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.
It’s easy to get obsessed with numbers in our world. The more the merrier. The bigger the better. A packed room makes a fun party, and a poor turnout has us asking, “What’s wrong?” Make no mistake about it, numbers do matter. Especially when it concerns the spreading of the gospel and reaching people for … More Counting on God: Kingdom Mathematics
Repost from 2010. -JB The biggest things I’ve done for the Kingdom have usually looked pitifully small by the world’s standards. The most heroic acts of faithfulness have usually looked like stupid acts of irrelevance to the watching world. Following Jesus and investing your life in Kingdom impacting efforts may sometimes cost you. Is the … More With Jesus Small is Really Big
I wrote this blessing for an outstanding young Christian graduate and musician friend. But it is a good challenge to all. -JB Dear young Christian graduate, As you graduate from high school and prepare for the chapter of your life (“adulthood”), allow me to offer this blessing and challenge. From one musician to another, we … More A Graduate Blessing: Live A Love Song
When the church bells ring on Sunday morning, July 31, you’ll find several local church sanctuaries empty. But this doesn’t mean they won’t be worshiping. “Most Sundays we worship God with words and music,” says Pastor Meg Newswanger of First Presbyterian in Maple Plain. “On July 31 we will worship God with our hands and … More Sunday2Serve: The Church has Left the Building!
Light of lights! All gloom dispelling, Thou didst come to make thy dwelling Here within our world of sight. Lord, in pity and in power, Thou didst in our darkest hour Rend the clouds and how thy light. Praise to thee in earth and heaven Now and evermore be given, Christ, who art our sun … More Quotables: St. Thomas Aquinas
Martin Luff, the Deliberate Disciple (a great blog I recommend!), pointed out this great article by David Fitch about finding space in our busy lives to meet with God. This is especially timely for this season of Advent: Recently, I was meeting in the corner booth (of the local McDonald’s) with the men in my … More Bore the Hell out of ’em this Christmas
We’ve all heard the song “Three Blind Mice,” but I hear the tune of “Two Blind Disciples” more often these days. Max Lucado sets the scene: “Were the scene not so common it would be comical. Two heavy-hearted disciples slouching their way home to Emmaus. By the slump in their shoulders, you’d never know today was Resurrection Sunday. By … More Two Blind Disciples
I’ve recently rediscovered the powerful grace-centered ministry of the late Brennan Manning who passed away a couple years ago. What a life, what a story, what a message he brought to so many people in need of an accurate image of the true God revealed in Jesus, and to the many in need of an … More Brennan Manning & Scandalous Grace
This past week we hosted an appreciation event for all our MainStreet supporters. We shared testimonies and celebrated all the lives impacted at MainStreet the past few years. Here’s some videos giving a glimpse of what is happening at MainStreet. So grateful for this beautiful church!
This post by Pastor Daniel Henderson struck a chord with me this week. I read it a couple days after confessing to my congregation a deep desire to lead them into the kind of discipleship that would lead to “abiding in Him”, connected to the vine, and really producing fruit. It seems like the main … More Just “Good Enough”? (by Daniel Henderson)
“I think a lot of us need to forget about God’s will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit’s leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which … More QUOTABLES: Francis Chan
Over 5 Years ago I sat on this rock feeling extremely lonely and scared. God called Keri and I to start a church in Mound, and I often came to pour out my doubts to the LORD in prayer on this rock. Then one night I heard God speak Matthew 16 directly to me, “Jeremy, upon … More On Christ the Solid Rock We Stand
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s courage and determination and rootedness in Scripture is one of the reasons I didn’t give up during the difficult times in starting a new church. I was depleted and discouraged and lonely above all. I found a true friend and hero in Bonhoeffer. I read a couple biographies during this time and was … More QUOTABLES: Dietrich Bonhoeffer – 12 Essential Quotes
The next time someone makes you feel guilty for taking a much needed vacation, consider sharing with them the following case for biblical rest and vacation. (Note: The following make the case for both a weekly day off (sabbath rest) and occasional extended vacations (a week or two)). We are a mess without sabbath. I think … More Thus saith the Lord, “Take a Vacation!” (Pt. 2)
I’m currently trying to enjoy some time away from work — for me that means church related stuff and ministry situations. My email ‘Out of the Office’ notice is on, and my voicemail alerts people that I am not taking calls. I asked our leadership team not just for a vacation (which typically means family time, … More Thus saith the Lord, “Take a Vacation!” (Pt. 1)
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there … More PARABLES: Let’s Party 4 (Matt. 22:1-14)
Exactly 10 years ago today I married the most beautiful, fun, strong, life-giving, faith-filled woman on planet earth. I struck gold and now she’s given me 3 amazing kids and a life that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’ve shared bits and pieces of our story over the years but thought it’d be good … More Happy 10th Anniversary: Our Story
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, … More PARABLES: Let’s Party 3 (Matt. 22:1-14)
Ever been rejected? It hurts. Ever put yourself out there so far, and having been rejected so bad, you vow never to risk it again? Perhaps we can take some consolation in the fact that even God experiences rejection. I believe God doesn’t force his will on anyone, but rather desires for us to freely … More PARABLES: Let’s Party 2 (Matt. 22:1-14)
Let’s pick apart a parable together. Our modern American church culture is obsessed with the big and flashy. This “bigger is better” mindset usually cuts right against the Kingdom way of Jesus that celebrates small looking things that appear unimpressive- – like mustard seeds. But one thing Jesus and our churches both can unite around … More PARABLES: Let’s Party 1 (Matt. 22:1-14)
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! Almost every night on my paper route this past summer and fall, I would stop into Super America for junk food and pop. Don’t tell Keri. Richard is the cashier for the … More Nocturnal Summer 4
“What did you get on that hole?” the scorecard keeper asks. Your answer may not be as simple as just counting up your strokes. For many, this question immediately forces an ethical dilemma or sparks an internal wrestling match with one’s conscience. Do I tell him the truth– that I got “a snowman” on the … More GOLF & GOD (9): Mulligans & Scorecards
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! We live in a busy, noisy world. Sadly, much of the noise is self-induced as we constantly fill every potential silence and solitude with our iPod, a television, radio or constant activity … More Nocturnal Summer 3
We live in a world that has largely forgotten how to play. When our worth and value is measured primarily by what we DO for a living and how much we ACCOMPLISH individually, then just “wasting a day” in the pure enjoyment of a fun hobby or game is really a lost art and rare … More GOLF & GOD (8): Relax! It’s Just a Game
I’m reposting a fun summer series from 2010 from when I had a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy some late night ramblings! I’ve long been a ‘night owl.’ At first, I thought it was a college phase that would eventually fade. I thought ‘real adults’ become early birds like my dad when … More Nocturnal Summer 2 – Night Watchman
Kingdom Harbor 