In this sermon on Acts 17, Jeremy emphasizes the need for humble engagement with Scripture and highlights two key truths: the demand for allegiance to Jesus over worldly affiliations, and the necessity of reaching out beyond church walls to connect with people in everyday settings. … More Acts 17: We’re Not in Berea Anymore
We just hosted another “Hope on the Hill,” which is our end of the summer Super Slip ‘n Slide potluck and neighborhood outreach. This year we had 30+ people drive out from Brookdale Covenant Church. Juli painted the scene with water colors and I shared the following short reflection. … More Hope on the Hill 2026
I recently preached at a multiethnic worship service, emphasizing the Church’s role in fostering unity amid diversity. I referenced Pentecost as a model for celebrating ethnic identity as a gift rather than a barrier. My message highlighted interdependence among cultures within the Body of Christ, urging growth towards understanding and love. … More ‘The Most Excellent Way’: Multiethnic Church
Jeremy examines Daniel’s story in Babylon, highlighting themes of cultural resistance and integrity. Every day, we are presented with two competing menus. One is the “table of empire,” which offers the intoxicating but ultimately depleting fare of partisan vitriol, material acquisition, and the crushing weight of social conformity. The other is the table of Jesus, which offers a different kind of plenty—one that satisfies the soul without demanding the sacrifice of one’s integrity. … More Bread of Empire
Passing along the newsletter I received this week from Matthew Soerens, the National Coordinator for the Evangelical Immigration Table. I’m grateful for Evangelical organizations such as the Evangelical Immigration Table and the National Association of Evangelicals, just to name a couple, who continue to speak up and call for true Jesus-honoring, Biblically grounded action on the behalf of the least of these. … More What Will Become of 50,000 Children?
I read history like a sweet-toothed child looking through the window of a candy shop. Mouth watering. Eyes bulging. Desiring to break through the glass of time in order to smell, touch and taste the goodies inside. Historians are time-travelers at heart, searching the archives for old photos and writings that can transport us back to another era. One of my favorite time-traveling destinations is Lake Minnetonka in the 1880s where the greatest preacher among the Swedes had his summer cottage. … More The Holy Insurrectionist: E.A. Skogsbergh
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 life and faith journey. Sadly, many of us have never taken the time to get to know these things about our own parents/grandparents and mentors. This Father’s Day, check out my guide to Ten Spiritual Legacy Conversations. … More The Greatest Father’s Day Gift
What can a 3,000 year-old proverb teach us about God‘s saving presence available to us in the middle of life‘s most chaotic circumstances? Jeremy offers a spiritual reading of Ecclesiastes 11:1: “Cast your bread upon the waters and receive it back after many days.” … More Bread on the Water
Pastor Jeremy is preaching a sermon series on the Book of Acts, emphasizing its significance beyond mere history. He outlines five major insights: the Gospel’s continuation, the Ascension as Jesus’ enthronement, the shift from passive to active waiting, recognizing the Holy Spirit’s role, and the importance of dreaming big regardless of age. … More Introducing Acts: Five Big Ideas
I want to share an exciting ministry update on some new opportunities that are developing. … More Ministry Update: The Roaming Reverend
For decades, we have treated Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” as a riddle without a resolution. We ask: is the “answer” blowing away from us, a sign of the cynical futility found in the scrolls of old? Or is it blowing toward us, as near as the oxygen in our lungs? Jeremy finds a Pentecost sermon in the song. … More A Pentecost Sermon from Bob Dylan
A group from our church recently attended a Meal of Appreciation at Brookdale Covenant Church lovingly prepared by our immigrant brothers and sisters we helped out during ICE’s Operation Metro Surge. The authentic ethnic dishes were fantastic, but even more nourishing were the powerful testimonies of the individuals whose lives were turned upside down. … More An Evening of Food & Testimonies
Jeremy explores the complexities of interpreting Genesis 1, emphasizing that it serves as a “Home” story focused on functional purpose rather than a scientific account. Drawing on scholars John Walton and Tim Mackie, Jeremy highlight the narrative’s literary artistry, portraying humanity as caretakers of creation, and challenge readers to redefine their understanding of “Sin” and human vocation in restoring order. … More How Should I Read Genesis 1?
This Friday we will host middle school students to discuss concepts of Heaven. The focus is on biblical views, emphasizing that Heaven is not an escape but a restoration of creation. Salvation’s goal is not merely going to Heaven but dwelling with God in a renewed earth, reflecting God’s presence now and in the future. … More What is Heaven?
In the past few weeks, the president has posted an Easter messagethat used profanity and threatened civilizational genocide, has issued threats to the pope, and has posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus. (He now says he was portraying himself as a doctor.) After all this, even some of the president’s supporters feel humiliated and angry. I think it’s worth asking what exactly is coming to light in this moment and whether it could disrupt a means-to-an-end cultural Christianity. … More Trump’s AI Jesus (Russell Moore)
Three days before Buddy Holly’s tragic plane crash, a teenage Bob Dylan saw one of his idols perform at the Duluth Armory. Reflecting on that moment, Dylan recalls feeling a spiritual connection that changed him. Jeremy visits the Armory, inspired by this legacy and the need for positive role models, drawing parallels with the biblical story of Elijah and Elisha. … More Passing the Torch
Are you feeling a bit lost or weighed down on the long and winding road of life? You aren’t alone! Join us for our spring series where we’ll step into the shoes of the disciples in Luke 24 and discover what it truly means to walk alongside Jesus. The beautiful, multilayered story of the Road to Emmaus shows how Jesus meets us exactly where we are—doubts, fears, and all. … More Spring Series: The Emmaus Way
Earlier this week, the president posted a profanity-laden Easter message promising that Iranians would be “living in Hell” if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. After that, he threatened to wipe out “a whole civilization” in what would have been at best a war crime and at worst a genocide. We have crossed a scary threshold in American life. And in this flurry of words, there is one Christians especially should not miss: hell. … More All We’re Saying is Give Hell a Chance
Last Easter I pondered the non-human actors in the passion narrative. Maybe I’m slowly losing faith in humanity’s ability to be reliable actors in God’s New Creation project. But our role in the drama of redemption is inextricably bound up with the groaning and crying of all creation. So, I want to share a new cinematic presentation of my reflection from last year this Holy Week. Enjoy! … More The Hidden Cast of the Passion
Below Scot McKnight once again reiterates why I and so many colleagues find it increasingly difficult to use the name Evangelical and why I only rarely refer to our denomination’s full name when identifying my church tribe. Theologically, I still very much resonate with the classic definitions of Evangelical, but the word means something else entirely now. McKnight is blogging through Ryan Burge’s latest book. … More Idolatry in the Camp
Join me on a 3-week journey to a fuller understanding of the Cross and the Christian life. My foundational “CrossRoad” sermon series from 2019 has been distilled into six short beautifully illustrated videos. This was a defining moment for me as a pastor and teacher, when I drew a line in the sand and decided that the only Christianity worth our time is one that takes Jesus’ most scandalous teachings seriously. … More CrossRoad: Lent Video Series
This Gospel text thrusts us back into that darkened upper room where confused disciples hang on their teacher’s every last word. Ominous feelings fill the room and haunt every heart trying to make sense of this perplexing last meal together. How can such beauty come out of a situation so ugly? How can grace withstand such a tidal wave of heartlessness? How can love flow so freely between these river banks of betrayal? … More Twisted Love
For 20 years, I’ve been writing on the Christian life. Over 2,000+ articles published and 40 volumes of writings fill my shelves. What if there was a way to repackage my favorite articles and give old sermons a second life in a new digital form? Introducing my latest project: short visual summaries of some of my most thought-provoking articles, sermons, essays, and teachings over the years. … More NEW! Visual Sermons & Articles
MainStreet Covenant will be gathering Sunday evenings at 5-6:30pm this Lent to watch season 5 of The Chosen. Season 5 is a slow dramatization of the last week of Jesus’ life. We hope you’ll join us at St. Martin’s By the Lake for this experience. Here’s a brief review by Kate Luck of Christianity Today. … More Join us for The Chosen this Lent
I’m (blessedly) trapped in a blizzard in Two Harbors watching angry waves crash onto the shore of Superior. The 60+ mph wind gusts are ominous, but the snow piling up reminds me of the Lenten truth that “Though our sins be as scarlet, [God] will make us white as snow.” I’m reposting this piece to kick off Lent where I ask the same question as Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Ooh, What’s that Smell?” … More Ashes and Armpits
Kingdom Harbor 