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.
This episode of the Anchor Podcast features a recent sermon I shared on the non-human actors in the drama of Holy Week, and a foundational word about our human vocation as God’s image bearers and co-rulers over God’s groaning creation Jesus came to liberate that first Easter. … More Podcast #196: Rocks Crying Out
I didn’t like the song at all. It seemed hokey. It seemed non-sensical. And it didn’t help that it was being sung off key and off tempo by a small congregation of primarily 75 year old church ladies. Not to mention being led by someone who sort of resembled Dana Carvey’s SNL character “Church Lady.” Today I repent of my snobbery and spiritual immaturity. I now believe in singing trees. … More Singing Trees & Crying Rocks
This past weekend is up there on my Mount Rushmore of most meaningful and monumental events of my life. It’s up there with my wedding, ordination, launch of MainStreet, the births of my children. You think I’m overstating it, but I’m not. A shy artist and musician has been living inside me for decades, longing to be seen and trying to muster the courage to come out of hiding. That part of me went public Saturday night! … More What a Weekend! Concert Recap
In this Anchor Podcast episode, I share a bit about our spring break road trip to Myrtle Beach, including stops at the Ark Encounter and the Billy Graham Library. Then Doug and Sara do a deep dive into a piece I just wrote where I reminisce about a cheesy song that used to bug me, and explore the non-human participants in the passion story. … More Podcast #195: Creation’s Voice in the Passion
The local newspaper ran a piece on my 20 years of hometown ministry and upcoming music debut at the Spring Fling concert fundraiser at the Gillespie Center on April 5. Check it out! … More Making Local News
Loaded up the minivan and headed south to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for spring break. On our trip down we visited both The Ark Encounter in Kentucky and The Billy Graham Library near Charlotte, NC. Now it’s days of long walks on the beach counting beached jelly fish with Isaak, bumping a volleyball on the beach with Peter, floating in the lazy river with Abby or a good book, lots of sunscreen and random day adventures. … More Spring Break in Myrtle Beach
As long as I can remember, I’ve always been quietly breaking things—breaking customs, breaking gender roles, and, one day, breaking an alabaster jar. History remembers me sitting quietly at the Jesus of feet, but a first-century woman taking the posture of a male disciple was a loud and revolutionary act in my day. A quiet person is not always a compliant person. A gentle spirit is not necessarily a tame spirit. … More The Alabaster Jar
I’m like a kid in a candy shop these days, living out some teenager’s dream of forming a band and preparing to play our first gig. I’m certainly blessed to have musically gifted friends (and their kids!). Let me introduce the band and share a peek into our first rehearsal this past weekend! … More Introducing the Band and a Promo Video
Lent is a season for inviting God’s loving but painful pruning in our lives. Toward this end, I’m sharing an excerpt this week on the Anchor Podcast from my unfinished book about an imaginative trip with Jesus to the Father’s lake cabin. Jesus takes me on a walk through the Father’s carefully pruned and bountiful vineyard, and a sober visit to the neighbor’s overgrown property with a toxic well that took his tragic life. … More Podcast #192: The Vineyard and the Well
Let me share an urgent message from World Relief on the plight of Sitia, a 15-year-old girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who cares for her siblings after losing her family to war. A U.S. funding freeze threatens vital food assistance from World Relief. Donations are urgently needed to support displaced families facing starvation. … More Hungry Families Need Food
Lent is a great time to check out my Untold Tales short stories! These imaginative and moving portraits of the passion present beloved stories and characters in new and creative ways. Collect all of these beautifully illustrated books, and give a copy to a friend for Easter. Read excerpt of “Love Cut the Rope.” … More Untold Tales Series
Many people today attend church without joining, citing reasons like family heritage or a transient lifestyle. Despite the lack of biblical emphasis on formal membership, belonging to a church community, or “tribe,” provides essential support during life’s challenges and fosters mutual care and responsibility. … More The Meaning of Membership
In this story, Mary’s action fills the entire house with a sweet smelling fragrance. And Jesus is pleased. Meanwhile, another person at the table is exuding a different aroma—a foul smell stinking up the dinner party. Jesus is not happy. Let’s begin the season of Lent by pondering the aroma our lives are giving off, and where to apply spiritual deodorant if necessary. … More A Sweet Aroma For Lent
Musk and Trump have taken a chainsaw to foreign aid—literally. But before you cheer or condemn, let’s talk about what foreign aid really is. Is it American generosity? Christian charity? Evangelical thought leader, Skye Jethani, provides some historical perspective, suggesting foreign aid has always been about power, wealth, and self-interest. Cutting it might sound good in a MAGA speech, but it could backfire hard—on America. … More VIDEO: A Christian View of Foreign Aid
Our friends Doug and Sara are back this week doing a “Deep Dive” episode into my recent article offering a creative and spiritual interpretation of Bob Dylan’s folk anthem “Blowin’ in the Wind.” I think you’ll really enjoy their conversation and never think about that song in the same way. Listen to both my episode reading my piece and their “Deep Dive.” … More Podcast #189 & #190: Blowin’ in the Wind
Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” poses profound questions about humanity’s struggles such as war and oppression. Its refrain suggests that answers are elusive—perhaps nearby or forever outside our grasp. I have begun to sing this song in a more redemptive key lately. At my Bob Dylan show this week, after the last note on the harmonica faded into applause, asked if perhaps Jesus told us the answer that is blowing in the wind. … More What’s Really Blowin’ in the Wind?
Hope isn’t a wish or happy thought, a longed for result or creedal confession. Hope is an atmosphere of grace. Hope is a spiritual address. We live in Hopeville on Hope Street. We breathe its pure air. We run across its soft grass. Hope’s water bubbles up from the spring of Living Water and runs out our faucet. We have planted our family’s fortunes in Hope’s rich soil. Like a person who lives their entire life in a small town, we live in Hope and someday we will die in Hope. … More Suffering into Hopeville
Men in places of power and leadership have too often silenced stories of abuse like Tamar’s. So I felt very convicted that I was about to skip over her story in our David series, sweep it under the rug, move quickly to a more uplifting and less disturbing text for our Sunday gathering. I was about to become one more man in spiritual leadership failing to let Tamar’s story be told. … More Tell Tamar’s Story!
A friend seeks advice on how to navigate a relationship with someone whose politics deeply alarm them. His answer warns against falling into two different (opposite) “ditches” – the ditch of fusion with erroneous political ideas and the ditch of “cutting off” relationship with people you have deep disagreements with. … More Response to a Friend’s Political Question
The Life of David series concludes soon, coinciding with the premiere of the new Amazon Prime series HOUSE OF DAVID on March 2. This series depicts David’s rise to kingship amidst King Saul’s decline, with assurances of biblical fidelity and quality from creators familiar with faith-based projects, including Dallas Jenkins. … More NEW! House of David TV Series
King David is called “a man after God’s own heart” because in his best moments he prefigures the ultimate King of Israel and most famous Son of David to come — Jesus the Christ. One of those great moments is the story of David and Mephibosheth. Briefly appearing in 2 Samuel 9, Mephibosheth is the … More David, Mephibosheth, and Elon Musk’s DOGE
I look to the collective wisdom and perspective of my larger Covenant family and leadership when trying to make sense of the chaos of our world and thinking through complex issues. Far too many people with power and a platform lack accountability. People rant on social media from their gut, with loose words and little thought of why they speak or who they speak for. … More Rooted and Accountable in an Age of Individual Expression and Outrage
SAVE THE DATE! It’s really happening! Our break-out show is on the books, and we want all our friends and family to come pack the place! Our concert will feature two different sets: (1) a 75-minute set performing the music of Bob Dylan and (2) popular cover songs spanning the decades and genres the second half of the night. … More LIVE in Concert!
The story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6 illustrates the grave responsibility of carrying God’s presence. Although Uzzah acted with good intent, he disregarded divine instructions, resulting in his death. This serves as a warning for Christians today to treat God’s name with reverence, avoiding unholy alliances that damage His reputation. … More Holy Priests or Unstable Jackass?
I belong to a multiethnic body of believers called the Church of Jesus Christ. I was baptized into this new family, and I don’t get to choose and select who my siblings in Christ are. The waters of baptism are more binding than the blood running through my veins and any artificial national borders. “When one part of the body hurts, we (should) all hurt” (1 Cor. 12:26-27). … More A Word On Immigration
Jeremy Berg 