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.
by Author Unknown Pa never had such compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from … More Old Fashioned Christmas
The escape attempts from Alcatraz were thwarted every time as the fugitives were swallowed up in the frozen waters of the San Francisco Bay. The scandal of Christmas is that God does not leave sin-stained humanity stranded on an island or demand we swim through icy waters for our freedom. It celebrates God’s swim across the cold waters in order to secure our freedom. … More Christmas at Alcatraz
“Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.” “Only the humble … More QUOTABLES: Bonhoeffer & the Lowly Manger
A throwback piece from years ago. -JB Remember the momentous day of January 20, 2009? All the eyes of the world were set on Washington D.C. for the inauguration of the first African American U.S. President Barrack Obama. Throngs of people flocked to the Capitol to witness this history-making event. Every news camera, every political … More Seriously, Why Shepherds?
The guy must be nuts! Look at him sitting there on a hard dirt floor, the smell of human waste thick in the air, hands raised to the sky with big smile beaming from ear to ear as he prays to his god! I can’t make any sense of it. … More Sermon: Paul’s Secret
This was passed along to me – a very powerful image to ponder in this season of waiting, expecting, longing and hoping for the Christ who steps into the Darkness of our fractured world. -JB From Ben Sternke: The painting below was created by Sister Grace Remington of Our Sister of the Mississippi Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa. Try … More O Eve!
Perhaps we’ve let the graceless moralism of too many Santa songs taint our view of the One who truly comes to town on Christmas. For the miracle of the incarnation is for the naughty and nice. He’s already made His list and He’s checked it twice, and all are on it until we choose to reject His gift and thereby remove our own name from it. … More Scandalous Incarnation!
Shannon’s first time at MainStreet was attending her 36-year old brother’s funeral. Few words were exchanged that day but I (Jeremy) could tell she was weighed down by more than brother’s passing. I ran into her sometime later and she informed me that she was going into treatment to get sober. I promised to pray … More Shannon’s Story
A friend passed this reflection on the Magi along to me. I’m not sure who wrote it but it’s a good challenge. -JB I can see you there, you scholar, you teacher of the law, with your important position in Herod’s court. Busy, busy, busy with the work of the day. The court stirs…a contingent … More Scholar or Magi?
A great rethink regarding the innkeeper in the Christmas pageant by Mike Glenn found at Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog. Most of us have heard of the innkeeper in the Christmas story. Poor Mary, pregnant and tired, has been dragged to Bethlehem by Joseph because that’s where his family is from and according to Caesar … More A Place to Start (Mike Glenn)
We’re celebrating that annual family tradition where I lie on the couch and watch cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies while Keri addresses and stamps Christmas cards to get in the mail. I’m embarrassed to admit how many of the Christmas letters people send never make it into my hands. (Keri reads them all and throws a … More Sermon: Paul’s Xmas Letter
Repost from 2013. -JB Have you listened carefully to and reflected on the meaning of the words of the Christmas carols we’ve been singing this past week? Do they accurately capture the true meaning of Advent? Well, some are better than others. A recent article by Peter Leithart at Credenda Agenda probes this topic interacting … More How N.T. Wright Stole Christmas (Peter Leithart)
We heard a quiet knock on the front door. It was snowing and the steep and treacherous driveway was nearly impassable. We had almost cancelled our Lifegroup gathering that night due to weather, but decided to meet just in case God had special plans for the few people who did brave the elements that evening. … More Galen’s Story
MainStreet has made such a huge impact on my life since I’ve been participating the last 2 years. We are a close knit community that strives to live life as Jesus taught. Pastor Jeremy is really a shepherd in the true Christian sense. With transparency, a strong faith, and the ability to guide others to expand their … More Nancy’s Story
A powerful way to approach the Scriptures is for a person and/or community to settle down into a story or passage long enough for it to begin to work its way into you. Some texts burst into your life like fireworks and neon lights. Others quietly sneak into your imagination and begin to reorient your … More Jericho Inn Church
Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord” (Col 4:17). We just finished a flyover sermon series through Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. We painted in big brush strokes, pulling out a few dominant themes. Occasionally we landed and surveyed the foothills in more detail. Three major … More Tell Archippus!
This Thanksgiving season we’re celebrating God’s work among us. Here’s Bonnie’s story. I cried after my first visit to MainStreet, mainly because I knew immediately that God had something special in store for me with this family of believers. My time at MainStreet has deepened my faith and taught me so much about being a … More Bonnie’s Story
This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King, when the church celebrates Christ’s universal lordship and anticipates the coming reign of the Prince of Peace. I share the following reflection as a gentle reminder of where our ultimate citizenship lies. -JB The tread on my tires had run low, so I was sitting at … More On Thanking Vets & Martyrs
She’s always bringing sweets to share. Maybe it betrays her own sweet tooth, but I think it reveals a sweet and giving heart. Yet, the story of how Tina started coming to MainStreet is much more bittersweet. I (Jeremy) heard the sad news on a snowy February day almost 3 years ago. Tina’s son … More Tina’s Story
We’re GIVING THANKS for lives impacted at MainStreet this past year! This is Tony’s story: For a long time I was hardcore cynic who didn’t find any value in the church. I walked away from faith in college. I mainly saw hypocrisy in the church and had never encountered any depth or true discipleship. I … More Tony’s Story
Jesus’ mission prioritized the marginalized and neglected people of his day. He didn’t send out his apostles—i.e., “church planters”—saying, “Go ye therefore to the sprawling suburbs and invite the upwardly mobile dual income families with children.” He said, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). Would you try growing a church with such folks? … More Funding the Jericho Inn: A MainStreet Update
The bleachers squeaked like crazy. It smelled like a locker room. It got hot and stuffy on Saturday nights in the summer. We were packed in like sardines as upbeat guitars and the 90s choruses of “Trading My Sorrows” and “Shout to the Lord” echoed throughout the Robbinsdale High School gymnasium. As the last song … More David Johnson: 38 Years of Divine Electricity
This is an excerpt from a much longer essay I wrote called “Royal Scribes in the King’s Court: Ancient Education & Christian Discipleship” published in a little book of essays called “Life in King Jesus’ Colony” from my doctoral studies. I hail from good Lutheran stock from the Midwest (Minnesota) where we shared … More Political Discipleship in the Christian Colony
My pastoral counselor prescribed for me the daily practice of praying the famous Serenity Prayer for the next couple weeks. While this prayer is usually associated with recovery groups, it has much broader application for many other personal afflictions. I discovered two new things as I accepted this assignment. First, I was asked to look … More The FULL Serenity Prayer
When bad things happen in this world, and unjust suffering befalls the innocent, we often jump to the ‘Why’ question first. The disciples lived in a world where it was popular to believe that disease, birth defects, and other forms of suffering were punishment for sin — either the person suffering or his parents. We … More Why, God, Why? Suffering & God’s Glory
Jeremy Berg 