I was blessed to be sitting at a table having breakfast yesterday with a fella who was baptized in a high school pool the evening before. Sadly, this is rare for me. By God’s grace I hope to be surrounded by a constant flow of newly baptized believers in the years ahead — and may … More A Cruciform Perspective
If you are in high school or college, or at any point in your life, make Scot McKnight’s One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow mandatory summer reading. Here’s a taste from Scot’s blog: I grew up with the idea that I could only be happy if I found “God’s will.” People do weird things because they … More Discovering God’s Will (Scot McKnight)
Enjoy some reflections from the book of Joshua in light of our mission as a church to be moving into territories today with the love, grace, selfless acts of service and the good news concerning Christ and the Kingdom of God. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your … More Strong & Courageous 1
Here’s the notes from a message I gave to a youth group awhile back. Always a timely and tough topic. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images… … More American Idols (Rom 1:22-25)
As I read through the Gospels today, I noticed that Jesus seems to be fond of commanding people to either “Come, follow me!” or “Go!”. The point seems quite clear: Life as a disciple of Jesus is a life “on the move.” He calls us to drop our nets, leave our old life behind and … More With Jesus: Are we Coming or Going?
I’m sharing highlights from my reading of William Willimon’s definitive book on pastoral ministry called “Pastor.” Today, I share a quote from a section discussing Acts 4 and every pastor’s favorite topic — inviting people to give their money away! 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that … More Pastor 3 – A Revolutionary Offering
Here’s a litmus test to see whether you see the world through a Christian worldview or have been conformed to the culture we inhabit: Do you believe in Retirement? Read the New Testament and show me on Christ follower who wasted away their final years in self-indulgence and liesure while a broken and dying world … More Thoughts on ‘Retirement’
This week we’re kicking off MainStreet LifeGroups. Most churches over the past couple decades (especially) have realized the need to move people beyond the Sunday morning worship service and into deeper fellowship. Small Groups have been the answer. Unfortunately, even while Small Groups have become a regular item on every church’s program offerings, and leaders … More Naked Church 2: Key Elements of Church
I went there to look for a new book to read, but found myself reading the bookstore and its shoppers instead. Let me share what I observed. Steady traffic by the Diet and Cookbook section. Many people concerned with their physical appetite and eating habits browsed through Magic with Meats, Vegetarian and natural food options, … More Lazy Day Observations at Barnes & Noble
RECALL NOTICE: The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the … More Recall Notice (author unknown)
From the old DI archives, here’s a piece written in 2006 comparing my blogging habits to the spiritual life. At that time I had lost inspiration and quit blogging for weeks before finally posting this. -JB Yes, I was dead. My pages were stilled. My message was silenced. Some faithful readers came by to visit … More Blogging Habits and the Spiritual Life
The political climate in America this week is boiling hot on the heals of Sunday night’s signing of the Obamacare proposal. There is an apocalyptic like mood on the conservative right, with talk show hosts prognosticating on the eventual collapse of America as we know it. Today, I walked to the gas station for a … More Which Government Do You Serve?
I heard a story on the radio recently discussing the fading reality of the “American Dream.” The story said only about 57% of Americans still believe the American Dream is achievable or worth pursuing. I say, “Die, American myth, die!!” I happen to believe that many (not all!) of the promises of the American Dream … More The Future of the American Dream
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)
My recent post on Vocation and calling featured at Jesus Creed evoked some great comments that were helpful in taking my thoughts forward. Michael Kruse’s comments in particular are worth sharing repeating here. I found his reference to a trinitarian framework for calling very fascinating: I don’t know if you have ever read any of … More The Trinitarian Calling
I’m sharing some noteworthy excerpts from one of my favorite, most influential books — “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony” by Stanley Hauerwas & William Willimon. Chapter four addresses Christian social ethics as faithfulness to the community’s normative story — in this case the Jesus-shaped story. “The habit of Constantinian thinking is difficult to … More Resident Aliens 4
I’m sharing some noteworthy excerpts from one of my favorite, most influential little books on church engaging culture — “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony” by Stanley Hauerwas & Will Willimon. Chapter 3 is my favorite chapter of all, recasting the entire Christian life and experience of salvation as the invitation into a new, … More Resident Aliens 3
Chapter 2 of “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony” by Hauerwas & Willimon engages the issue of the church’s engagement with the powers-that-be. In typical Hauerwasian fashion, they suggest the church focus it’s energy on being the church — a distinct, alien tribe that remains faithful to it’s own life shaped by in the … More Resident Aliens 2
Already 21 years old, “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony” is a little book by the Duke duo Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon that purports to offer “a provocative Christian assessment of culture and ministry for people who know that something is wrong.” Two decades later, something is still wrong. This book speaks powerfully … More Resident Aliens 1
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)
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
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
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’
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)
Jeremy L. Berg 