We just finished up a 3-part Advent Series exploring Jesus as the perfect embodiment of Micah 6:8 spirituality that invites us to “do justice, love mercy, and walk in humility.” In between Sundays, I’m on college campuses trying to light a fire in college students to embrace and cultivate this kind of Christianity in the world today. … More Doing Justice to Christmas
You know you’ve successfully launched a social revolution when even non-coffee drinkers like me are regularly heard saying, “Hey, wanna grab coffee this week?” … More Apostle Paul at Starbucks
While other Jewish teachers were content to spend their time teaching in the synagogue, here is Paul sipping coffee at the ancient equivalent of a Starbucks in the ancient equivalent of Time Square in the ancient equivalent of New York City. … More The Writing is on the Wall
As a 6′-7″ tall dude, I’ve had a hard time relating to Zacchaeus, the “wee little man” who couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd. In a crowd of people, I am the “tree” that many are trying to see around! … More A New Vantage Point
“Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest … More Do Millennials Think Evangelism is Wrong?
The Work of Christmas by Rev Dr Howard Thurman (1899-1981) When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To … More The Work of Christmas
She’s always bringing sweets to share. Maybe it betrays her own sweet tooth, but I think it reveals a sweet and giving heart. Yet, the story of how Tina started coming to MainStreet is much more bittersweet. I (Jeremy) heard the sad news on a snowy February day almost 3 years ago. Tina’s son … More Tina’s Story
Jesus’ mission prioritized the marginalized and neglected people of his day. He didn’t send out his apostles—i.e., “church planters”—saying, “Go ye therefore to the sprawling suburbs and invite the upwardly mobile dual income families with children.” He said, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). Would you try growing a church with such folks? … More Funding the Jericho Inn: A MainStreet Update
Its been about 7 years since I stood on the stage of the Little Theater at my old high school, sweating bullets as I tried to rally folks around a vision of a new kind of church. The church’s name, if it ever got off the ground, would be “MainStreet” because of our desire to … More Seven Years of Light
In this series I’m sharing some of the Scriptures that have most radically influenced my own life and faith. Read full series here. I love the moment in The Lord of the Rings when Samwise turns to Frodo and asks, “I wonder what kind of a tale we’ve fallen into?” The two hobbits perceptively realized that their … More LIFE VERSES 9: Acts 17:17
When the church bells ring on Sunday morning, July 31, you’ll find several local church sanctuaries empty. But this doesn’t mean they won’t be worshiping. “Most Sundays we worship God with words and music,” says Pastor Meg Newswanger of First Presbyterian in Maple Plain. “On July 31 we will worship God with our hands and … More Sunday2Serve: The Church has Left the Building!
Reposted from summer 2013. -JB [The church]…is [Christ’s] body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). “God’s plan for the world is in the hands of the church….God’s intention is that all alien forces, all estranged persons, all warring elements are to be brought to unity. Christ is the center around … More The Greatest Cause on Earth
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”
This is from back in 2012 a few weeks after officially launching weekly worship at MainStreet. Note the sense of urgency in my tone. Have we lost that desperation? -JB 2017 How many of us really take Jesus’ words seriously? I don’t mean picking and choosing the teachings we can tolerate. I mean ALL of … More Cross-Shaped Discipleship in a Comfort-Shaped Culture
I want to commend David Mathis’ challenge to Christians as we approach Halloween this year. Thanks, Nancy, for sending me this. What if a crisp October wind blew through “the way we’ve always done things” at Halloween? What if the Spirit stirred in us a new perspective on October 31? What if dads led their … More ‘Halloween on Mission’ (David Mathis)
We’re studying the life and mission of Nehemiah at MainStreet this fall. I’m amazed at Nehemiah’s sacrifice, prayerfulness, leadership abilities and perseverance. I have used Nehemiah as a role model as Keri and I have set out with our own burden to rebuild in Mound — not physical walls but a new church community to … More NEHEMIAH 2: They Came From Abroad
Jesus was not seeker sensitive. He was not after the crowds. Obviously, his signs and wonders, and authoritative teaching naturally drew crowds. But in the scene below we find Jesus trying to escape the clamoring crowds and find a moment of solitude. Even more shocking, when his disciples tell him of a crowd of people … More The Day Jesus Skipped Church (Mark 1:35-39)
Yesterday I shared an alternative model of evangelism shaped by the interactions and approach of Jesus in the Gospels. I thought it might be helpful to offer a concrete example of this approach in action. As I was planting the Revolution ministry in Mound I was helped along by my daily interactions with teens … More Jesus-Shaped Evangelism in Practice
Kingdom Harbor 