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.
Reposted from summer 2010. -JB Keri and I are in the early stages of following the Lord’s vision to plant a church in Mound. Holding fast to the Vision is of utmost importance for those called to the work of church planting. In the beginning stages the Vision is all you really have — two … More My Immovable Rock – Part 1
This is from back in 2012 a few weeks after officially launching weekly worship at MainStreet. Note the sense of urgency in my tone. Have we lost that desperation? -JB 2017 How many of us really take Jesus’ words seriously? I don’t mean picking and choosing the teachings we can tolerate. I mean ALL of … More Cross-Shaped Discipleship in a Comfort-Shaped Culture
“Let’s face reality: There are no programmatic shortcuts to effective disciplemaking. There is no “easy button”. Disciplemaking is about relationships. Relationships are inefficient. Disciplemaking is about life change. Life change is messy. Disciplemaking is centered in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ allows no pretense. Disciplemaking is unpredictable. Unpredictability requires risk. Disciplemaking is unique … More QUOTABLES: On Making Disciples
“I tell you that you are Peter….I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 16).
“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Eph. 1:22-23). Paul pushes hard here. First, who leads your church? Whose agenda always seems to get passed? Pastor? Key elders? Prominent, influential … More EPHESIANS 8: Jesus our Head and Body (1:22-23)
I pray that….you may know….his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only … More EPHESIANS 7: Death Defying Power (1:18-21)
After a full two years since Keri and I began this church planting journey with God, we celebrated the official launch, or Grand Opening, of MainStreet Covenant Church this Sunday at The Gillespie Center. What a joyful, energetic, Spirit-filled celebration it was. We had 180 people attend, and had to use the overflow parking lot … More A Church Is Born!
I shared this reflection on January 8, 2012, at the commissioning service at Excelsior Covenant Church one week prior to the Grand Opening of MainStreet Covenant Church in Mound, Minnesota. -JB That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, “Come over to Macedonia and help … More Rekindling the Legacy of E.A. Skogsbergh on Lake Minnetonka
What a great group of people – or church! – God has knit together “for such a time as this.” Next week we launch into weekly worship in Mound. Like watching Peter Bjorn develop in phases, MainStreet started sitting up on our own many months back, and this fall we began to crawl. Now, this … More MainStreet Team Commissioning
Found this at Jesus Creed. I think this is an important topic needing to be addressed. From Trevin Wax’s post as reported at CP: There’s a dangerous trend among Christians today, according to one Christian: Podcast sermons are increasingly replacing real pastorship. “What is dangerous is not listening to podcasts, but thinking that pastoring and shepherding is … More Podcast Pastors
It’s hard for us to imagine not having the Bible translated into our own language. This is a very moving scene.
I heard a commercial on the radio this morning for The Cremation Society. It said something like only 4% chose cremation back in 1960, increasing slightly to about 8% in 1980. Then they proudly announced that today over 50% are choosing cremation over traditional burial! So, what? What’s the big deal? Does it matter one … More Cremation vs. Burial: A Worldview Case Study
One of my favorite Christmas songs — with special meaning for me this first Christmas as a daddy. :)
Here are some of the Old Testament prophecies that foretold Jesus’ birth compiled by Mark Driscoll: 4000 BC: Adam and Eve receive the prophecy that the Messiah (Jesus) would be born of a woman. Promise: Genesis 3:15 – “‘I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise … More Christmas Foretold by the Prophets
I love Colbert’s satire. There’s always such a sharp dose of truth hidden beneath all the jokes. Enjoy! [Click on image to watch video]
Rob Bell’s final Sunday at the church he founded has now come and gone. I am looking forward to listening to his final words to his beloved Mars Hill on my drive home today. I should take a moment to share some of my own appreciations for Rob’s ministry that has been so influential to … More Appreciating Rob Bell: On the Occasion of His Final Sunday at Mars Hill
From Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed: Rodney Reeves’ new book, Spirituality according to Paul: Imitating the Apostle of Christ, is one of the most courageous sketches of Paul’s view of the Christian life I’ve seen. I think he takes Paul at his word and then turns Paul’s words on us so we can see ourselves in the … More Ludicrous Faith & Apostle Paul
We had a little photo shoot on our cabin getaway this past week with PB. Too bad we already ordered our Christmas cards, because these would have been great! Needless to say, this is a very special Christmas for Keri and I. A healthy baby boy, full of life and joy, and already blessing so … More Treasuring All These Things
The disciples wanted a kingdom without a cross. Many would-be “orthodox” or “conservative” Christians in our world have wanted a cross without a kingdom, an abstract “atonement” that would have nothing to do with this world except to provide the means of escaping it. Many too have wanted a “divine” Jesus as a kind of … More QUOTABLES: N.T. Wright on the Jesus we want
Kingdom Harbor 