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.
Ben Witherington is picking apart Rob Bell’s Love Wins chapter by chapter here. Here’s a taste of his critique of chapter 7: Let me be clear that I think in one sense Rob is right—- God is not quixotic. He is not gracious and loving one moment, and cruel the moment after you die. I … More Rethinking Rob Bell’s Rethinking of Hell & Rethinking It Again
“[The] God we seek is the God we want, not the God who is. We fashion a god who blesses without obligation, who lets us feel his presence without living his life, who stands with us and never against us, who gives us what we want, when we want it. We worship a god of … More QUOTABLES: Mark Labberton
We’re going! Why aren’t you?
“God’s ways are not our ways,” we often say somewhat flippantly. But to what extent are we willing to live into that reality? How far “out there” are we willing to in our obedient to God? Are we willing to follow the Apostle Paul in being “fools for Christ” (1 Cor 4)? Will we risk … More Strong & Courageous 3
I was blessed to be sitting at a table having breakfast yesterday with a fella who was baptized in a high school pool the evening before. Sadly, this is rare for me. By God’s grace I hope to be surrounded by a constant flow of newly baptized believers in the years ahead — and may … More A Cruciform Perspective
Word on the street is that “The Hobbit” movie is indeed coming….
In Joshua 4 the Israelites cross the Jordan River after God miraculously parts the waters for them. To commemorate the mighty work of God among them, Joshua has them set up 12 stones to be reminders of God’s faithfulness. “When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men … More Strong & Courageous 2
If you are in high school or college, or at any point in your life, make Scot McKnight’s One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow mandatory summer reading. Here’s a taste from Scot’s blog: I grew up with the idea that I could only be happy if I found “God’s will.” People do weird things because they … More Discovering God’s Will (Scot McKnight)
Why does C.S. Lewis often get a pass with the same crowd that has written Rob Bell off as a heretic or at least heterodox? C. S. Lewis held to many theological positions that pushed the theological envelope just as far — especially related to Hell — and he fairs alright among the crowd that … More C. S. Lewis, Rob Bell & Two Kinds of People
By all means read Ben Witherington’s chapter by chapter review of Rob Bell’s Love Wins here. Here’s a taste: The first chapter of this book involves raising a plethora of questions (pp. 1-19). They are perfectly fair questions, but what comes to light in the enumeration of these questions is that in fact Rob Bell … More BW3 on “Love Wins”
Enjoy some reflections from the book of Joshua in light of our mission as a church to be moving into territories today with the love, grace, selfless acts of service and the good news concerning Christ and the Kingdom of God. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your … More Strong & Courageous 1
What do you think of the perspective of Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary, below? From Dr. Mouw’s blog: I told the USA TODAY reporter that Rob Bell’s newly released Love Wins is a fine book and that I basically agree with his theology. I knew that the book was being widely criticized for having … More Mouw on “Love Wins”
Jesus is the fullest revelation of God’s character. “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” Jesus said. God looks like Jesus. If you want to know the character of God, look at Jesus. I reread Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, recently. I simply read paragraph after paragraph, … More An Angry God?
We are blessed to live here.
The Christian blogosphere is often a nasty place, where stones get tossed back and forth around the clock with very little listening to the other side. I think I’d give up all together on the hope for balanced and grace-filled conversation if it weren’t for Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed. He’s a kindred spirit in … More Widen Your Perspective
“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” -H. Richard Niebuhr
This is an excerpt from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in a letter he wrote to his brother-in-law Rudiger Schleicher, who was as liberal theologically as Bonhoeffer was conservative: “First of all I will confess quite simply — I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we need only to ask … More Bonhoeffer on Reading Scripture
Kevin DeYoung has a thorough and devastating review of Rob Bell’s book Love Wins. It’s well worth the read — though it’s lengthy. I read it late last night and I’m still processing it. But here’s a couple paragraphs to chew on and share your comments. “So why do I say Bell is a universalist … More DeYoung’s Review of Bell’s Love Wins
I just read a very long, well-written review and critique of Rob Bell’s controversial book, Love Wins, by Kevin DeYoung. I have to admit that his arguments are very strong, and makes Bell’s argument and position seem weak and biblically fragile. I will withhold judgment until I read Bell’s book for myself, but I think … More Covenant Affirmations: What do we (firmly) believe?
This is the most significant spiritual lesson I have learned in my entire life – perhaps. There is a world of difference (literally, a “narrative world” of difference) between (1) being a religious person who holds certain beliefs in their head, and (2) a person who has decided that the narrative world of the Bible … More A Different World is Calling You!
We headed north for the weekend with friends. Beautiful log cabin with rustic charm and comfortable leather couches to read on by the fireplace. A little bit of snowshoeing, a lot of munching and sipping, some sauna time, watched the comedic blast from the past “The Three Amigos” (you have to be in the right … More Buckhorn Log Cabin Escape
Here’s the notes from a message I gave to a youth group awhile back. Always a timely and tough topic. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images… … More American Idols (Rom 1:22-25)
“The vehicle I am driving now is far less efficient than the previous vehicle I drove, so I am trying not to drive as far.” -Dan Kent
Enjoy another ‘Mission Moment’ from our church planting adventure in Mound, MN. MainStreet’s vision is to be a church that meets people where they do everyday life, forming relationships that point them to Jesus. We met Melissa this fall when she and her boyfriend, Dave, stopped by our MainStreet booth at the Farmer’s Market in … More MELISSA’S STORY: A Crossroads Moment
“We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God. You’ve probably heard the expression “I believe in God, just not organized religion.” I don’t think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live. The expression would change to “I can’t deny what the church does, … More QUOTABLES: Francis Chan
Kingdom Harbor 