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.
Two of my Daily Illumination movie reviews were published this past week — one at Youthworker.com and another at Jesus Creed. More of my reviews will be featured at Jesus Creed the next few Friday nights. I appreciate sharing my writings, but am humored that it’s my movie reviews that are getting the press. I’m … More Publication Notice
I began a new Sunday Bible study with our high school group this morning going through Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. For me this seemed like a perfectly normal thing to do as a long-time Christian, church attender and pastor — that is, spend 6 weeks pouring over a portion of Scripture. But every … More On Reading Ancient Letters of Strangers 1
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity but nobody thinks of changing himself.” -Leo Tolstoy
Michael Patton has a thoughtful read on the unique demands of ministry and the need to sometimes call in to work “spiritually sick.” I invite you to check it out below. What do you think? Calling in “Spiritually Sick” to Work Today by Michael Patton at Parchment & Pen.
One of my good friends in youth ministry, Paul Baudhuin at St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church, has an outstanding vision and purpose set out for his youth group. I can’t help but share it. While many students often only see what’s on the surface level of the “youth group experience” — the fun and … More More Than ‘Youth Group’
Mark Galli, senior editor for Christianity Today, recently wrote an excellent piece called “Long Live Organic Church: But What Happens If We Don’t Transform the World?” This is a must-read article for all who dream of a more effective church for the next generation. Are you dissatisfied with church as usual? Are you tired of … More A Must-Read Article for Church Leaders
“…Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like … More PARABLES: Sower, Seed & Soil 3
RJS at Jesus Creed brought these two videos to my attention. Wright discusses our need to approach the Scriptures on their own terms and how our particular worldview and philosophical presuppositions color our understanding of the text. The first video highlights the Enlightenment’s influence on our views of God, and the second video discusses how … More N.T. Wright on How Worldview Shapes our Reading of Scripture
In Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy, Greg Boyd attempts to answer the question: “How are we to conceive of an all-powerful God creating beings who to some degree possess the power to thwart his will, and thus against whom he must genuinely battle if he is to accomplish his … More BOOK REVIEW: Satan and the Problem of Evil by Greg Boyd
My good friends Dan Kent and Neil Berget, the theological mastermind and technological guru behind the creation of the Web of Theology, have graciously invited me in on the advancement and, most importantly, the marketing of this great tool. I am hoping to use my network of pastors, professors and blogging associates to spread the … More “A Match Made in Heaven” & WOT at Jesus Creed
Discovered this at Ben Witherington’s blog.
Read my article “Guard Your Treasure: Teens, Sex and Cellphones” recently published at http://www.YouthWorker.com. Just click image below to read.
Every few months youth pastors get a promotional box in the mail luring them to jump on the bandwagon of the next big Christian movie, book, conference or concert. Marketing madness bombards you with free promotinal posters, t-shirts, devotionals, bookmarks, bumper stickers. Sadly, the Christian entertainment sub-culture often disappoints. I usually don’t bite. I’m the … More MOVIE REVIEW: To Save A Life (2010)
<Envelope Please> “And the winner for the grayest, grimmest, most violent post-apocalyptic thriller of 2010 involving the Bible goes to…..The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington.” <Applause> This movie is not for the light-hearted or weak-stomached. This movie paints a very dark picture of humanity in all it’s unfettered barbarism: rape, dismemberment, pillaging and survival of … More MOVIE REVIEW: The Book of Eli (2010)
Well, God and coffee are not very comparable. But what do you think of this video?
I cannot endorse The Web of Theology (WOT) more enthusiastically. This one-of-a-kind theological self-assessment tool is a must for every thoughtful Christian and over time should become widely used by churches and Christian colleges and seminaries. WOT architect Dan Kent has provided us with the theological equivalent of the StrengthFinders, Myers-Briggs and DISC assessments. It’s … More The Web of Theology: Self-Assessment Tool
Tullian Tchividjianan, grandson of Billy Graham and author of “Unfashionable” has excellent article posted today at Leadership Journal called, “The Everyday Gospel.” Here’s a quote worth chewing on today: I once assumed the gospel was simply what non-Christians must believe in order to be saved, while afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But I’ve come to … More Deep into the Gospel (Tchividjianan)
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7:7-8) “Look! I stand at the … More Sacred Doors to the Presence of God
One of my articles entitled “Christian Community: The Goal or Starting Point?” was recently published at the Small Group Trader.com. This website is a wonderful resource for Christians and leaders who share Small Group Trader’s passion for “Helping people trade in the pursuit of the American-Dream for a world that desperately needs Christ.” This online resource … More My Article Published at SmallGroupTrader.com
What is the “Big Story” behind all the smaller episodes in the Bible? How does the Old Testament relate to the New Testament? Why does the portrayal of God in the OT (as wrathful, violent, etc.) seem at odds with the NT picture of God revealed to us by Jesus Christ? What ultimate goal do … More What’s the Big Picture? The OT through the lenses of Jesus
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, … More PARABLES: Sower, Seed and Soil 2
So far I have resisted the alluring convenience of the Amazon Kindle. I consider myself a book “purist” and am in love with the feel, look, smell and aesthetic beauty of physical books in my hands and on my book shelves. Part of me says, “I love technological advancement in almost every arena, but please … More The Amazon Kindle
“Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” – Opening sentences of Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Kingdom Harbor 