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.
“We have short attention spans. Having been introduced to God, we soon lose interest in God and become preoccupied with ourselves. Self expands and soul atrophies. Psychology trumps theology. … [And this] usually adds up to a workable life … But — it is not the practice of resurrection, it is not growing up in … More QUOTABLES: Eugene Peterson
Michael Spencer (Internet Monk) is a well-known Christian blogger who has been a special part of my journey the past couple years as I’ve enjoyed his daily writings and especially his western Kentucky accent and candor on his weekly Internet Monk Radio Podcast. I’ve never met Michael but I feel like he is a good … More Prayers For A Dying Friend
“If one-tenth of what you believe is true, you ought to be ten times as excited as you are.” – From The Crisis in the University by Sir Walter Moberly
Check out A Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. Then listen to an interview with them from the Steve Brown Etc radio broadcast HERE. Christians have made the gospel about so many things … things other than Christ. Jesus Christ is the gravitational pull that brings everything together and gives them significance, reality, … More A Jesus Manifesto for the 21st Century (by Sweet & Viola)
“Can the church stop its puny, hack dreams of trying to “make a difference in the world” and start dreaming God-sized dreams of making the world different? Can the church invent and prevent, redeem and redream, this postmodern future? -From Soul Tsunami by Leonard Sweet
One of the essential human needs is to have a sense of purpose; the desire to be a part of something larger than themselves; to play an important role and have a long-term impact in some arena of life. The human spirit cries out against the modern, secular narrative that belittles human existence to the … More Discipleship 2: Jumpin’ on a Moving Train & Searching for Atlantis
McLaren’s latest and largest full frontal assault on evangelicalism and historic orthodoxy is now available in stores: “A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith”. I cannot think of anyone better to offer a fair and balanced review of this book than Dr. Scot McKnight. The review is found in Christianity … More McKnight on McLaren’s “A New Kind of Christianity”
The Christian life of the first disciples who answered when Jesus said “Follow me” is far different from what it is for many today. Back then, the call of discipleship truly included a cross to take up and carry, as persecution was the lot of most early followers. Repentance, being far more than contrition for … More Discipleship 1: An Adventurous Journey
A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, ‘ God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’ God led the holy man to two doors.. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in . In the middle of the room was a large round … More Classic Parable of the Long-handled Spoon
“The true understanding of the Bible is that it tells a story of which my life is a part, the story of God’s tireless, loving, wrathful, inexhaustible patience with the human family, and of our unbelief, blindness, disobedience. To accept this story as the truth of the human story (and so of my story) commits … More QUOTABLES: Leslie Newbigin
My mom sent me this in one of those infamous “Forward This Or Else” chain letters. But maybe some of you like these. Some good wisdom here. It was written by Regina Brett, who is NOT 90 years old as the email said. “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught … More Timeless Wisdom for Life
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is exploring Christian Smith’s new book: Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. What do emerging adults think of religion? This next chp in Smith and Snell discovered in their fantastic new book: Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults will be of use to all … More Today’s Emerging Adults 2
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is exploring Christian Smith’s new book: Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. Today the question is: What is the cultural world of the emerging adult? We’re talking about 46 million emerging adults… so generalizations need careful backing of evidence and all kinds of nuance. What … More Today’s Emerging Adults 1
TELLING LIES ABOUT GRANDPA Historical Amnesia in the Church Today A Father’s Day Sermon preached at Bethel Methodist Church on June, 18 2006 by Jeremy Berg Pearl Harbor Rewritten On the morning of December 7, 1941, shortly after 7:00, “a date that will live in infamy,” Pearl Harbor was attacked by more than 180 Japanese warplanes. … More ESSAY: Telling Lies About Grandpa: Historical Amnesia in the Church Today (2006)
Pastor Ed Young knows how to grab your attention! Out Of Ur blog introduces Ed Young and his video saying: “Ed Young Jr., the eccentric pastor from Fellowship Church in Dallas (remember the “7 Day Sex Challenge” sermon he preached from a bed rather than a pulpit?), is reaching out to other pastors with a … More VIDEO: Pastor Ed Young Raps – U.B.U.
Here’s an overview of “From Followers to Leaders: The Path of Leadership Development in the Local Church” by Robert E. Logan and Tara Miller, ChurchSmart Resources) I found HERE. A recent survey of churches asked the question, “What is your greatest need as a church?” Can you guess what the number one answer was? LEADERSHIP … More Myths & Realities of Leadership Development
The following quote on keeping the main things the main thing is a favorite of mine. Yet, it seems like there is some confusion over who gets credit for it. Was it Saint Augustine? Most attribute it to him. Can someone identify where it is recorded in his vast collections of writings? Who else has … More QUOTABLES: Saint Augustine
Many, MANY of us can related to the words and general sentiment of Jeremy Bouma in a recent farewell address to the emergent movement. Jeremy Bouma is leaving the Emergent movement/conversation and “taking them to task” in the upcoming weeks. This is a worth a read. (Thanks for sending this my way Peter.) For those … More “Taking Emergent Church Theology To Task”
Last post I mentioned we just began studying our way through Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians on Sundays with our high school students. A perceptive and refreshingly honest student asked the following question: “Umm…can you tell me again why we’re taking the time to read this ancient letter written to these people we’ll never … More On Reading Ancient Letters of Strangers 2
Keri and I were visiting Bethel University’s campus recently, and were intrigued by signs posted on certain doors signaling “safe-places” for conversations about same-sex attraction. Is this a growing phenomenon on all university campuses, or unique to Christian institutions where there is more of a stigma against same-sex relationships? I was therefore very interested when … More GLBT Safe Place Signs on Campus
This past summer my wife and I decided it was high time to visit Hogwarts and dabble in the dark arts. That is, we decided to watch the Harry Potter movies. I’m glad to report 6 months later I’ve finally recovered my faith. Ok, enough with the sarcasm. Alright Christian: Have you seen the films? … More Are We Done Picking on Potter?
Have you read “Organic Church” by Neil Cole? I’m about to. I’ve read all the buzz about this revolutionary movement of dissatisfied Jesus-f0llowers who dream of paving new inroads into a culture that has grown disinterested in the church-as-usual. I am one of them. I’ve been part of sparking this kind of missional Christianity in … More “Organic Church” by Neil Cole
Please check out this great video rendition of a classic excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory! CLICK HERE The video uses the following script from Lewis’ powerful sermon: “If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is … More VIDEO: “Easily Pleased” from Desiring God
Kingdom Harbor 