This week we look at the story of two brothers (Mark 10) who were living out of a seductive false narrative that emptied them and their relationships. Jesus shows us a different narrative and truth: emptying leads to filling.
Chris addresses the false narratives that God is either passive or vengeful about our sins. Instead, he suggests, God merely opposes those things which prevent our growth and prevent us from becoming the best of what he made us to be.
Recently we shared the exciting news that we have received a Lily Grant to fund a 2017 sabbatical for Chris. We made a video that shares details about what that means for the Branch and for the DeBlaays. Give it a watch by clicking here.
Chris Shearer provides an outside, trusted perspective, on how we can be Salt & Light.
This Sunday we looked at Acts 15-an instructive passage for the church whenever it is facing contentious and difficult issues. As the Branch enters a dialogue around one of the most contentious issues of our day, we are committed to finding joy in what God is doing, receiving each other with delight (even when we […]
Chris talks about how the Branch can become radical hope and healing to the world around us and how we can create space for belonging.
Chris looks at where the community of the Branch has already succeeded and where we need to move to in the future.
Janelle urges us to trust God in the waiting.
As the Israelites made their way back from exile they worked to resettle and rebuild. On the one hand, it was a time of renewed spirituality, but on the other, it was a time of exclusion of the Other. Drew helps us consider what the example of the Israelites and Jesus teach us for today. […]
Sept 11 – BranchKids Kick-off Nursery: Infants – 24 months Toddler: 2 – 3 year olds PreSchool: 4 – 5 year olds Grade School: 1st – 4th grades Join us as we begin a new year and new curriculum in BranchKids. Nursery, Toddler and PreSchool classes meet downstairs in their rooms at the beginning of […]
How do we faithfully navigate seasons of exile? In this sermon, we look at some of the characters in Daniel who provide a glimpse into a life re-oriented toward God.
Exile. This period in Israel’s history raised all kinds of incredibly difficult questions. Why did it happen? Was God still faithful? What about all of God’s promises? Christi challenges us to not only look at Israel’s time in exile, but our own as well and through them find God’s restorative movement.
The time of the Kings was a huge part of Israel’s history, but in time and in meaning, but it all came to an devastating end – including the destruction of the Temple. What does this mean for us today? Chris leads us through these questions this week.
It’s hard to believe that Autumn is near, isn’t it? Kids are going to be starting school, the air around us will be cool and we’ll either embrace or avoid pumpkin flavored everything. We have big plans at the Branch for this Autumn and we hope you’ll be able to join us for a lot of […]
Bethany walks us through the lives and choices of Ruth, Hannah, Saul and David to show that in our darkest moments and deepest needs, when we make a choice for God we see change and growth.
Sarah tells the story of Samson the nazarite to illustrate that God works through us even when we are a complete mess.
Chris looks at the story of the Israelites and Jericho and addresses the dissonance between the war & destruction there and the loving God we see in the gospels, settling on Jesus as the accurate depiction of God.
Josh leads us through the time of wandering of Israel and God’s provision in the desert. As he does, we examine those times in our lives when we are in between the old and the new — the already and not yet.
This week we look at the Law: what it was and wasn’t, how God called Israel to live it out and in doing so bring others to him and what it means to us today.
Together we look at the Exodus story – a story of how God takes us from the narrow places of enslavement to places of spacious freedom.
