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.
During Advent in 2013 we examined Psalm 23 in a sermon series entitled Who’s Your Shepherd? It remains one of my favorite series we’ve done to date. I contended that when we let God be the guide, or shepherd, directing our lives and influencing our decisions, He leads us to green pastures of the “abundant … More MainStreet Memories: Who’s Your Shepherd?
In this series I am sharing some of the passages of the Bible — or Life Verses — that have most impacted my own life. I was 21 years old. I was in the honeymoon period of my newfound faith. I can still remember how exciting it was reading my new Study Bible back then. Everything was … More LIFE VERSES 6: Romans 8:11
Once every few years, I’ll wander back to the upstairs of the Bethel University library and retrace my steps back to that holy ground where the light of historical curiosity once split the sky and blinded my time-bound vision long enough to glimpse Eternity through ancient eyes. … More Longings, Libraries & Ancient Portals
Today, many of us sink our weary heads onto our pillows and fall asleep staring at our smart phone screens, scrolling Facebook one last time, trying to clear our email inbox, or checking the newsfeed again. And studies keep revealing our tech habits are producing one of the most anxious and emotionally unsettled societies in … More A Bedtime Prayer (Psalm 4)
Here’s another favorite MainStreet moment as we celebrate our anniversary this January. Enjoy! I’m continually amazed looking back at the MainStreet journey to realize just how unprepared and unformed I was as a pastor to be attempting such a significant task. I marvel that the Covenant and Northwest Conference would invest so much time, energy … More MainStreet Memories: Stripping Off the False Self
In this series I’m sharing some Bible verses that have been pivotal in my personal faith formation and life journey. For each time I speak….the word of the LORD has resulted In reproach and derision all day long. But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in … More LIFE VERSES 5: Jeremiah 20:9
On our anniversary this January, I’m sharing some favorite stories from the early days of planting MainStreet. Enjoy! Preachers make a living with words, and so we’re all too aware of the old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Equally as powerful as a picture is some dramatic participatory theater or a … More MainStreet Memories: Over Our Heads
It seems hardly necessary to make an argument for the universally experienced suffering and injustice prevalent in the world. If pain really is God’s “megaphone to rouse a deaf world”, as C. S. Lewis argued, then the message is deafeningly clear and God might consider turning the volume down a bit. What then is the church’s appropriate response to the world’s injustice and suffering? … More A Case for a Cruciform Justice
On the occasion MainStreet’s anniversary this January, I’m sharing some favorite stories I’ve written down for a forthcoming book documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! In September of 2011 we were preparing for our first monthly preview worship service at the Gillespie Center. I remember that spring looking at our small, tired launch team and saying, “Well, … More MainStreet Memories: Crown Connection
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever … More Backroads, Buckets & Buffets 3
This series is expounding some of the Bible passages that have been most significant in my own faith journey. –JB 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. From my point of view, … More LIFE VERSES 4: Hebrews 4:12
Most colleges and university programs have favorite professors who sometimes have long waiting lists to get into their most popular classes. When I was an undergrad at Bethel University (1998-2002), one such class was “The Life & Teachings of Paul” taught by Dr. Michael Holmes. (The only class in the Bible & Theology department that … More Sages Then & Now: Philo
On the occasion of our 6th anniversary, I want to share some favorite memories from a book I’m working on documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! Church planting is not for the faint of heart. It is frontline missionary work with a high casualty rate. More church plants fail and than succeed. Many wide-eyed dreamers set … More MainStreet Memories: Across the Lake
I’m in Chicago all week in a classroom full of doctoral students with noses in ancient texts, studying the role of teachers and students, prophets and scribes, literacy and illiteracy in the ancient world. Our course has the somewhat laudatory title: Becoming Doctors of the Church. I’m sharing some thoughts and insights from my studies for … More Sages Then & Now: Ben Sira
A friend in ministry just texted me a light and fluffy Friday afternoon question: “I’m laying out a vision for Discipleship with my people on Monday. What are 3 awesome things about being a disciple? What are 3 awesome things about making disciples?” He might as well have asked me to sum up the mystery … More Aching & Yearning for the Kingdom
“Now he had to go through Samaria” (John 4:4). The seriously engaged reader of John will ask many questions of the text. John’s Gospel is many-layered and rich in texture. So, what does he mean when he says Jesus “had to” go through Samaria? To get from Judea to Galilee the fastest, most direct route did indeed … More Backroads, Buckets & Buffets 2
I’m in Chicago all week for a doctoral course called “Becoming Doctors of the Church.” That’s a pretty high-sounding title, wouldn’t you say? It might even sound a bit elitist. In the ancient world it was only the educated elite who could read and write and had access to texts and sacred writings. I’m mindful … More Sages Then & Now: Scribal Experts
On one occasion, while [Jesus] was eating with [his followers], he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water,but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and … More LIFE VERSES 3: Acts 1:4-11
This is an article by Greg Boyd that piggybacks on my sermon from Sunday on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. By Greg Boyd | 09 Jan 2008 Today in western culture people tend to have a rather “recreational” view of sex. It’s just a pleasurable physical activity we engage in. Even people who don’t consciously believe this … More What’s the Big Deal about Sex?
Every January we celebrate MainStreet’s birthday. On the occasion of our 6th anniversary since launching weekly worship in January 2012, I want to share some favorite memories from a forthcoming book documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! In the summer of 2010 we were given the green light by the Northwest Conference and Church Planting Director, … More MainStreet Memories: God’s List
“Give me your tired, your poor…” -Emma Lazarus, inscribed on Statue of Liberty Tweeting this past week, President Trump fears immigration policy where the United States “would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime countries which are doing badly.” Instead, Trump says, “I want a merit based system of immigration and people who … More Trump, Immigration & The New Colossus
“The theology of Bethlehem and Golgotha—that is, of the enfleshment and the cross-bearing of the divine Word—directs us from the lonely and morbid contemplation of our own real suffering to the suffering of God in solidarity with us. Because God is “with us,” our suffering, though abysmally real, is given both a new perspective and … More QUOTABLES: The Suffering God
Psalm 42 declares, “O my soul, why are you downcast within me?” For the past week I’ve been declaring, “O my nostrils, why are you so full of mucus and snot?” This raises the question: Are you one of those people who refuse to go to the doctor? Do you know anybody like that? I … More Spiritual Docs & Soul Pharmacies
Let’s begin a series of reflections on Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. I will try to keep these posts brief — just offering a few thoughts to ponder. The strange title “Backroads, Buckets and Buffets” will make sense later. Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that … More Backroads, Buckets & Buffets 1
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14). The first Scripture that made an impact on … More LIFE VERSES 2: Phil 3:13-14
Kingdom Harbor 