What do you think of these words? My thoughts follow. Certainly his words apply to some teenagers — namely, privileged kids who grew up like me, blessed with an intact family and an actual yard to mow who waste their lives away. But that’s not the family background that many troubled youth who stand in … More Teenagers need more than words
The article below by Lindy Lowly called The Church’s Sleeping Giant aptly captures the missional philosophy driving the vision and approach of MainStreet. This is why we exist – short and simple. Most church-goers simply don’t understand how our approach is different than the standard “come to us” model of church. I hope this article … More The Big Idea Behind MainStreet Church
Enjoy this growing collage of news headlines from our past years of local ministry in Mound. I’m very proud of these articles — not because I want my own name lifted up but because far too many churches are irrelevant to the broader community today. MainStreet’s burning passion is to bring the life-transforming message and … More Making Local Headlines for Jesus
Tim was an outspoken atheist who vowed he would “never go into a church again.” But he became a regular participant at our live, local teen music spotlights in Mound during his last two years of high school. Many good conversations about faith and life grew out of our interactions at these music events. Kim … More A Church in the Marketplace
Thanks, David, for passing this on to me. Enjoy. -JB In reflecting on the process of making disciples that I’m learning to practice, I’ve realized that it involves a real death to self for the leader at every stage along the way. As Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains … More You Have to Die to Make Disciples (by Ben Sternke)
Mound graduate, Anthony Faulk, along with friends and family organized a prayer vigil for the Colorado shooting victims. I was alerted to the event and was able to attend. Fox 9 News and Kare 11 News showed up to cover the event. Fox reported: A candlelight memorial service honoring the victims of the Aurora, Colo., … More Mound Prayer Vigil for CO Victims
Some 200+ people representing many Mound area churches gathered at Surfside Park & Beach to celebrate the past 100 years of Mound’s history. Worship was led by the Freshwater Church band along with Bridget Larsen, a Mound alum and singer/songwriter, who flew back home from the East Coast to share her musical gifts. Clergy and other … More Mound: On the shore of ‘God’s Recreational Waters’
“To read the Bible properly is to find it an altar where one meets the living God . . .” -Evangelical Covenant Church Paper
I recently wrote an article highlighting the spiritual legacy of the City of Mound and each local church’s story of origins. This past week our local newspaper The Laker published a small, edited fragment of my article but left out all the fascinating history and the story of each church’s beginnings — the main purpose of my … More The Full Story
After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a … More Crossing Jordan 2 – Following God & His Leaders
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp giving orders to the people” (Josh. 3:1-2). MainStreet Church is standing on the bank of the Jordan these days and gazing across at the Promised Land of … More Crossing Jordan 1 – Camping by the River
Seven years ago God first gave me the vision of a church in Mound that shines the light of Christ beyond the sanctuary walls “in the marketplace daily with all who happen to be there” (Acts 17:17). Thanks to the faithful and generous people God has brought around MainStreet, this dream is about to become a … More Special Announcement: A New MainStreet Home!
I turn 33 today. Something shifted in me this past year. I feel older. I feel the weight of leadership on my shoulders. I feel stronger, thicker skinned. I feel the proud, protective instincts of fatherhood surging through my veins. There’s a little blue-eyed blonde tike tugging on my leg with the non-stop “dada dada … More Birthday Reflection – 33 Years
FYI: Some of my regular readers of DI also listen to some of my sermons. We fell behind and finally posted the past month’s messages for you to check out. Listen here.
Pastor Steven hits the nail on the head and strikes a loud chord for all of us at MainStreet about to move one step closer toward our dream for ministry in Mound. -JB By Rev. Steven Larson, Senior Pastor of Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park, MN Phillips Brooks wrote, “Do not pray for easy … More It’s time to dream! (by Steven Larson)
MainStreet is preparing to launch a new youth ministry in Mound to reach Westonka youth for Christ. MainStreet Church is about bringing the light and love of Christ beyond the church walls and into the marketplace — i.e., Main St. Our foundational verse is Acts 17:17 where Paul conducted his ministry “in the marketplace daily … More Welcome to The Alley!
A long time dream for Mound is getting closer to being realized. My original call to ministry was more specifically a call to bring a fresh approach to youth ministry to my home town of Mound. Most of you know that I spent a couple years leading a grassroots youth movement called Revolution in Mound … More Westonka Youth Ministry – COMING SOON!
I’m extremely blessed!
From Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed: The “most influential work of popular theology published this century…” What is it? I disagree with Ross Douthat’s answer (in his book Bad Religion) to this question because I don’t think that book has been influential even if it has been wildly popular. The issue here is how to define “influential.” By … More America’s Premier Heresy
Here’s the chaos I married into….and I’m so glad I did. :)
A great reminder — and the idea behind MainStreet Merge Forums. -JB by Cathleen Falsani 05-31-2012 Ah, the life of the church. So many arguments, so little time. The list of subjects about which the saints disagree is seemingly endless, encompassing both the profound and the woefully mundane. The ordination of women. The proper role of religion … More Delivery Us From Smugness (by Cathleen Falsani)
Kingdom Harbor 