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.
In John 12, Jesus is telling us that life is to be found in the dying and losing process, not on the other side of it or by avoiding it. If you want to bear much fruit spiritually, then you may first need to be broken open, split in two, pressed into hard soil, plowed over by persecution, humbled by the spade that throws loose dirt over the false, airbrushed version of your life. … More Cow Manure and Spiritual Growth
As a nerdy hobby born of my doctoral dissertation, I am fascinated by the power of letters. I stumbled upon these remarkable words from St. Gregory of Nyssa in a letter to a friend circa 380 AD. He states so effusively how powerful some thoughtful words from a friend can be in a trying time. Check this out! … More ‘The Radiance in Your Letter’
I came across a letter today that I sent to our congregation in January 2020. This was just weeks before our world would be dramatically changed (as well as the church) with the outbreak of Covid-19. We were casting a fresh vision, moving buildings, and turning a new leaf in our journey together. … More Sweet and Sour Church
If God is the true Sculptor and we are the clay, then we need to sit still on God’s workbench more often so he can do his job. Imagine old Geppetto trying to put the finishing touches on his masterpiece Pinocchio if he were already a living boy, jumping up and down and running around the room. That’s much of American Christian spirituality. We’re working too hard for God to work on us. We’re moving too fast for God to move in us. … More Sit Still, Pinocchio!
Peter stands naked in the boat, both for practical fishing purposes and to symbolize a man laid completely bare before God-in-Christ. Instead of hiding his shameful nakedness, he wraps himself in a garment of grace, plunges himself into the waters of forgiveness, and swims into the arms of his loving friend. … More Laid Bare, Yet Lavishly Loved
As I turned 44 years old this past week, I’ve been ruminating on this breathtaking quote from Saint Augustine’s Confessions: “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you.” … More Better Late Than Never: 44th Birthday Reflection
My goal is to put out at least quarterly ministry update videos to keep our faithful supporters up to speed on our ministry efforts and impact at MainStreet and Kingdom Harbor. Thanks for your partnership! … More Ministry Update – June ’23
I shared a sermon at Kevin Krotzer’s funeral on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at St. Martin’s by the Lake. It’s a message I think others need to hear. I know some friends and family were unable to attend, and so I decided to record a version of it to share here. One fun additional note: … More Kevin’s Funeral Sermon – “Eyes Opened on the Road to Life”
I went on a retreat recently with my good friend Peter and our spiritual father David Johnson. We spent much time around the fire talking about our desire to be better fathers. Ironically, this absent-minded father didn’t realize this retreat would take me away from my son on his 10th birthday! … More Fathers Around the Sacred Fire
A younger Pastor Jeremy desired a church that was organizationally sustainable. An older and wiser Pastor Jeremy is content with a small fellowship that brings people into a healing orbit of grace and love for as long as they are among us. … More Orbiting Grace at MainStreet
I enjoyed meeting many St. Martin’s folks at the June 27 “Bible, Brats & Beer” and having the chance to share my backstory and call to ministry in my hometown. MainStreet Covenant Church is blessed to house our ministries at St. Martin’s and celebrate all the ways God is at work in both of our … More Nice to Meet you!
Words fail me for once to express how blessed I am to have Curt Berg as my dad. He’s so steady. So consistent. So trustworthy and loving. In a world where foundations often seem shaky and where people are so often two-faced and fickle, my dad is pure gold all the way through. So friendly. So helpful. So handy and resourceful. So strong and yet tender. So faithful. … More Happy 70th Birthday, Dad!
I was getting my oil changed at Valvoline this morning when a big truck pulled up next in line with the customized license plate that read: SATAN1. The employees started whispering nervously and trying to anticipate what kind of customer they would soon be serving. … More Changing the Devil’s Oil
Kevin Krotzer (far left in photo) passed onto glory on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, around 6pm. Kevin was a special part of the MainStreet family, and he was the dearly beloved of God. Let me share some of my favorite memories of “Uncle” Kevin. … More Remembering Kevin Krotzer
Our MainStreet Covenant matriarch and church grandma, Bonnie Blair, has gone to be with her Lord and Savior. Let me share some of my favorite memories of Bonnie. … More Remembering Bonnie Blair (1940-2023)
Over the past nine months I have taught 9 college courses at 4 different schools traveling over 12,000 miles to plant seeds of the Kingdom in the hearts and minds of some 250 students. This is made possible by the financial support of MainStreet and Kingdom Partners like you. Let me share some highlights! … More Teaching Outreach: Year End Report
This past week three college students of mine met up at Gale Woods Farm to go on a nature walk together. Not just any nature walk; a Jesus Walk aimed at letting the sights and sounds of nature amplify some core teachings of Jesus. The vision for “Jesus Walks” was hatched last spring in Australia while sipping chai tea on sabbatical. … More Jesus Walks and Kingdom Talks
BY RUSSELL MOORE We Lose Culture Wars by Prosecuting Them “Why are we on defense,” one frustrated culture warrior asked me, referring to some religious freedom issue, “when we should be on offense?” As I’ve writtenelsewhere, I find this metaphor telling. It assumes that what really matters is the church’s state rather than its mission. The more I’ve … More Fighting (the Culture War) Like the Devil
Today I read MLK’s Letter from a Birmingham jail alongside the letters to the seven churches of Revelation. John and Patmos, and King in a jail cell–what great prophetic company! … More MLK and the Seven Churches in Revelation
The Prince of Peace himself wants to hold classes in every church across the globe this New Year “that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). What are the key topics of his seminar? The psalmist gives us the curriculum. Jesus wants to teach his people that in Him “unfailing love and truth have met together” (v. 10a). … More Justice & Peace Have Kissed! (Psalm 85)
Another one of my passion projects. Not a “real” book release, but I’ve just finished up compiling my Advent Reflections and sermon series from last year into a fun little keepsake volume as well as to share with anyone interested. Email me if you want me to order you a copy. Then today I somehow … More Book Release: “Christmas On Mount Mystic”
My ministry cup runneth over! (And some days it’s spilling all over the floor.) I haven’t posted any written material here for ages because my time and energy is absorbed with a very full daily teaching and ministry schedule. Maybe it’s time for a brief update. Photo above: A recent Sunday communion service in our … More Where I’ve Been: A Ministry Update
Join us Sundays at 5pm as we open the Gospel of John and heed Jesus’ invitation to COME, SEEK, SEE and ABIDE like never before. … More Come, Seek, See & Abide
“I read your letters over and over, to help remind me that I am not alone,” said one parishioner during the early months of the pandemic. Another said, “While I love a Sunday sermon, I felt these letters so much more deeply in my heart.” … More Wise Letters for Weary Souls
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and puts it into practice is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Matthew 7:24 Dallas Willard wrote relentlessly urging Christians to place real, rugged apprenticeship to Jesus back at the center of Christian faith and the church’s task. The problem, Willard says, is that “The … More Jesus As LifeCoach
Kingdom Harbor 