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.
In the “Divine Summons” series, I am sharing an exciting season of obedience and Revolution ministry in Mound from 2005-2007. All Things to All People The Apostle Paul was willing to wear a lot of hats and learn to navigate many worlds in order to be a more effective servant of the gospel. As he … More Divine Summons 10
Let’s bring religion, sex, and politics to the dinner table! Jesus and the Bible have a lot to say about them. Tread carefully and expect disagreements. FAITH & POLITICS ARCHIVE SEX & GOD ARCHIVE
I woke up this week…well…bearing the label many would call UNEMPLOYED. Yet, I’m in denial. I reject the label. I met for a my weekly prayer walk with Peter today, and he was adamant to drive home the point: “Jeremy, you’re not unemployed. Unemployed people don’t have a job. You know the job the Lord … More Unemployed or Unpaid?
Stay tuned. There’s a story of great significance behind this rock located in downtown Mound….
My crazy in-laws up north this past weekend. Nice hair, Brento!
“He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings” (Num 16:31-33). I … More Pray for Guatemala
Nothing to Write Home About I have always imagined the apostle Paul spending every waking hour of his life teaching in a synagogue or preaching on a street corner somewhere. I doubt I’m the only one who has drawn this inaccurate assumption. I mean, this is the impression the writings give us — especially the … More Divine Summons 9
“I decided long ago that the only dreams worth dreaming are “God-sized dreams.” They’re the only dreams that take you to the end of yourself and to the beginnings of real, radical faith.” – Me (can I quote myself?)
We’re enjoying a nice, relaxing time at Towering Pines Resort near Crosslake, Minnesota. The entire Oslin clan is up here — our 1, 3 and 4 year-old niece and nephews providing most of the entertainment. 85 degrees and sunny. Lawn chairs, beach towels, a couple books and soda. Does it get any better? Oh, and … More Memorial Day Weekend at Towering Pines
“Life must be lived forward, but understood backwards.” – Soren Kierkegaard
A great conversation is happening at the Internet Monk this week around Skye Jethani’s blog post on the transient nature of Moses’ mountain top encounters with God and our churches’ dependence on external experience in worship. Moses met with God on the mountaintop and the encounter made his face shine. Coming down the mountain, Moses … More “The Fading Glow of External Experience” (iMonk)
One of the moments that marks one’s journey are the “cleaning out the office” experiences on the last day at a job. I’m 30 and this is the first real office I’ve cleaned out. Some are less fortunate and have cleaned out the office (or cubicle) dozens of times, each time leaving a person more … More The “Clean Out Your Office” Experience
The Danger of the Day to Day Paul had direct orders to bring the gospel to the Gentile world. Aside from a short period of preparation in Arabia, Paul didn’t waste time in getting at it. I, on the other hand, had absolutely no direction for my future. Sure, I was investing years of study … More Divine Summons 8
A devotional passed on to me by a friend from Pastor Dan: This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: “In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream … More Fan the Flames and not Douse them with Dogma
2 The Trials & Triumphs of Tentmaking But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those … More Divine Summons 7
As many of you are aware, the Internet Monk, Michael Spencer was a beloved influence and favorite writer of mine. He passed away recently after a short bout with cancer. By the grace of God he was able to finish his first book for publishing shortly before becoming ill. His book, “Mere Churchianity: Finding Our … More “Mere Churchianity” Sneak Peek
We human beings tend by some law of nature toward extremes — especially in religion and politics. It’s hard to remain open to both sides and hold to a centrist position in the political shouting match played out in American media outlets. I have made balance and rigorous engagement with both — or, better, “all” … More Going to Extremes: Tea Party Falsehoods
Hilarious! Thanks for sending me this, Peter.
A very “meaty” article today at Jesus Creed navigating the tough theological topics of God’s “election,” “salvation,” and “judgment” interacting with the views of Calvinism, Arminianism, Barth’s third way and a newer concept called “missional election.” Go check it out HERE. Here’s a snippet: We, the Church, have been elected for mission. But this emphatically does not mean … More Judgment, Salvation & “Missional Election”
I came across this video by Jamie Schreiber on the Sabbath rest. I discovered a growing collection of good videos by these guys. If you like Rob Bell’s NOOMAs, you’ll want to check these out as well. Enjoy!
This is my version of the story after years of reflecting back upon that night in the dining center with my new Bible. I have not tried to embellish it or exaggerate the claims. Though, truth be told, you might get a very different story if you asked someone who was close to me during … More Divine Summons 6
Here’s another DI classic post from back in the spring of ’06. I heard a bird chirping today. I actually stopped for a brief moment andlistened. It was a good sound, and a good sign. Sign of what? A sign, I believe, of freedom. A freedom from self-absorption. Our cell-phone society confines our internet identities … More One Chirp at a Time
Hearts Burning & Worldview Turning I was no different than the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as I walked across the Bethel campus through the cool spring rain to the dining center toting my new Bible. My future was filled with uncertainty. The story I had been living in — one of my … More Divine Summons 5
We might accurately call God the original Recycler. Long before it was trendy to “Go Green” God made earth and everything in it and declared it “good.” When God’s beautiful creation turned so quickly on it’s Creator, dragging all humankind into the long night of sin and death, paradise was polluted. Original glory became spoiled … More God Recycles
Any Narrative theology fans out there? Nothing has shaped my understanding of the Bible, worldview, epistemology, theology and spiritual transformation more than ‘narrative theology.’ During a research paper my first semester of seminary I came across a book filled with essays on narrative theology that really exposed me to this particular field of study. The … More The Promise of Narrative Theology
Kingdom Harbor 