Entries by Teresa

Renew: Who are you becoming? (9.16.18)

In the second week of this series, we look at Matthew 9:9-13. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus tells the religious leaders to go and learn what this means. It’s a phrase they had memorized from the book of Hosea, but were they living it out? Where in our lives do we show mercy? Do […]

Renew: who are you becoming? (9.9.18)

What does it look like to join God’s work of renewal in the world? Listen here for the first sermon in a new series on renewal. And join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 for the next few weeks as we continue to talk about renewal.

Combined Worship (9.2.18)

It was our great pleasure to worship with the congregation of Comunidad Cristiana de Grand Rapids this Sunday. Chris (Branch Pastor) and Rodrigo (CCGR Pastor), with the aid of a very talented translator, brought us the sermon together. Listen here as they taught us about judgement, Romans 2:1-4.

Forgotten Stories: Philemon (8.12.18)

This week, Jeff Verkaik helped us learn from the short and often forgotten story of Philemon. What can we learn from this man and his relationships with Paul and Onesimus? Paul’s letter to Philemon used words that bring unity and not division. Listen here and learn how he did that and how we might learn […]

Forgotten Stories: Priscilla (8.5.18)

What can we learn from Priscilla’s story? There is so much to learn from her brief appearance in the Bible. Listen here as we discover the relationships Priscilla fostered and how she invested in her priorities. And if we’re willing to dig just a little deeper, we find that Priscilla’s story is like so many […]

Forgotten Stories: Philip (7.29.18)

History offers us a number of heroes. The Bible is no different. Characters like Moses, Ruth and Paul dominate the skyline, and for good reason. Their lives (both the good and bad) are instructive. Through them we see how God interacts with us. But most of the characters in the Bible, and most of the people in […]

Summer at The Branch

Summer. There’s no better time to put your feet up and enjoy time with friends, new and old. Join us as we connect over good food and conversation at some pretty amazing places. Bring a friend. Everyone’s invited. Every Tuesday, 6:30p: StoryTime in the Park Join us for FREE BOOKS for all children 15 years […]

The Psalms: The Intersection of Time (7.1.18)

This week, in our Psalms series, we looked at Psalm 77. The Psalmist wasn’t afraid to ask hard questions, but he also was able to look back to remember a specific time when God was faithful. The Psalms remind us to look back at what God’s done, so that we can claim that God will […]

The Psalms: An Invitation (6.10.18)

We started a new sermon series this week, The Psalms. We will speak, sing and practice many of the Psalms and hopefully let them permeate our hearts and lives, as they certainly influenced Jesus’ life, identity and ministry. Each week, we’ll be given suggested Psalms to read, pray & meditate on. Here are this week’s […]

Recycling Needed!!!

We need your recycling! Two of the classes at CREATE will take your garbage and turn them into priceless masterpieces. Some call it upcycling, we call it art. Here’s the list of specific things that our two classes need: Toilet paper rolls Plastic bottle caps (all sizes) Metal jar lids of all sizes (like from […]

Inhabit: Beauty and Awe (5.13.18)

It’s not enough to just see beauty around us. We are also invited to experience that beauty by entering in to the places where God is already at work. Where is their beauty in my neighborhood? What would it look like for me to enter into and experience that beauty? How might God want to […]

Inhabit: Regaining our Sight (5.6.18)

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Henry David Thoreau What do we see? How easy is it for us to see the less important things? How common, in our context, to become hyper-fixed on what is wrong, broken, dysfunctional? (is this easier? easier to keep our distance through complaint […]