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.
God continues to make MainStreet a place for “new beginnings” and a place where amazing grace is proclaimed and experienced. Brandon was a freshman at Crown College back in 201o when we were just beginning to gather a launch team to start MainStreet. He performed at our open mic event for youth and I had … More BRANDON’S STORY: A Cry From the Pit
This is an oldie but goodie from the old DI archives from 2007. A good reminder that though we’re all broken people, we have a God who shines his grace through all the cracks of our lives. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes … More Cracked Pot Confessions
Check out Trevin Wax’s review of Tim Keller’s book Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Penguin, 2009). Keller is one of my favorite Christian thinkers these days, and I find him a very insightful, articulate writer bringing clarity to very complex theological issues. He is a … More Tim Keller’s “Counterfeit Gods”
Narrative theology is a relatively new undertaking and is one good example of a positive development in theological studies, due, in part, to the influence of postmodernity.[1] I would suggest that the contributions of this movement will surprise many with numerous insights into how we might better approach the theological task, read the Bible, and … More God’s Grand Story & Our Role In It
“Go away. I don’t care what you have to say. Go take a quarter for your disorder, and see a shrink because I don’t care what you think.” That’s the mentality of our world, but Jesus changed that in a whirl. He wants to know everything going on in your life from good things to … More God Believes in You (By Danny Evans)
One of the greatest concerns I have for the emerging generation is the growing pervasiveness of “mircro-communication” in their lives. I recently saw a 15 year old girl featured on “Nightline” who sends 30,000 text messages on her phone each month. Do the math: that’s 1,000 per day, 62 per waking hour, or one … More Combatting Soundbite Christianity
This is a DI Classic post from 2007 when we were spearheading the Revolution youth movement in Mound. This relative short-lived effort ultimately gave me the vision and burden that would several years come to fruition in the planting of MainStreet. But these were lonely, uncertain times of discerning the will of God. -JB “Now … More Who’s Your Titus?
We have settled into our new home. We are hugely blessed by God and excited to share our new home with others. Enjoy some photos and come visit us soon! (Notice the rainbow — God smiled upon us the day we moved in.) :)
FROM ‘WORD STUDIES’ TO ‘THE STUDY OF THE WORD’: WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? It is often said that it is impossible to find a needle in a haystack. Yet it also could be said that if, once found, one focuses too narrowly upon the small needle so as not to lose it again, they may … More A Puzzling Path to Glory 4 (Mark 10:45)
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ISAIAH: MARK’S STRUCTURE AND JESUS’ IDENTITY Joel Marcus has shed considerable light on the OT background to Mark’s gospel, noting especially the Isaianic influences in the words and actions of Jesus. Mark uses strategic Isaianic passages to show the reader that God is finally initiating the new exodus and ushering in … More A Puzzling Path to Glory 3 (Mark 10:45)
We closed on our new house today (8/25/14) and will begin the move later this week. So, we’re wrapping up this series of posts sharing some favorite memories from our house on Cedar Lane. When we bought our cute old house in 2006 we anticipated living here for 4-5 years until we decided to start a family and … More This Old House 5: Our First Nest
Few studies have been more timely and pin-point accurate in it’s findings than the research of Christian Smith in “Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers” concerning the religious beliefs of American teenagers. I would argue that many of these teens have learned their faith from parents with similar Christian convictions and … More American Faith: “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”
“EITHER-OR” vs. “BOTH-AND”: HARMONIZING OLD TESTAMENT EXPECTATIONS Mark’s narrative paints a Jesus who is intentionally identifying himself with two OT figures—the Danielic Son of Man and the Isaianic Servant of YHWH; and describes his mission as the fulfillment of their drastically different destinies—the glorious triumph of the Son of Man over Israel’s enemy (“the fourth … More A Puzzling Path to Glory 2 (Mark 10:45)
Warning: This is a dry, dusty old seminary term paper…but grappling with some foundational, mind-blowing stuff worth revisiting and sharing. –JB In the introduction to his massive commentary on the second gospel, R.H. Gundry contends that “the Gospel of Mark contains…no riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma…Mark’s meaning lies on the surface. He … More A Puzzling Path to Glory 1 (Mark 10:45)
A repost from a few years back. -JB What if our faith was as real and powerful as the faith of the Apostle Paul, Peter, James and John, Mary and Lydia, Priscilla and Aquilla? What if our experience of church today was as exciting as those in the upper room at Pentecost, as action-packed as … More Cultivating an Apostolic Imagination
Next summer I will be officially ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church (10 years after I graduated from seminary — its about time!). I’m reminded of a poignant lengthy quotation from Eugene Peterson’s The Contemplative Pastor. It’s a good reminder that we are weak and can, like Odysseus, be lured away by the sirens of people pleasing. We need God’s … More QUOTABLES: Lashed to the Mast (Eugene Peterson)
As we prepare to move houses soon we are sharing some memories from our little house on Cedar Lane. -JB Let’s be honest. When it’s December in Minnesota, below zero, the snow is falling and Christmas time is approaching, there’s no where more cozy than a little old farmhouse with a real wood burning fireplace … More This Old House 4: Winter Wonderland
“If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God.” (2 Cor 5:13) Do you make several “foolish” decisions a day? Do people often look at you strangely, shake their head with scorn and just walk away? Do you regularly get accused of being silly, foolish or extremely impractical by those … More The Absurdity-Driven Life
Our house on Cedar Lane will forever be remembered for some of the most significant ministry gatherings and conversations that have impacted the course of our lives. Here’s a few: Sometime in 2006 at a youth concert, I announced the launch of the “Way of the Revolutionary” Bible Study to be held in our living … More This Old House 3: God Bless this Home
How long, O LORD, must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence? (Habakkuk 1:2-4) He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it! (Luke 19:41-42) There … More Cruciform Justice 1: Introduction
We lived here for 5 years before we had kids. Keri had a little bit more time before Peter and Isaak (and our baby church) to play around in her gardens. When I think of our house Cedar, I will always remember Keri in her prime (oh, she’s still in it!) with her blue watering can … More This Old House 2: Gardens, Squirrels & More
Pastor John Piper on the supremacy of God in preaching: Christian preachers, more than all others, should know that people are starving for God. If anyone in all the world should be able to say, “I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory,” it is the herald of God. Who … More John Piper on Preaching
When I meet Christians who are infatuated with their own depravity because it supposedly puts God on display, I often wonder what they do with certain Bible passages. You’ve met them often enough. They have a “Get out of the Way” theology. They appropriately fear self-righteousness and pride in their faith. They rightly want to … More “Get Out of the Way” Theology
We’re preparing to say goodbye to our little old house on Cedar Lane this month. I wanted to share a few favorite memories and highlights from our past 8 years in our little yellow house on the hill. Today, a brief overview of this old house. Keri and I bought this — our first home — in our … More This Old House 1: Intro
Kingdom Harbor 