The Rev. Dr. Jeremy Berg is the founding and lead pastor of MainStreet Covenant Church in Minnetonka Beach, MN, where he has served since 2010. He is an adjunct professor of Biblical and Theological Studies who has taught classes at Bethel University, University of Northwestern—St. Paul, North Central University, Crown College, and Solid Rock Discipleship School. Jeremy earned a doctorate in New Testament Context under Scot McKnight at Northern Seminary (Chicago). He and his wife, Kjerstin, have three kids, Peter, Isaak and Abigail.
Lindsay Swiggum, an 18-year old senior at Apple Valley High, is part of the youth group I pastor. She recently took 1st place honors in the state speech competition in the category of “Original Oratory.” The following is her original work that won her state. I am very impressed with Lindsay’s writing talent — and … More “To Quit or Not To Quit?” (Lindsay Swiggum)
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is in the middle of a provocative discussion on the fuller message of the “Kingdom Gospel” found by reading the Bible as Story over and against the more popular, privatized gospel boiled down to a few abstract propositional truths pertaining to individual salvation. McKnight pushes us to a larger, more … More ESSAY: The Church as God’s New Language
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am … More PHILIPPIANS 10: The Message & the Medium (Phil 1:15-18)
Are you a Facebook addict? Read Elizabeth Cohen’s Five Clues That You Are Addicted to Facebook to find out. Here is a short excerpt and 4 question test to find out your level of Facebook dependency. Take a moment and WATCH NEWS STORY. You know you’re a Facebook addict when … 1. You lose … More Are You Addicted to Facebook?
The following thoughts come from a former youth pastor, Steve Nelson, who is now a senior pastor. He is currently reading Mark O’s Youth Ministry 3.0 book and posted the following note on Facebook answering the following question. “Why are you reading THAT? I thought you were through with the youth ministry phase of your … More Senior Pastors & Youth Ministry
Thomas Nelson Publishers is about to release the New American Patriot’s Bible. Here’s how they’re marketing it: THE ONE BIBLE THAT SHOWS HOW ‘A LIGHT FROM ABOVE’ SHAPED OUR NATION. Never has a version of the Bible targeted the spiritual needs of those who love our country more than The American Patriot’s Bible. This extremely … More Greg Boyd & the Patriot’s Bible
If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chr. 7: 14). The classic Bible passage for the National Day of Prayer is 2 … More National Day of Prayer Reflections
Depending on the season of life or current circumstances you’re facing, the world is a war zone, soap opera or circus. We all need a place of “sanctuary” or escape. Everyone should have their own, unique “Happy Place” to retreat to daily. I have two main Happy Places. The first is the driver’s seat … More Where’s Your Happy Place?
Life doesn’t have to be so serious. We all need to stop, put down our briefcase once in a while and join in a happy song and dance! What if we had one of these sweet moments every day?
“Worldwide cases of swine flu climbed to 236 on Thursday, a day after global health authorities warned that swine flu was threatening to bloom into a pandemic and notched up their alert system to the second highest level” (MSNBC.com). The outbreak is the top story on every news channel, in every newspaper, the topic around … More Swine Flu & Unreached Peoples in Perspective
Q: Who is this King of glory? A: He’s everything to me!
I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned … More PHILIPPIANS 9: Obstacle or Opportunity? (Phil 1:12-14
“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you produce the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:10-11). Farming went out of style a while ago — at least in my neck … More PHILIPPIANS 8: Soul Farming (Phil 1:10-11)
And I pray that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best… (Phi 1:9-10) We all know the famous Beatles refrain: “Love, love, love, all you need is love.” There is a lot of truth to this statement, but it has … More PHILIPPIANS 7: Praying With Paul II (Phil 1:9-10)
Pull up a slab of rock, light a candle and grab a quill, ink and a scrap of papyrus to take notes. We’re journeying together back to the year AD 58 to a Roman prison cell to listen in as Paul pens his letter to the Philippians. What can his letter speak to us some … More PHILIPPIANS 6: Praying with Paul I (Phil 1:9a)
Is there anything better than sleeping in on a lazy Saturday and then enjoying some enormous, fruit covered waffles prepared with love by your amazing spouse? Thanks, Keri! They were delicious! Martha Stewart has nothing on you!
Pull up a slab of rock, light a candle and grab a quill, ink and a scrap of papyrus to take notes. We’re journeying together back to the year AD 58 to a Roman prison cell to listen in as Paul pens his letter to the Philippians. What can his letter speak to us some … More PHILIPPIANS 5: “A Gut Feeling” (Phil 1:8)
Last time we looked at the delay of marriage and its challenge for sexual purity among unmarrieds. Today I want to look at its impact on church attendance. Did you notice a demographic missing from your pews this past Sunday morning? If your church is like most in America you would find very few 20-somethings … More Empty Pews and the Delay of Marriage
If you’ve never heard Greg Boyd preach you are missing out. He brings a unique blend of sophisticated, high-level learning packaged in a very engaging, accessible, practical preaching style that connects with the rest of us. I am excited to join him for a special 5-week teaching series called Animate where Greg will attempt to … More Animate Your Faith with Greg Boyd
Many people begin asking some of the ultimate faith questions around Easter time. What is it like after you die? Where is heaven? What is it like? What will our resurrection bodies be like? What about Hell? Where is Hell located? Does it even exist? Bishop of Durham and New Testament scholar N.T. Wright addresses … More N.T. Wright on Heaven, Hell & Resurrection
They’re going to school longer, delaying marriage and children, job-hopping and apartment-swapping. They’re also moving back home after college to save money, traveling to faraway places to work and generally taking “me” time to decide what they want their futures to be. While their baby boomer parents lament that they’ve somehow gone wrong, experts studying why … More Teenage Sex Drive & the Delay of Marriage
I’m assuming you have all heard about the scandalous James Ossuary discovered in Jerusalem in 2002, right? If not, this amazing artifact is a first century burial bone box with the inscription “James son of Joseph, Brother of Jesus.” Is this really the burial box of Jesus’ brother? A debate has been raging for years and … More James Ossuary Debate Continues
I love The Colbert Report. Colbert recently drilled Bart Ehrman on his latest book Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Didn’t Know About Them). Ehrman, a well-known professor of religious studies at UNC at Chapel Hill and pastor-turned-atheist has quickly become one of the most outspoken critics of the Christian … More COLBERT REPORT: “Bart Ehrman, Interrupted”
If you would like hear more about the so-called “End of Christian America” check out the following interview by Kevin Swanson of Generations With Vision Broadcast with The Internet Monk Michael Spencer.
If you care about the current and future state of Christianity in America and evangelicalism in particular, there has been a storm of articles and debates popping up all over the place as of late. I commented briefly upon Michael Spencer’s “Coming Evangelical Collapse” posts a couple months back. His bleak predictions were subsequently picked … More The Demise of American Christianity: Good or Bad?
Kingdom Harbor 