Three times a year, the Intelligence Group publishes The Cassandra Report, an analysis of 14- to 34-year-old consumers. The latest report found an interesting new pastime:

SCIENCE NIGHTS: It seems just going out and having a drink is no longer enough to attract customers. Suddenly consumers seem to want to get smart while they drink! Union Hall in Brooklyn is luring in patrons for nights reminiscent of 9th Grade science -- with lectures, experiments, and full on multimedia presentations. And while the thirst for knowledge is certainly nothing new, the recent rash of social science clubs (Café Scientifique, Café Science, Secret Science Club, Entertaining Science to name a few) may be attributed, in some part, to the exploding interest in the environment.

I read that, and I think we need a return to Table Talk. If you're not familiar, Martin Luther used to sit around the table with his students and colleagues, eating, drinking, and discussing theology. Some of them took copious notes and we now have printed volumes of these candid conversations.
Sound Emergent? Maybe. But these aren't ethereal, meaningless conversations. These are hard-nosed, brutal conversations and they do have a point. I'm thinking we could have pastors and teachers give lectures on a doctrine-of-the-week. Perhaps some nights watch a Cross TV video. But all with a discussion to follow. A discussion where there might be some debate, but in the end, a resolved issue with a better understanding of the issue for both teacher and student.