Jeremy reflects on a summer of stagnation, struggling with motivation and creativity while waiting for divine inspiration. He shares insights on faith, the challenge of being still, and the paradox of finding strength in weakness. Music has provided a refreshing outlet, stirring new creative impulses and a longing for spiritual renewal. … More Windsocks & Wind Chimes
Jesus called out predatory religion, disrupted economies of exploitation, named rulers’ threats without flinching, and still refused the sword. Loving our enemies never meant moral equivalence, but refusing to mirror their violence while committing to standing between them and the people they crush. … More The Way of Jesus is Still Narrow
This is a powerful sermon by Nadia Bolz-Weber for this moment, originally shared in the wake of a mass shooting years ago. As a woman preacher, I can’t help but love St Mary Magdalen. When I first discerned my call to be a preacher I got a tattoo of her on my forearm. I felt that when I needed to, I could borrow her strength. … More Mary Magdalen & Showing Up After Violence
It’s easy to look at the brokenness in our nation and just feel angry. Angry at “those people,” angry at leaders, angry at the way things are. We live in a culture addicted to outrage. Outrage mobilizes. It raises money. It fills cable news time slots.
But Jesus doesn’t say “Blessed are those who rage.” He says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” … More Do we Mourn … or Just Rage?
The kids are back in school! Now a strange silence fills the house after our three kids all get on the same bus this year at 7:30. In this stillness, my contemplative soul can breathe again and find space conducive to creative pursuits. But in the stillness and quiet, many of us can also feel and hear the deep sigh of weariness that broods just beneath the surface. … More Feeling Weary? You’re Not Alone.
Our church recently completed a 12-week exploration of “The Cruciform Kingdom,” focusing on the essence of Christ-like love, non-violence, and peacemaking. Jesse P. Nickel’s “A Revolutionary Jesus” highlights Jesus’ role as a peacemaker, emphasizing the significance of the cross in understanding his victory over evil through non-violent means. … More The Victory of the Cross
We celebrated the life of my Uncle Gary a couple weeks back. I was privileged to participate in the service, along with my kids and other grand nieces and nephews. Peter and I led us in some hymns, and we performed “Go Rest High On That Mountain” (without breaking down, somehow). I shared the sermon and am including the script here for anyone interested. … More Looking for the Living Among the Dead
The author shares insights on three impactful books: “Van Gogh: The Life,” which deeply explores the artist’s troubled psyche; “Blood in the Tracks,” highlighting the overlooked Minnesota musicians behind Dylan’s masterpiece; and Dallas Willard’s new “The Scandal of the Kingdom,” revealing the transformative significance of Jesus’s parables in contemporary life. … More Vacation Reading
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
This nature reflection discusses the dangers of living a life of spiritual drift, likening it to driftwood tossed by waves. It emphasizes the importance of having purpose and direction in life through faith in Christ and the Church. The analogy highlights community strength versus individual aimlessness in navigating life’s challenges. … More Driftwood
The election of the first American pope, Leo XIV, and getting to hear the pope speak into our politically idolatrous Christian landscape in plain English, is going to be revealing. I dare say “apocalyptic” in the literal sense of deeply revealing. He’s not going to line up on Team Blue or Team Red. He will speak for Team Jesus, and be labelled Woke for following the historic social teachings of the Catholic church. … More A Woke Pope?
The discipleship journey, explored here in Jeremy’s exposition of Luke 24:13-35, emphasizes companionship, compassionate listening, and the cruciform life. Jesus walks alongside disciples, fostering spiritual maturity through shared experiences and conversations. Ultimately, true discipleship leads to recognizing Christ’s presence, partaking in communion, and joyfully sharing the transformative gospel with others. … More Discipleship on the Emmaus Road
This sober undressing of some of the hidden realities behind our nation may offend, and if it rattles our bones to see this earthly nation critiqued by the Bible, that might indicate we have made it an idol. Revelation is an ‘apocalypse,’ and that word means to pull back the curtain on the uglier realities that prefer to stay hidden behind the shiny surface. Revelation is an invitation to political resistance, not End Times speculation. … More Babylon in America
Revelation is not a key to unlock some future prophecy timeline; it’s a key to understanding our current times, unmasking true allegiances and calling Christians to follow the Way of the Lamb while resisting the ways of Babylon. Today, my teacher, Scot McKnight, posted chapter 5 of his timely book, “Revelation for the Rest of Us”, on his Substack. Read. If. You. Dare. … More Unmasking Babylon
I was 21 years old. I was in the honeymoon period of my newfound faith. I still remember how exciting it was reading my new Study Bible. Everything was new. I had highlighter in hand. Underlining relevant passages. Pondering remarkable truths. I get emotional pulling out that old Bible, and remembering the moment I first underlined this or that passage. God was speaking to me. I was reading His love letters and falling deeper in love with my Savior. … More Explosive Truth
I didn’t like the song at all. It seemed hokey. It seemed non-sensical. And it didn’t help that it was being sung off key and off tempo by a small congregation of primarily 75 year old church ladies. Not to mention being led by someone who sort of resembled Dana Carvey’s SNL character “Church Lady.” Today I repent of my snobbery and spiritual immaturity. I now believe in singing trees. … More Singing Trees & Crying Rocks
As long as I can remember, I’ve always been quietly breaking things—breaking customs, breaking gender roles, and, one day, breaking an alabaster jar. History remembers me sitting quietly at the Jesus of feet, but a first-century woman taking the posture of a male disciple was a loud and revolutionary act in my day. A quiet person is not always a compliant person. A gentle spirit is not necessarily a tame spirit. … More The Alabaster Jar
Many people today attend church without joining, citing reasons like family heritage or a transient lifestyle. Despite the lack of biblical emphasis on formal membership, belonging to a church community, or “tribe,” provides essential support during life’s challenges and fosters mutual care and responsibility. … More The Meaning of Membership
Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” poses profound questions about humanity’s struggles such as war and oppression. Its refrain suggests that answers are elusive—perhaps nearby or forever outside our grasp. I have begun to sing this song in a more redemptive key lately. At my Bob Dylan show this week, after the last note on the harmonica faded into applause, asked if perhaps Jesus told us the answer that is blowing in the wind. … More What’s Really Blowin’ in the Wind?
Men in places of power and leadership have too often silenced stories of abuse like Tamar’s. So I felt very convicted that I was about to skip over her story in our David series, sweep it under the rug, move quickly to a more uplifting and less disturbing text for our Sunday gathering. I was about to become one more man in spiritual leadership failing to let Tamar’s story be told. … More Tell Tamar’s Story!
A friend seeks advice on how to navigate a relationship with someone whose politics deeply alarm them. His answer warns against falling into two different (opposite) “ditches” – the ditch of fusion with erroneous political ideas and the ditch of “cutting off” relationship with people you have deep disagreements with. … More Response to a Friend’s Political Question
King David is called “a man after God’s own heart” because in his best moments he prefigures the ultimate King of Israel and most famous Son of David to come — Jesus the Christ. One of those great moments is the story of David and Mephibosheth. Briefly appearing in 2 Samuel 9, Mephibosheth is the … More David, Mephibosheth, and Elon Musk’s DOGE
The story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6 illustrates the grave responsibility of carrying God’s presence. Although Uzzah acted with good intent, he disregarded divine instructions, resulting in his death. This serves as a warning for Christians today to treat God’s name with reverence, avoiding unholy alliances that damage His reputation. … More Holy Priests or Unstable Jackass?
I belong to a multiethnic body of believers called the Church of Jesus Christ. I was baptized into this new family, and I don’t get to choose and select who my siblings in Christ are. The waters of baptism are more binding than the blood running through my veins and any artificial national borders. “When one part of the body hurts, we (should) all hurt” (1 Cor. 12:26-27). … More A Word On Immigration
Beth Felker Jones discusses the challenge Christians face in the U.S. amidst current political turmoil. It paraphrases the Barmen Declaration to emphasize the need for the church to uphold its identity in Christ against nationalism and false doctrines. It calls for unity, faithful leadership, and a rejection of ideologies that compromise the gospel. … More Jesus, Not Nationalism
Jeremy Berg 