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.
I found this very interesting. (Thanks Martin Luff.) After viewing the progress and positive trajectory of our global health and wealth, I asked myself, “Now I wish I could see a similar study gauging the direction of global morality and happiness over the past 200 years.” I’m wondering: Does increased health and wealth produce a … More 200 Years of Improvement in Health & Wealth
Reading the seasoned pastoral wisdom of Eugene Peterson is for weary pastors like drinking ice cold water after running a marathon in the desert heat. I found this excerpt at the iMonk. Drink deeply, my friends! . . . Do we do it in Jesus’ way or do we do it the Wal-Mart way? Spirituality … More Eugene Peterson: Leading others the Jesus Way
Look who’s #4 on this preeminent list of scholars! Greg Boyd was a college professor of mine, and his teaching ministry has had an enormous influence on my faith. Seeing his name on this list both overjoys and concerns me. Greg Boyd is one of the purist Jesus-shaped, robustly biblical thinkers I know and his … More 20 Most Influential Christian Scholars – Congrats Greg!
As I type this, I’m listening to nationally syndicated conservative talk show host Dennis Prager. I’ve been a regular listener of his for about 10 years. He’s one of my favorite conservatives, and I’ve always enjoyed his show for it’s focus on clarifying the Left-Right political divide, and the character he shows in his interactions … More Ben Franklin’s God in a So-called Christian America
The commercialized Christmas of our culture has become a celebration of excess. A plump santa full of cookies, Christmas trees full of gifts, little elves full of cheer, and credit cards full of charges. But as we reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas, survey the long unfolding story preparing the way for the Christ, … More Christmas Manna
Some humor from the Naked Pastor pointed out by my friend across the pond. Please check out the great blog of Martin Luff, the Deliberate Disciple.
I like to make fun of people who watch reality TV, but have found myself watching my own fair share. So, I appreciated being challenged by this is a post from my good friend Pastor David Brown. I admit it. I am a fan of three “reality” tv shows. As I watch them, I learn … More Redeeming Qualities of Reality TV Shows (David Brown)
We made it – 100,000 visitors to Daily Illumination. I began blogging — like semi-seriously — a couple years ago. I love to think, read and share ideas – and am more articulate in writing than face to face. So, I thought I’d practice out-putting all the stuff I’d been inputing through all my studies. … More 100,000 Daily Illumination Visitors!
Here’s a great answer from Sandy Richter. Is understanding the context of the Old Testament essential to understanding the meaning of what Jesus taught? I certainly believe with all the campus ministries and Four Spiritual Laws and tracts … the simplest presentation of the Gospel message can bring someone into the Kingdom–but … that is … More Q&A: Is the OT essential for understanding Jesus?
Some good thoughts from Ben Witherington on Black Friday: I was minding my business drinking my morning coffee, and looking out on the unexpected snowfall on Black Friday which made it white Friday here in Lexington when ‘what to my wondering eyes did appear, then a plane load of Irish, seeking out reindeer’. Yes, that’s … More Black Friday Reflections (B. Witherington)
What do you think?
“Why should I fear anything that cannot rob me of God, and why should I desire something that cannot give me possession of Him?” -Thomas Merton, “New Seeds of Contemplation” (p.157)
Here’s a young Lutheran preacher I found, well, entertaining and sharp — Jonathan Fisk. Tell me what you think about his exposition of Luke 21 — especially the last 5 minutes. Warning: If you’re a Dispensationalist or Tim LaHaye fan, you won’t appreciate this viewpoint.
Snow is finally falling, and it looks like a winter wonderland outside. Many people are cranking up Christmas music for the first time, and heading out shopping. Here’s one of my favorites.
Frankly, I don’t know which view of God’s foreknowledge is ultimately correct. For centuries, people have generally fallen into either the Calvinist camp or the Arminian camp. We were all settled into this deeply entrenched, long-standing either-or match when this pesky Open View came along creating more confusion and stirring up new debate. What if … More Greg Boyd & the Open View of God’s Foreknowledge
This week we’re kicking off MainStreet LifeGroups. Most churches over the past couple decades (especially) have realized the need to move people beyond the Sunday morning worship service and into deeper fellowship. Small Groups have been the answer. Unfortunately, even while Small Groups have become a regular item on every church’s program offerings, and leaders … More Naked Church 2: Key Elements of Church
What is the essence of ‘church’ when you strip it down to it’s naked core? When you get below all the cultural trappings and stylistic garb we dress her in, what is the church really? We tend to focus on the external forms and activities of the church – buildings, programs, services, worship styles, liturgy, … More Naked Church 1: What’s it Really About?
“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). There’s a powerful lesson and warning to the church in this passage I’ve never noticed until today. It seems as though Jesus is confronting a popular … More When Conventional Wisdom Reaches it’s Expiration Date
I highly recommend attending this event.
Hi blog friends, My dear wife, Keri — the warmer, lighter side of this marriage — has been keeping a “secret blog” for the past several months. Not really secret, but for the past year she has been quietly chronicling the crazy season of transition we’ve been experiencing in leaving Faith Covenant, venturing into Church … More Keri’s Secret Blog (Sshhhh!)
I saw this today at Jesus Creed: “At the end of the day, elections don’t shape or influence our cultural imaginations. On the contrary, our imaginations influence our elections, as the naive nation builders who thought that bringing elections to Iraq would transform the country discovered, much to their dismay. As the midterm elections approach, … More QUOTABLES: Russ Reno on Elections & Imagination
Kingdom Harbor 