://www.flyindianguy.com Benson

    very nice shots

    • http://www.brianmalcolm.net B

      Thanks, dude!

  • http://ryanlwentzel.com/ Ryan Wentzel

    Joe I really like the Theology Pub idea. How many of the attendees are church members, friends of members, non-Christians, etc?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      There were 28 people there last night. We would like to have at least 50% people there from outside of Redeemer. Last night the breakdown was 40% “outsiders,” (Christian, non-Christian, etc), and 60% from Redeemer. This is pretty good for our second event, as we continue to build the culture of Theology Pub.

  • http://www.vellezerit-shkoder.com 68guns

    Joe

    Can you give us an update on what the themes are

    ..and how you split the time up?

    Thanks

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      Our first dialog was on the question, “Is religion and/or spirituality dead in suburbia?” Last night’s discussion was on the meaning of life. Is there one grand purpose for all people, or only smaller, personally established goals/purposes? Can a person live without purpose?

      The breakdown is hang out – talk, eat, drink, whatever.

      5 Minute introduction to the topic

      An hour of discussion – I ask questions and then facilitate the dialog. I do not teach or share many thoughts.

      Brief wrap up – why the topic matters to us/me.

      People hang around and talk, get to know each other.

      This is all still new to us, so we are not experts. We just want to get people talking publicly about the things that really matter – and listening to each other.

  • http://blog.livinghopeverona.com Joshua Montague

    Nice venue!
    Are you drinking a Coke?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      In that photo I am drinking water.

  • http://www.conqueringthirst.com James R. Gordon

    Joe,

    It looks like the event was a success! Glad to see Redeemer fulfilling its name by redeeming the pub for kingdom purposes. I look forward to hearing more about it in the future.

    JRG

  • Scott Eaton

    I heard that Al Mohler was there.

  • http://www.tedegly.com Ted

    Great shots!

    Love to come check it out…when is your next meeting time?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      Hey Ted, It’ll be next month, no date nailed down yet. Look us up on Facebook and become a fan. You’ll get the updates that way.

  • http://brianmoats.wordpress.com Brian Moats

    Very encouraged by these shots. Will seek to remember to pray for these meetings whenever they are going to occur. Praise the Lord.

  • http://brianmoats.wordpress.com Brian Moats

    P.S. This place looks amazing. What/Where is it?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      This is the second floor of a great Irish Pub in Saint Charles – McNally’s.

  • http://garyboalnireland.blogspot.com Gary Boal

    New it had to be an irish pub!
    This is a great idea, how did you go about getting it going?

    Imagining:
    Just approach a pub owner & say hey can i start a discussion on theology in your pub?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      Yeah, that’s pretty much it as far as talking to the pub. I shared a bit of vision, explained why I thought it would be good for the community and the pub itself.

      We also spent a couple years considering the idea, talking to Jon McIntosh at The Journey, and we visited their gathering in STL. We had to figure out exactly what we were trying to do with this kind of thing.

  • http://garyboalnireland.blogspot.com Boaly

    I was talking about it on fri with friends, telling them of what you guys are doing & just saying it was a pretty good idea. I’m sure you face the reaction that many of them gave. . .negative. . .’what? in a pub…’ sort of thing.

    Praying for it.

    I’m sure there was alot of conversation & thought before hand.
    Where do you envision it going?(stupid question really: people coming to Jesus!)

  • http://kowalker.com/ Erik

    Just curious what the general reaction of unbelievers are when they find out a Pastor and some church members meet in a pub for theological discussion. Shocked? Mind-boggled? Curious? Interested?

    This atmosphere of church goers meeting in a pub for book readings, theological discussions, etc happen quite frequently up here in ultra-liberal Portland, Oregon.

    I’ll be honest: I still feel quite uncomfortable when I see the pics of beer on the table over a discussion of theology. I’m genuinely curious: why beer and not a Coke?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      The response from unbelievers has been very positive. They hear what we’re doing and are at least for it, and at best they want to come and participate. They aren’t shocked. But curious and interested – yep. I have heard from others that it’s a safe place to dialog without hearing a one-sided hard sell. People need to work it out, talk these things out.

      And I don’t think it’s not beer vs coke. It’s beer, coke and every other good thing God gives us. By the way – you can get a coke or water at the pub. :) We choose the pub because over, say a coffee house because a good pub like this has food, drink, and great atmosphere. This pub has an amazing “upper room” (oh yes, I just said it) with plenty of seats. We will be able to pull in 50 or more people into this space. This is not possible in a local coffee house. There’s more to it, but you get the idea.

      I’ve covered the whole alcohol discussion on the blog before, so I’m not covering that ground again (check the noteworthy section linked above in the Navigation bar, or search alcohol)

  • http://thechurchbartender.com The Church Bartender

    Joe,

    Great work bro. Love what you’re doing – it is as the heart of who I am and what we do. I look forward to visit and a drink.

    Michael Trent
    @churchbartender

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