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.
“Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be … More PHILIPPIANS 25: Basketball and Dog Dung (3:8-9)
The Cross calls us to a justice that moves us beyond the law of retribution: “An eye for an eye.” As Moltmann observes, “If evil is recompensed with evil, then the one evil is always oriented on the other evil, because only in that way is it justified.” While scoffed at by many, there is … More Cruciform Justice 8: Getting Beyond Retribution
How does this narrative approach then change the way Christians understand and relate to God and the Bible? Let’s look briefly at a narrative understanding of God, the fall, saving faith and evangelism. 1. A Narrative Understanding of God. The particular plot line reveals a lot about the heart and character of the Author. Therefore, in our … More A Powerful Collision: God, Bible, Authority & Narrative 3
“We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender … More PHILIPPIANS 24: Religious Badges for Boasting (3:5-7)
“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are … More PHILIPPIANS 23: Rely on Christ, Not Human Effort (3:1-4)
Nobody likes being told what to do and what not to do. To some degree or another, everybody is suspicious and wary of “authority” and those we call “authority figures.” We think of relentless bosses, overbearing parents, slave-driving teachers, stern-eyed judges and intimidating police officers. Yet, the Authority that stands above the rest is God. … More A Powerful Collision: God, Bible, Authority & Narrative 2
Jurgen Moltmann is the foremost proponent for approaching the world’s suffering through the lenses of the cross. For Moltmann, “Christian theology must look at the question of Christ’s suffering before looking at the suffering of the world. It can only form a critical theology of its contemporary environment only in as far as it has … More Cruciform Justice 7: The Critique of the Cross
Now for something completely random and off topic… Coulrophobia is abnormal or exaggerated fear of clowns. Why are so many people scared of clowns? Do you find them creepy? Check out this video. Here’s some other strange phobias: Aulophobia- Fear of flutes. Barophobia- Fear of gravity Chronomentrophobia- Fear of clocks Homilophobia- Fear of sermons Geniophobia- Fear … More Are you afraid of clowns?
Keri made me watch it. I didn’t want to. I watched it when it first came out in the mid 80s when I was about 8 years old. It was creepy. Do you remember The Neverending Story? Bastian is a boy bossed around by his dad and bullied by schoolmates, all the while grieving the death … More MOVIE REVIEW: The Neverending Story (1984)
BRINGING GOD INTO THE MIX As indispensable as justice and peace are to a world of suffering and injustice, are these the highest goods worth striving for or dedicating our lives to? A biblically minded Christian must answer ‘No.’ For those who find their lives within the redemptive narrative of the creator and redeemer God … More Cruciform Justice 6: Between ‘The Rock’ & A Hard Place
In light of the recent John Piper interpretation of the Minneapolis tornado, Greg Boyd hosted a Q&A centered around the debated concept that God might be behind the natural disasters in the world…as well as other related questions from the congregation. Well worth checking out links below! LISTEN TO AUDIO WATCH VIDEO
“Above all things guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Prov. 4:23) Her hands shook and her eyes roamed restlessly about the bus. I could tell she was agitated about something. I walked up the aisle of the bus and met the eager eyes of many teens as we turned the corner just … More Guard Your Treasure: Teens, Sex & Cellphones
“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know … More PHILIPPIANS 22: Everything “in the Lord” (2:19-30)
Are you a Calvinist? Are you an Arminian? Are you Pre-Trib? Post-Trib? Are you Catholic? Lutheran? Evangelical? Whichever labels you may claim or shame, we are wise to consider the following warning: I have long come to the conclusion that men may be more systematic in their statements than the Bible, and may be led … More QUOTABLES: J.C. Ryle
PEACE, PROGRESS & PRAGMATISM The Humanistic Spirit of Optimism. Based upon a linear concept of time, the past, present, and future of world history is thought to be moving forward in a straight line, being bumped along by the principle of cause and effect. This historical trajectory is accompanied by a strong strand of humanistic … More Cruciform Justice 5: Peace, Progress & Pragmatism
The last time Pastor Piper offered his theological commentary on a local disaster (35W Interstate Bridge Collapse) it sparked a lengthy response from Pastor Greg Boyd. So, naturally, I have been waiting for Boyd to weigh in on Piper’s recent interpretation of the Minneapolis “Tornado Warning.” Here it is. Check out Boyd’s response HERE. Well, … More Greg Boyd Responds to Piper’s Tornado Warning
There is a lot of discussion over Pastor John Piper’s statement that God sent a tornado to Minneapolis yesterday to warn the ELCA leaders not to condone homosexuality. Read more about it HERE. This story has my head spinning and my theology challenged. I feel I need to come clean with my confusion because I … More God & Tornados: A Personal Confession
When Pastor John Piper speaks, he speaks with bold conviction. When John Piper speaks about local disasters, I listen carefully and critically. Especially when Piper’s Twitter update reads: “Tornados do have a voice. They talk to Lutherans. And the rest of us. They talk about sexual sin. Stay tuned.” Yesterday a tornado hit downtown Minneapolis … More John Piper: Tornado Talks to Lutherans about Homosexuality
BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE ‘FIGHT’ FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE Before exploring the world-altering event of the cross and a cruciformed concept of justice, we need to spend some time in what will be much more familiar territory for most of us. I speak of the marketplace of ideas where ‘the fight for freedom,’ the … More Cruciform Justice 4: Business As Usual in the ‘Fight’ for Peace
“Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful … More PHILIPPIANS 21: Running in Vain (2:16-18)
The New Testament announces the arrival of The Light. “The Word became flesh and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son” (John 1:14). The Kingdom of God was at hand and the blessings of the future Messianic Age were being … More Cruciform Justice 3: Light Has Dawned
Shortly after posting my reflections on Tiger Woods and Jesus below I found the following related video. “He’s just that good.” Funny.
“A huge crowd…trailed after them… swarms of people who had heard the reports and had come to see for themselves. He told his disciples to get a boat ready so he wouldn’t be trampled by the crowd… Now everyone who had something wrong was pushing and shoving to get near and touch him” (Mark 3:7-10 … More Tiger vs. Jesus – Crowd Control
20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. 22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, … More Christ Encounter #4: Jesus and Family (Mark 3:20ff)
“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (Mark 8:33 NLT). Is there any statement of Jesus more timeless and relevant to our own discipleship journey than the above rebuke of Peter? This central challenge provides the serious follower of Jesus with a handy test by which to make … More Kingdom-Colored Glasses (Mark 8:33-37)
Kingdom Harbor 