Jesus was no stranger to bad weather. Once he criticized a first century weather forecaster, saying: “You can predict the weather, but not the signs of the times” (Matt 16:3). It doesn’t take a spiritual sage to read the signs of our times. A societal storm is raging and one scene in the Gospels seems to resonate with what we’re feeling. … More Remaining Calm in the Societal Storm
Do you think the magi would be welcome in our churches if they showed up this Christmas Eve? I suspect these ouija board playing, crystal ball rubbing, tarot card reading visitors would be met with suspicious looks and hushed whispers, brushed off and awkwardly avoided. They certainly would not be invited to come forward and play a central role in the worship service. … More Blessed Are the Horoscope Readers
We are only reading half the story if we focus only on the speechlessness of Zechariah. Before long the mute becomes a minstrel, the silenced one a songbird, the castigated becomes a crooner for Christ. From that day forward, Mercy and Joy are the theme of Mr. and Mrs. Zechariah’s song. Blessed are those who have been mesmerized by God’s mercy, silenced by salvation, flabbergasted by forgiveness, and enraptured by God’s rescue. … More Blessed Are The Speechless
Ebenezer Scrooge had a hard time grasping and embracing the spirit and message of Christmas. The rich and self-sufficient always do. Their own personal kingdoms loom so large that they have a hard time making room for God’s Kingdom.
This is why the glad tidings were given to poor shepherds instead of wealthy aristocrats. Shepherds were the carnies of Jesus’ day. They had a reputation for being dirty, smelly vagabonds. … More Blessed Are the Carnies
The central message of Jesus’ upside-down Kingdom is that He offers good news to the poor and needy losers, and offers a stern warning for the proud and self-sufficient winners in society. He’s not opposed to the winners and hard-working overachievers; he just knows that such folks tend to be less receptive, and at times openly hostile, to His gospel message about free handouts of grace and forgiveness to undeserving screw-ups. … More Blessed Are the Underachievers
This Christmas reflection examines the crucial distinction between fleeting religious experiences and the enduring life of discipleship. Pastor Jeremy Berg contrasts the Star of Bethlehem, which led the Magi to a singular moment of worship, with the Morning Star mentioned by Peter, which symbolizes the necessary, continuous rise of Christ within the believer’s heart. … More Two Stars: Super-Surrender to Supernova
This week, ask yourself: Where is God calling me to pursue righteousness, even if it costs me approval? How can I stand up for the vulnerable, the unseen, the hurting – regardless of what others think? Who in my life needs to be encouraged to pursue this same courage? Following Jesus will never make us universally popular. But He promises the kingdom to those who endure for His sake. … More Courageous Righteousness
The post emphasizes the essential role of peacemaking, inspired by Jesus’ teachings. It questions whether individuals embody peacemaking or merely add to societal discord. Encouraging humility, kindness, and bridge-building, it suggests that true engagement transcends conflict and highlights the value of a peaceful approach in a divided world. … More Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” But in today’s political landscape, it’s so easy for our hearts to become clouded. Anger, partisanship, bitterness, self-righteousness – these things creep in and blur our vision. We can’t resist this on our own. We need His help to keep our hearts pure. … More Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
Politics often awakens a hunger to win: To argue. To feel superior. To prove them wrong. But Jesus invites us into something deeper: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” That kind of hunger doesn’t ignore injustice. Rather, it fights for what is good and true. But it fights with humility, not hostility. It seeks restoration, not revenge. It builds up, rather than tears down. … More Righteous Hunger
This reflection compares the Gardens of Eden and Gethsemane, emphasizing the spiritual lessons found in both. It highlights the importance of sabbath rest, where believers can trust in God’s partnership, and the necessity for vigilance, as seen in the disciples’ failure to stay awake during Jesus’ testing. Faithful stewardship is vital for the church. … More Asleep in the Garden
We just finished up a 3-part Advent Series exploring Jesus as the perfect embodiment of Micah 6:8 spirituality that invites us to “do justice, love mercy, and walk in humility.” In between Sundays, I’m on college campuses trying to light a fire in college students to embrace and cultivate this kind of Christianity in the world today. … More Doing Justice to Christmas
This Christmas we need more than a sermon, more than words, more than a heart-warming thought that will dissipate by Christmas morning. We need the gift of Christ’s peace to fill our hearts—not a sentimental idea of peace, but a lived and deeply felt reality of Christ’s abiding presence. … More Blessed is the Prince of Peacemakers
This is the idea Jesus has in mind when he says, “Blessed are the undivided in heart or single-minded in devotion, for they will have eyes to see God when he passes by in unexpected places and wearing strange disguises. … More Blessed are the Horoscope Readers
In our “Beatitudes of Bethlehem” Advent series, we’re looking at how the familiar characters in the Christmas story already foreshadow and embody the Beatitudes Jesus would launch his upside-down Kingdom ministry talking about. This message looks at Blessed are the Merciful and Zechariah’s speechlessness in the face of God’s tender mercy. … More WATCH: Blessed are the Speechless
We are only reading half the story if we focus only on the speechlessness of Zechariah. Before long the mute will become a minstrel, the silenced one will become a songbird, the castigated will become a crooner for Christ. And what will be the song on Zechariah’s lips? … More Blessed Are the Speechless
This week’s service features a talking camel, jumping jingle bells, a message on “Blessed are the Merciful” from Jonnie Goodmanson and music from our MainStreeters abroad – Jared & Shannon King – who live in Slovakia, as well as special music by Jonnie & Jeremy. … More Advent Service (Week 3)
In this fourth beatitude, Jesus gives a sympathetic nod to all those who are so hungry for a more just world that they have become angry at all that stands in the way. Blessed are all the irritable and bad-tempered perfectionists and battle-weary social activists who are ready to punch a hole through the wall or throw a brick at the television. … More Blessed are the Fed Up
Online service for the 2nd Sunday of Advent featuring a message in our “Beatitudes of Bethlehem” series by Pastor Mike Fox. … More Advent Service (Week 2)
This is from our “Beatitudes of Bethlehem” Advent series. This message speaks to the paradoxical truth that the saddest people on earth are those who haven’t learned how to mourn. … More Video: “Blessed are the Emotional Wrecks”
While the “Most Likely To Succeed” badge may come with a superstitious curse attached, the “Class Mooch” has a very real cultural curse attached to it. In America we celebrate self-made successful people, and look down on the moochers who are dependent on others. What do we make of Jesus’s 3rd Beatitude that seems to promise the farm to the underachieving brother? … More Blessed are the Underachievers
If chasing worldly happiness is a “yuppie” preoccupation, then we live in a yuppie nation and breathe the oxygen of a yuppie culture. At the end of the day, however, the Bible isn’t a handbook for happiness; it’s a pathway to holiness. … More Bob Dylan on ‘Happiness’ vs. ‘Blessedness’
The Beatitudes of Bethlehem A new kind of Kingdom was born in Bethlehem that first Christmas. This was to be an upside-down Kingdom that would flip the script on who is really blessed and who is not in God’s unfolding plan. The babe in a manger would grow up in obscurity until one day he … More Advent 2020 Overview
The blessings of Bethlehem don’t fly up to the mighty on the mountaintops, but flow downward into the valleys flooded with the tears of the mourners—from Bethlehem to Sandy Hook. … More Blessed are the Emotional Wrecks
Ebenezer Scrooge had a hard time grasping and embracing the spirit and message of Christmas. The rich and self-sufficient always do. Their own personal kingdoms loom so large that they have a hard time making room for God’s Kingdom—and all the poor and lowly riff-raff to whom it belongs. … More Blessed are the Poor Shepherds
Jeremy L. Berg 