“Let the pastors boldly dare all things by the word of God. . . . Let them constrain all the power, glory, and excellence of the world to give place to and to obey the divine majesty of this word. Let them enjoin everyone by it, from the highest to the lowest. Let them edify … More QUOTABLES: John Calvin on the Word of God
We’re honoring the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation at MainStreet this month by exploring some of the key figures. Last week we focused on Luther, and I preached a portion of a Luther sermon. This week we’re meeting John Calvin! I can’t think of a better place to turn to learn about John Calvin and … More John Calvin the Preacher
We are celebrating “Luther Week” at MainStreet as we honor the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. We watched the 2003 Luther movie on Wednesday night, and we will be discussing the movie and Reformation this Wednesday night at Three Taverns. This Sunday I also spent time introducing this truly one-of-a-kind flawed heroes of the faith. … More Preaching Luther
In our digital age, many (if not most) the messages we receive throughout the week come stark naked — i.e., disembodied. I’m finishing up my first doctoral thesis paper today, and exploring the power of and need for “embodied teaching” in the church and “embodied words” in our lives as a whole. We get sprinkled with text … More Naked & Embodied Words
I was reading a piece today in Christianity Today (October ’17) about how Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) is trying to reinvent themselves to reach more millennials. This widely respected Bible teaching ministry birthed just after WWII is almost 60 years old, and is struggling to get people under 40 to attend. I found the following very … More Boomers, Millennials & Bible Study
Matt Friedeman’s book The Master Plan of Teaching (1990) examines Jesus’ teaching style and suggests the following formula emphasizing that content alone is not enough, but the teacher-student relationship is a central ingredient: COMMUNICATION = CONTENT + RELATIONSHIP He then offers some steps toward effective interpersonal relationships in the graph below. Pastors and teachers who want to … More Teaching & Interpersonal Relationships
A member of our church paid me a great compliment this week. She said, “I’m discovering a trend among MainStreeters I am getting to know. I keep hearing people say, ‘Well, Jeremy challenged us to do such and such and here’s what resulted.” She quickly qualified her statement with, “Don’t worry, its the good kind of challenge … More A Faith that Relieves & Releases
A few years back I had to write a paper exploring an image or metaphor that describes my personal vision for pastoral ministry. Here’s what I wrote. (Note: Keri was pregnant with Abby at the time). “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…” Gal. 4:19 … More Pastor as Spiritual Midwife
“We come to the Bible, raising questions about its relevance to our present daily lives, only to find that the Bible questions us about our relevance to the way of Christ.” -Will Willimon We’re modern people. We value efficiency and practicality. We like quick how-to tutorials that immediately get to the point. We’re self-driven, ambitious … More The Perils of Preaching Today
I remember it was early spring and unseasonably warm. It was just after Passover. I can still smell the warm, salted breeze coming off the Aegean sea, and hear the squalk of seagulls circling above. We stood on the hill overlooking the harbor and waited for the ship to appear on the horizon. The ship … More The Lucky Tale of Eutychus
This Sunday I have the honor of preaching a message on one of the most significant truths and experiences in all the universe: God’s supernatural work of New Birth in the human heart. “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again/from above” (John 3:3). How do you talk about something … More Nic @ Night 4: Talking about “New Birth”
Christmas Eve is a great opportunity for churches to share the good news of the gospel with many unbelievers — sometimes hearing it for the first time. Pastors should give a clear invitation to respond in faith to the message of the gospel. I plan to do this. I can’t wait to do this! But there … More Relax Pastor, God Saves!
Today I want to share a personal update of sorts. Pastors wear a lot of hats. For example, today I was negotiating a lease with our landlord and consulting with our architect for our building project when I received a call from a person in rural Minnesota asking me to pray with him for … More God’s Gourmet Chef
1-2You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. 3-5I was unsure of … More Gospeling in Corinth 3: God-Empowered
I’m reposting a short series of reflections on Paul’s ministry in the pagan metropolis of Corinth and how he went about proclaiming the gospel and making disciples in a very unbelieving culture. The apostle Paul writes (using The Message paraphrase): “The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent … More Gospeling in Corinth 1: God-Logic
A repost from 2009. -JB This is a thought experiment. Please be gracious and try to understand my line of thinking and let me know if there’s some validity to it. Please also hear what I am NOT saying. I have long been bothered by a common critique or complaint people have after listening to a … More The Dark Side of Personal Application
Pastor John Piper on the supremacy of God in preaching: Christian preachers, more than all others, should know that people are starving for God. If anyone in all the world should be able to say, “I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory,” it is the herald of God. Who … More John Piper on Preaching
As my 35th birthday approaches, I’m looking back through some old journal entries. In my mid-twenties I had one big aspiration for my life: to put my knowledge to good use by becoming a teacher/college professor. The problem was I had no clue how to teach, and learning and teaching are too very different things. I … More Like a Unicorn at a Balloon Popping Party (or The Joy of Teaching)
This piece I wrote several years ago was published in the Youthworker Journal. Hope you find it encouraging. -JB “You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and … More Encouragement for Self-Doubting Leaders
From DesiringGod.org. Initially, it may be tough to tell the difference. A gifted Bible-expositor and an entertainment-oriented preacher, with a penchant for garnishing his ideas with some Bible, may not demonstrate much disparity at first. But give it some time. And check the congregation over the long haul. It will make a world of difference. … More Preaching That’s Tethered to the Bible
“Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul preached on and on” (Acts. 20:8). Every pastor has to deal with the issue of preferred sermon length among his or her congregation. What is the ideal sermon length? In some traditions, the 15-20 minute homily … More Thoughts on Sermon Purpose, Style and Length
For those who read my blog, one bonus is that you often get a preview of what might be coming down the pipe as far as sermons go at MainStreet. I’m a deep processor and require time to chew on ideas and try them out before I preach on them. Daily Illumination often becomes a … More New Sermon Series: “Backroads, Buckets & Buffets”
Rob Bell’s final Sunday at the church he founded has now come and gone. I am looking forward to listening to his final words to his beloved Mars Hill on my drive home today. I should take a moment to share some of my own appreciations for Rob’s ministry that has been so influential to … More Appreciating Rob Bell: On the Occasion of His Final Sunday at Mars Hill
Jeremy L. Berg 