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.
Over three decades ago, my late hero and Protestant “Saint” (if Presbyterians canonized people) Eugene Peterson wrote the following in the opening paragraphs to his book on pastoral ministry called Working the Angles (1987): “American pastors are abandoning their post, left and right, and at an alarming rate. They are not leaving their churches and getting … More Reclaiming the Pastoral Vocation
Anyone interested in a sample of my academic work, here’s a full essay on race and ethnicity in the ancient world and today. (I shared a few sections a few weeks back.) Dr. Dennis Edwards said of it, “This is great, dare I say prophetic!” Unfortunately, the formatting and footnotes did not transfer to the … More One Body, Many Ethnic Parts
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ― Isaac Asimov “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” ― Aristotle “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.”―St. Paul
I aspire to be a broad-minded person with strong convictions. I hope to inspire and cultivate this rare combination in those I teach and lead as a pastor. I fall short of this ideal daily, but we’re at least aiming for the right goal. Why is this a rare combination? Consider the two popular alternatives. On … More The Middle Path to Civility
In this cultural moment when so many are seeking holistic healing, holistic medicine, Whole Foods, and whole-bodied spiritual practices (e.g., meditation, yoga, etc.), Christian teachers have such an opportunity to share the holistic message Jesus taught. Yet, I fear too many pastors and churches are still drunk on the leftover wine of ancient Gnostic and … More Mind, Body, Spirit & Doritos
Here’s a retelling of a parable through the lenses of the Enneagram. Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in their False Self, thinking they were the better personality Type and regarded other Enneagram Types with contempt: “Two different personality types went up to the temple to pray, one a self-righteous Type One and … More A Parable Retold
“The obviously well kept secret of the “ordinary” is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the life of God flows.” -Dallas Willard … More A Breathtaking Reality
As a Type Five on the Enneagram, I have found myself both amazed by the uncanny accuracy and profound insights of this system, while harboring my own skepticism about its fuzzy origins and claim that every person fits into one of nine categories. I’ve been a true Five, investigating it at a fast and furious pace, devouring several … More A Skeptics Journey with the Enneagram
Here’s another letter from Fenelon (1651-1715): Dear friend, I am happy to hear of your frame of mind, and to find you communicating in simplicity everything that takes place within you. Never hesitate to write me whatever you think God requires. It is not at all surprising that you have a sort of jealous ambition … More Spiritual Letters: Fenelon (Letter 7)
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” -Psalm 139:14 If human beings are indeed created in the image and likeness of a Triune God, then we should not be surprised if ongoing explorations of the human psyche reveals a kind of 3-fold nature. In a recent … More Human Psyche & the Triune God
We just returned from a week in Orland, Florida. My parents treated their grandkids and us to a week at a fancy resort and Disney World adventures. In the midst of meeting Mickey, visiting Hogwarts Castle, riding roller coasters and carrying tired kids and their souvenirs for miles in the hot sun, we also had … More A Lesson from the Lizard
LECTIONARY REFLECTION | Psalm 119:97-104 In 1983 a shaggy haired rock ’n roller John Cougar Mellencamp released a new ditty called “The Authority Song.” The song captures the rebellious spirit of a teenager railing against authority figures who, in his mind, love putting people in their place and sucking all the fun out of life. … More Boulevard of Broken Dreams
I’m still slooowly making my way through the classic introduction to the contemplative life by Cistercian monk Thomas Merton. I read/listen to a few paragraphs each day on my morning walk. Each sentence is rich and juicy but takes time to ponder and digest. Here’s a few samples: “We thank Him less by words than … More Mornings with Merton
Dallas Willard has been a guiding light and master sage for many pastors who believe at the center of their craft is the call to deeper inner transformation of the human soul. His writings are a goldmine of thoughtful wisdom and, more importantly, his personal life and legacy reveal a man who had the smell … More Renovation of the Heart
LECTIONARY REFLECTION | 18th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c This week we’ll board a plane and take the kids to Disney World – the Magic Kingdom where all your dreams can come true with a little waving of the wand (and a lot of cash in your pocket)! If only “wishing upon a … More Magic Wand Spirituality
Most are familiar with Jesus’ parable of the Hidden Treasure in Matthew 13:44: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” The primary truth here is that Jesus himself … More A Treasure Worth Finding
A great companion for the “Pilgrimage of the Soul” and contemplative journey is Father Henri Nouwen. His writings are vast and very simple and down to earth. A great place to begin is a short book I recently read called, “The Life of the Beloved.” Here’s a blessing from Father Henri to savor on a … More Henri’s Blessing
For centuries, apprentices of Jesus have spoken of the “three enemies of the soul” – the world, the flesh, and the devil. As the sources of temptation, they are viewed as a kind of “unholy trinity” in opposition to the Trinity. They are reflected in the Temptation of Christ in the desert: 1) the world: to tempt … More Three Enemies of the Soul
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he … More What makes a good life?
LECTIONARY REFLECTION | 17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST LUKE 17:5-10 One of the hardest things to keep in balance is the fact that Jesus Christ is both “lover of our soul” and “Lord of the universe.” He’s beloved friend and coming King. One moment he is wooing us with his tender compassion and the next he … More Genies & Masters
I’ve retreated for a night (or two) to one of my favorite sanctuaries, the St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN. What better reading at a monastery than St. John Chrysostom’s classic treatise on the sacred vocation of the priesthood written around 374 AD. My jaw dropped to the floor as I read his description of … More ‘Marvelous Things, Charged with Terror’
Here’s another letter from Fenelon (1651-1715) on “The Death to Self”: I cannot express to you, my dear sister, how deeply I sympathize with your afflictions; but my grief is not unmixed with consolation. God loves you, since He does not spare you, but lays upon you the cross of Jesus Christ. Whatever light, whatever … More Spiritual Letters: Fenelon (Letter 4)
While I am not sure if David Brook’s spiritual journey is leading him to Christ, I did find this conversation with Oprah filled with valuable perspective and hard-won wisdom worth considering. And, no, I do not endorse all the teachings and teachers Oprah promotes. But this is a great example of appreciating true spiritual insights … More David Brooks & The Second Mountain
“But among you stands one you do not know” (John 1:26). We’ve all experienced it. A long lost friend you haven’t heard from in years suddenly calls you up. He’s cheerful and so thrilled to be reconnecting. You get caught up on each other’s lives, and the conversation is warm and you wonder why you … More Among Us in the Shadows
Kingdom Harbor 