Our Hopes for the Future: Week 3 (3.3.19)

God’s love makes more room at the table, not less. How are we as a church making more room at our table, and how might we do that in the future?

Our Hopes for the Future: Week 2 (2.24.19)

Shape. Embrace. Grow. Participate. Listen here to find out what these words mean for the future of The Branch.

Our Hopes for the Future: Week 1 (2.17.19)

In this series, we are asking a couple of questions: What is the picture of the future that God is asking us to aim our heart towards? and What unique role is God asking us to play in bringing that future into the present? Listen here as we explore this as we take a look at the history of The Branch and who we are today.

Recalibrate: The Liturgies of the Everyday (2.3.19)

We all have liturgies that shape us everyday. What if we looked at the mundane things of life, like brushing our teeth and eating a meal, with new eyes? How could we make small changes so that these things become formative?

Recalibrate: The Liturgies of Worship (1.27.19)

We might not always be aware of the liturgies of corporate worship, but they’re there in big and small ways. The over-arching liturgy of corporate worship is radically counter-cultural. It has the potential to recalibrate us towards God.

Recalibrate: What Shapes You? (1.13.19)

How can a trip to the mall shape who we are? Are we aware of the things that are shaping us? And are those things shaping us to be more like God? Listen here as we explore these questions.

Recalibrate: What do you want? (1.6.19)

As we begin a new year we invite you to join us as we consider how to recalibrate our heart’s desires towards what really matters — to those things that are primary — to true north. Proverbs 4:23 says “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We encourage you to keep that verse close over the next few weeks, maybe even memorize it. In John 1:35-39 Jesus asks his disciples what they want and we are asking the same question today. What do you desire? What does your heart seek? Listen here for more.

The Parables of Jesus: The Wounded Traveler (11.25.18)

What if we would look at the parable of The Good Samaritan from a different perspective? What if we would enter in to the story from the perspective of the wounded traveler? Would that change what we think of this story? What could we learn about our enemies?

The Parables of Jesus: The Mustard Seed and the Yeast (11.18.18)

This week we studied Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 13:31-35, the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. We discovered that these two very short stories teach us much about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom shows up through ordinary things, is one of abundant potential, and involves our action and trust.

The Parables of Jesus: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (11.11.18)

Listen as we continue to look at the parables Jesus used to teach. This week we looked at the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18:9-14.

The Parables of Jesus: The Pearl of Greatest Price (11.4.18)

What can we learn from a parable that spans just two verses? We think quite a lot! Listen here as we dig into the Pearl of Great Price from Matthew 13:45-46.

The Parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Tenants (10.28.18)

This Sunday, we welcomed Josh Wall from Fifth Reformed Church here in Grand Rapids to teach us about the parable of the tenants from Mark 12:1-12. Listen here as he unpacks this parable.

The Parables of Jesus: Lost sheep, coin and sons (10.21.18)

We began a new series this Sunday on the Parables of Jesus. This week, we read through Luke 15, reading the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. These stories remind us to be people who remain attentive and people who celebrate. Listen here to find out how.