“Our society is experiencing change at unprecedented rates. Young people are navigating these changes alongside the challenges that adolescence and young adulthood present. Young people want and need safe spaces and relationships to talk about what they’re experiencing and find guidance on how to move forward” (Springtide). … More Helping Young People In Uncertain Times
Greg Speck is hilarious. He’s also anointed to bring the message of God’s amazing grace and undying love to squirrelly middle schoolers and too-cool high schoolers. At the end of every event, he invited everyone to send him a friend request on Facebook. Once you become “friends,” you are on Greg’s list. And once you are on it, you cannot get off of it, but why would you want to? I am on Greg’s list. … More Are You On Greg’s List?
I want to share some reflections on 20 years of ministry in my hometown. I have told the story of launching the Revolution teen ministry in Mound many times, but I have never mentioned the book that I led teenagers through that laid a foundation for that ministry and lit a spark for the brand of Jesus-shaped Christianity I have pursued and taught over the past 20 years. … More 20 Years: The Irresistible Revolution
Congratulations Graduates! You are probably experiencing an array of shifting emotions right now: excitement, relief, anxiety, fear, joy, doubt, regret, gratefulness, confusion and more. The season of your life that, at one time, seemed like it would never end has now snuck up on you. In the blink of an eye, a tossing of the … More “Sheepish” Advice for Graduates
This week we re-launched our very informal “youth group” we call Jason’s House by hosting some organized 10-14 year old chaos at our home. Our newly baptized Peter is old enough to attend, and is eager to invite his friends to learn about Jesus. Peter’s fearlessness to be on stage in front of a crowd … More Holy Rowdiness at “Jason’s House”
Sometimes young people ask their questions out loud. More commonly, they keep them bottled up in their curious minds and conflicted souls. But every teenager—yours included—is a walking bundle of questions. … More How Parents Can Have Better Conversations With Teenagers
“It’s all upside down!” was the perfect remark by a 14-year old after our youth group gathered in my cozy study to discuss the story of Christmas. … More The Nativity: “It’s All Upside Down!”
“These men who are turning the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” (Acts 17:6-7) I spent some years as a youth pastor in a larger established church running a big youth program … More Plotting Revolution at Jason’s House
MainStreet Covenant wants to partner with our parents and provide resources to help nurture the faith of our children beginning in the home. Beyond our wonderful Sunday school ministry and new Jason’s House gatherings, we are trying to be proactive in offering things like Tech-Wise Sunday, a Grace-Based Parenting Lifegroup series this past fall, giving each family … More Partnering with Parents to Raise Godly Kids
On March 10, MainStreet is hosting “Tech-Wise Family” Sunday. Our regular worship service will feature a video presentation by Andy Crouch on his book The Tech-Wise Family. The service will be followed by a luncheon that includes a panel discussion, Q&A and live interaction/discussion with fellow MainStreeters as we share our struggles and offer tips to one … More Tech-Wise Family Sunday – March 10 @ MainStreet
They found him…sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions…And Jesus grew in wisdom.” (Luke 2:46, 52) Jesus was a middle schooler once. Can you imagine that? Popping pimples. Voice cracking. Surging hormones. Changing body. Our stained glass images of a stoic Jesus the Son of God and second person of the … More Sermon: Growing in Wisdom
A good reminder for a New Year. A repost from about 9 years ago. -JB Somewhere along the way, largely in the wake of the Enlightenment’s enthronement of human reason, Christianity morphed into a rational quest for right knowledge and head beliefs. Discipleship naturally became a classroom exercise with teachers, Bible curriculum and eager (and … More Life’s the Curriculum, You’re the Assignment
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). If I were called to the hospital bedside of a person who just attempted but failed to take their own life, I think I would bring this … More EPHESIANS 14: God’s Masterpiece (2:10)
The Christian life is filled with counterintuitive paradoxical truths. One of my favorites is Jesus’ strange warning that “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). On the surface this is ludicrous. I mean the last time I lost $10 I was poorer and … More Re-Born Identity: “Kingdom Exchange Principle”
Suicide is an all too common thing these days — especially among adolescents and younger adults. I thought I’d repost an older piece from around 2009 for a Christian perspective on such tragedies. Some of these words also give perspective on the evil of recent events. -JB The forces of darkness are always around us. Most of the time, if … More When Darkness Wins a Battle, We Still Win the War
Theology matters. And we all “do theology” — whether we’re aware of it or not. Theology is “thinking about God.” The question is not whether we do theology but whether we do good or bad theology. This is why my one of my biggest passions as a pastor is trying to help people begin to think critically … More Faith Over Feelings
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, his young apprentice and “son in the faith,” Paul mentions 10 important things that Timothy knows full well about Paul’s own life and faith journey. So, I’m very excited to share a guide to help others have 10 spiritual legacy conversations based on 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:10, 14 (see below). How … More 10 Spiritual Legacy Conversations
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
I wrote this blessing for an outstanding young Christian graduate and musician friend. But it is a good challenge to all. -JB Dear young Christian graduate, As you graduate from high school and prepare for the chapter of your life (“adulthood”), allow me to offer this blessing and challenge. From one musician to another, we … More A Graduate Blessing: Live A Love Song
A repost from 2010. Things have only gotten worse! -JB Albert Mohler, Jr. reports on a significant new study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation on teenagers and technology HERE The study states: As anyone who knows a teen or tween can attest, media are among the most powerful forces in young people’s lives today. … More New Study on Teens & Technology
As the school year wraps up, I’m reminded of my youth pastor days. Here’s a repost from 2009. I’m typing this blog from my laptop while text messaging, checking my email, listening to my Ipod, updating my Twitter and sipping an iced mocha. I’m totally wired and buzzed — both from caffeine and all the … More Constantly Buzzed: Teens & Technology
Repost from 2010. Something has changed since I went to school. Like all cultural changes it came slowly, subtly, under the radar and is now boiling many teens like frogs trapped in kettle of pressure and busyness. Today’s teens are experiencing an enormous amount of pressure to “produce, produce, produce” and out-perform their peers to … More ‘Race to Nowhere’: Performance Pressure on Today’s Teens
In this series we’ll be picking apart this episode in Luke 10 piece by piece, exploring what it looks like on the road to discipleship in the company of Jesus. “The Lord now chose seventy (-two) other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These … More Two by Two 1: He Sent Them
Originally posted on Jeremy L. Berg:
“I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people and I will be their God” (Ezek 11:19-20). Many still view youth ministry as a second-class calling,…
Here’s a repost from 2009. Enjoy! -JB “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself.” -Jesus As fall stares tired youth pastors in the face, weary from summer trips and fun-in-the-sun adventures, we try to take a deep breath, grab a mini vacation before ramping up for another year of bringing the good … More Worship at the Altar of Self
Jeremy L. Berg 