A Prayer in the Confusion
June 17, 2020
A prayer from Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971) … More A Prayer in the Confusion
Author: Jeremy Berg
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.
Conversation #2: Being Black in America
June 13, 2020
Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Yet, in this moment, white Christians should also heed Jesus’ brother’s advice: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak … More Conversation #2: Being Black in America
Revelation Reveals a Tale of Two Cities
June 11, 2020
The lesson that God would judge a city for its economic practices is a sobering thought. The fact that much of the condemnation appears to stem from its self-indulgence should hit with particular force at modern consumer culture … More Revelation Reveals a Tale of Two Cities
Conversation #1: History of Post-Civil War Racism
June 10, 2020
Phil Vischer (Veggie Tales) and his law professor brother Rob taught a class that touched on the Black Lives Matter movement, asking and attempting to answer the question, “Why so angry? Isn’t racism over?” … More Conversation #1: History of Post-Civil War Racism
What’s in a Name?
June 10, 2020
When someone’s name is taken away, that person is dehumanized. In a very real way, our name is our identity. No one has the right to take it away or change it. … More What’s in a Name?
Pastoral Letter: A ‘Kairos’ Moment for the American Church
June 9, 2020
This is a “kairos moment” for the white church and America that I pray doesn’t pass us by leaving us unchanged. … More Pastoral Letter: A ‘Kairos’ Moment for the American Church
Daily Spark: “A Bigger Story to Live In”
June 9, 2020
This is a challenge to follow King Jesus into greater public goodness and witness just one day before our country was rocked by the murder of George Floyd sparking protests around the world. … More Daily Spark: “A Bigger Story to Live In”
Pastors & Prophets, or Political Pundits?
June 9, 2020
My worst fear — and it is well-founded — is that the white church will continue to be influenced and shaped more by partisan political rhetoric than by the God-ordained, Biblically drenched, Jesus-centered pastors and prophetic Christian voices God has placed in our lives for such a time as this. … More Pastors & Prophets, or Political Pundits?
Daily Spark: “Escaping the Echo Chamber”
June 8, 2020
“The time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim 4:3). … More Daily Spark: “Escaping the Echo Chamber”
It’s Time to Grow Up
June 7, 2020
It’s time for the Body of Christ to grow up. Like a refrigerated teething ring given to an infant cutting her teeth, I have offered Paul’s ‘Body Metaphor’ for the church to chew on as we seek to become One Unified Body of Many Ethnic Parts. … More It’s Time to Grow Up
Sunday Service – June 7, 2020 – “Enough Is Enough: Toward Racial Justice”
June 6, 2020
Today we hear a raw and impassioned message by Pastor Greg Boyd challenging the white church to wake up to our nation’s Original Sin of racism. … More Sunday Service – June 7, 2020 – “Enough Is Enough: Toward Racial Justice”
Seek the Greater Gift of Racial Sensibility
June 6, 2020
The “Love Poem” in 1 Corinthians 13 is often pulled out of context and read at weddings. When applied to racial division and ethnic differences in the local church, its doubly explosive! … More Seek the Greater Gift of Racial Sensibility
Racial Injustice has Benefited Me
June 5, 2020
I’m watching America burn, and watching fingers point in all directions. Of course, I’m not a racist. I’ve never kneeled on anyone’s neck or denied housing to anyone. So I’m clean. Right? … More Racial Injustice has Benefited Me
Giving Greater Honor to Minorities
June 5, 2020
This is the task of the church today: for Christians of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to receive those of different backgrounds as a gift to broaden our perspective and deepen our love as we learn to not only understand each other’s experiences, but enter into each other’s pain and, God willing, to learn how to suffer in solidarity with them. … More Giving Greater Honor to Minorities
An Intoxicatingly Beautiful Unity-in-Diversity
June 4, 2020
Paul emphasizes our mutual interdependence in the Body which, when applied to race/ethnicity, offers some of the following revolutionary and far-reaching principles for racial healing and cooperation in the church. … More An Intoxicatingly Beautiful Unity-in-Diversity
What Would Mister Rogers Do?
June 3, 2020
We’ve never needed Mr. Rogers-like leaders more than we do right now. … More What Would Mister Rogers Do?
One Body, Many Ethnic Parts
June 3, 2020
Let us revisit Paul’s ‘One Body, Many Parts’ metaphor and draw out key insights for more nurturing more harmonious multiethnic relations. … More One Body, Many Ethnic Parts
Beyond the Melting Pot
June 2, 2020
In the age of Trump, Christian leaders and committed followers of Jesus know deep in their bones that a kind of “melting” needs to take place if the message and mission of the gospel is to bear fresh fruit in a culture where so much is rotten. … More Beyond the Melting Pot
A Service of Lament – “Gasping For the Breath of New Creation”
June 1, 2020
After a week of rioting and violent protests following the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, we gather to lament our broken world and pray for God’s healing, peace and justice to rain down. … More A Service of Lament – “Gasping For the Breath of New Creation”
Two Prayers for Justice
June 1, 2020
Almighty God, who sits on the throne judging right… … More Two Prayers for Justice
Sunday Service – May 24 – Ascension of Christ
May 24, 2020
A Memorial Weekend service with a message focusing on the meaning and significance of the Ascension of Christ … More Sunday Service – May 24 – Ascension of Christ
Sunday Service – May 17, 2020
May 17, 2020
Join us for an uplifting worship service today as we look at the importance of “lament” in the Christian life. … More Sunday Service – May 17, 2020
Revelation Reveals the Problem
May 14, 2020
Here’s Scot McKnight again, who is reviewing David Mathewson’s (A Companion to the Book of Revelation) on his blog Jesus Creed: Knowing who is the problem reshapes our reading of Revelation. Sometimes our history of reading a book blocks our ability to read it better. If one reads Revelation as a chronologically ordering of “this happens … More Revelation Reveals the Problem
Stop Spreading Conspiracies
May 11, 2020
These times call for discernment, not spreading unproven theories. … More Stop Spreading Conspiracies
Apocalypse Now 3: Lion & Lamb
May 10, 2020
This is part 3 of “Apocalypse Now”, a sermon series on the Book of Revelation. Jeremy draws out key themes of Rev. 5 & 6 – the centering vision of the entire book – while drawing inspiration from local sites of his hometown. … More Apocalypse Now 3: Lion & Lamb
Kingdom Harbor 