This week we look at a second narrative we learn from Jesus: God is Trustworthy. And we review the process by which we change. Matthew 6; Matthew 26 Homework 1) If you want to recap this message, read chapter 3 from The Good and Beautiful God. To prep for the message on the 23rd, read chapter 4. […]
Homework! The sermon on Sunday is only a start. We strongly encourage you to take another step or two this week in order to enter into the process of transformation more fully. Here are some ideas: 1) Read chapters 1-3 from The Good and Beautiful God. 2) Engage in one of these soul-training exercises. SLEEP […]
Every week we’ll be posting some ideas on how you can more deeply engage the Old Testament. Parents: these tools will be written in a way so that you can use them with your kids. If you do use them with children, it may work well to pick one question/activity per day. This will keep things […]
Love. Is there another word more widely used in our world today? We say we love hot dogs or Dora, and a short time later pledge our life-long, unconditional love to another. It’s a word we use to describe our feelings or what we think. But love, in its fullest, truest sense, is infinitely more. Love […]
The Branch has three Stewards of Care and and three Stewards of Resources. Each serve for a three year term, which means that every year one Steward of Care and one Steward of Resources rotates off. This year, Carrie Elzinga (Care) and Jeff VerKaik (Resources) will be stepping down. The process for adding Stewards begins […]
A team of people at the Branch have created a guide for Lent. Each week has a personal reflection, questions to help process the passage, suggested Scripture for the week and a prayer. You can download the whole guide here: 2016LentGuide Or, if you’d prefer to read it right here, we’ll post each week’s reflection and resources […]
Chris concludes our series in James with a passage that teaches us of the power of prayer.
We’re taking time each week to write in more detail about our 2016 Strategic Plan (i.e. where we are going to focus our energy and resources in the next year). If you didn’t catch the first post in this series, we encourage you to do so here. Action 2: Offering lavish hospitality and care In the […]
Drew challenges us to consider the dangerous trait of envy, and its alternative: wisdom. Please note: at 35:45 you can hear a detailed picture of how we are going to join in God’s redemptive work in 2016.
The first half of this podcast contains the part of our worship where we looked back and celebrated the way that God has been faithful to us. The message for the morning begins at 21:20. This includes the sharing of a vision for where we are going in 2016.
Over the last six months we’ve been doing our best to pay attention to God’s leading. Both corporately and individually we have been listening for God’s voice and working to notice where God is at work. The result of that discernment is our 2016 Strategic Plan. While this plan is not a once and for all roadmap, […]
We are located in a part of the city where the racial and ethnic divides are clear. But so is the call to embody God’s reconciling and uniting love. In this intersection, a number of people at the Branch have been hearing God call them to act — to take steps that would create in them the capacity to love […]
On February 7th, our worship time will be moving from 10:30am to 9:30am. For more about ‘why’, please watch this video.
Friday, February 5: 7pm-10pm, Doors open at 6:30pm Saturday, February 6: 8:30am-6pm, Doors open at 8am The world around us feels like it is crumbling and almost nothing seems certain, until we look to Jesus and see that our Hope is very clear and certain. He didn’t just give us salvation—Jesus is our salvation and […]
Faith isn’t just about the future. It’s not something we have in order to punch a ticket to heaven. In fact, Jesus is clear: faith is about the here and now – a gift meant to impact every aspect of today. With that in mind, we turn to James — an ancient and relevant book with deep insight about how […]
Tonight we celebrate the unlikely story of God coming to dwell with us from 5-6pm. Together we’ll mark this unending, unconquerable gift of Light through song and candle lighting. Our kids are also leading the way in giving their gifts through drama, choir, and dance. Bring the family — bring your neighbor — bring the kids. […]
Information about both auctions can be found here: www.fortheloveoflola.net Silent Auction A silent auction art gala is being held November 12th from 6-9pm at Lifestyle Kitchen Studio at 222 E. Fulton in Grand Rapids. Over 20 pieces of art will be up for auction. Pieces can be previewed at the website above. Volunteers are also still […]
Elliot challenges us to live into God’s vision for humanity where people of all races and ethnicities work together toward unity. Videos referenced in the message: Immaculate Perception Racism by the Numbers Implicit Bias Test: Implicit Bias’ Test Want to receive weekly-ish emails that will share different articles and videos that will continue to help you […]
We’ll eat cheaply so we can give to those responding to the Syrian refugee crisis.
Andy’s final series at the Branch draws from the things God has been doing in his family over the last few years, and on sabbatical. Join us for this three week series.
