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’m sorry. I can’t help it. I like to tweak, improve, create and change things around. In college I was constantly rearranging our 15 x 25 foot dorm room every other week. My roommate was confused and humored to say the least. Unfortunately, Keri and I bought a house that isn’t much larger than that … More New Website Theme – Thoughts?
I was blessed to have met a new friend in Nashville recently at a church planting assessment center. Tim Morey is a humble, thoughtful pastor and leader with keen insights into what it looks like for the church to reach the 21st century culture. He is a church planting pastor and the author of “Embodying … More Tim Morey and the Dechurched
“I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).
We gain the confidence to face an uncertain future by remembering the faithfulness of God in the past. We are entering a season of uncertainty. Keri and I are preparing to close another chapter in our life of ministry together, and begin a new chapter soon.
Yet, our current chapter at Faith Covenant Church came unexpectedly and all too suddenly for me. When we arrived at Faith in the fall of 2007 I wasn’t ready to close the book on the previous chapter of ministry in Mound. We were seeing a genuine movement of God explode in my hometown, as The Revolution ministry I planted was steadily gaining steam. … More Divine Summons: Introduction
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the … More Adventures in Mark 6 (4:35-41)
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. (Mark 4:35-36) Every phrase counts in Mark. There are powerful lessons in the most minute … More Adventures in Mark 5 (4:36)
I have long made it a habit to listen to both Greg Boyd and John Piper’s sermons each week. I like to be pushed from both sides, and keep myself balanced theologically. (Well, my theological convictions lean heavily toward one side, but want to keep wrestling with the opposing views.) Every once and a while … More Piper Sermon + Boyd Sermon = Schizophrenia (updated)
Coffeehouse Live at Ground Zero The next outreach event would be similarly geared towards drawing the local musicians in the school. Many decided they wanted to take the stage after seeing the first Battle of the Bands. But I wondered if we could cast the invitation even wider than just musicians. We decided to inaugurate … More Divine Summons 30
So, I rarely have dreams — or ones that I remember anyway. But this morning I woke up in a cold sweat from a nightmare where I was being chased by a vicious wolf who eventually caught me and began eating my arms off. Is there some deeper significance here? Why would I dream of … More Wolf Attack
Noah’s ancient ark is once again making the news. Is this the real deal? Probably not, but why not let ourselves indulge in some Indiana Jones like dreaming for a while. Here’s the story from the Daily Telegraph. Here’s Ben Witherington’s comments on this recurring alleged discovery. From the Telegraph: A group of Chinese and … More Noah’s Ark Found (Again) on Mount Ararat?
While dark clouds are a foreboding sight, they’re not always bad. Our own dark cloud is settling on our life as May approaches and Keri and I prepare to leave our current church and ministry in a few weeks. The dark cloud represents the following: The sadness of leaving our beloved church family and dear students. … More Our Dark Cloud: A Personal Update
On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. (Mark 4:35-36) When you follow Jesus, he always drags you to the other side. The … More Adventures in Mark 4 (4:35-36)
Prepare For Battle My conversation with Bryan Royle in the park had convinced me that the best way to draw a crowd and get the attention the students in town was to host a Battle of the Bands. I immediately began planning the big night. This is when the Kingdom mustard seed began to grow. … More Divine Summons 27
Chapter 6 Let’s Make Some Noise “Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. . . The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know … More Divine Summons 26
I’ve been reading Neil Cole’s book “Organic Church” recently. I love his passion and ideals. But his optimism and idealism should be balanced with other voices who’ve learned their own lessons while “digging in the dirt” of organic church leadership. Here’s a great article for organic church planters and leaders from Leadership Journal by Brian … More A Lesson for Organic Church Leaders
The Aftermath That first Battle of the Bands event was great success and a major breakthrough for the Revolution. I felt even more like apostle Paul now, as I went back to my daily grind of juggling three jobs plus pioneering an groundbreaking ministry. At school the following week I was met with a buzz … More Divine Summons 29
Welcome to Ground Zero The night arrived and I was giddy with anticipation and quite nervous as well. I had never planned an event of this caliber. I had spent a couple months networking with local churches and leaders, arranging for sound equipment, chasing flighty teenagers around trying to get the bands to commit and … More Divine Summons 28
A Less Eventful Upper Room Experience You would laugh if you saw what our first youth group gathering looked like. On an unusually warm Indian summer night in September, our “youth group” huddled together for the first time in our own upper room, much like the first followers of Jesus did in Acts 1. It … More Divine Summons 20
Revolutionary Christianity The early Jesus movement was a revolutionary force for good. Though it didn’t spread across the Roman empire without stirring up a good deal of trouble (as we saw above). Consider Paul’s visit to Thessalonica described in Acts 17. When the Jesus-movement came to town the whole city knew about it; but they … More Divine Summons 19
A Sleepy Church or Sleeping Giant? Bethel Methodist Church is a small, aging congregation struggling to grow and bring in younger families and youth. Sunday attendance would average just around 100. It’s glory days were well over a decade behind them. Gray hairs filled the pews and youth and children were scant. Pastor was probably … More Divine Summons 18
Partners in the Work of the Gospel Anyone who has been involved with church ministry knows that ecumenical efforts are difficult to pull off. While local churches in smaller communities like to talk about mutual respect for and general partnership with neighboring churches in serving the community, rarely do you see them coming together for … More Divine Summons 25
I Have Many People in this City Once again God spoke most clearly to me through the story of Acts. I recalled the story of Paul’s time in Corinth where he too run up against obstacles and began to doubt himself and his mission. For all we know, Paul may have gone on his own … More Divine Summons 24
Loneliness is a Bitter Friend My story so far has been one of significant loneliness. The two years of college (2000-2002) following my deep inward shift of faith from my encounter with the Book of Acts were the loneliest of my life. There is a loneliness far worse than the lack of friends. It’s the … More Divine Summons 23
Chapter 5 I Have Many People in this Town “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul … More Divine Summons 22
“Most educated atheists are much more likely to be suddenly ambushed in the heart by poetry than they ever are likely to be converted by a reasoned argument. A lot of what is conveyed by Christianity has to be conveyed in this form because words, even the most beautiful words, can never convey them.” – … More QUOTABLES: Peter Hitchens
Kingdom Harbor 