This week, we begin a 3 week series about The Church: Many Parts, One Body. One of the joys of sharing a building with 2 other churches is the relationships that form. Some happen naturally, but others require intentionality. This week, Nate led a conversation with our friend Rodrigo Cano, who told us more about the people of Comunidad Christiana de Grand Rapids (CCGR). He also encouraged us all to take intentional steps toward relationship.
We wrap up our series on Micah 6:8 this week, looking at how we are to humbly walk with God. How can we have the same attitude as Jesus Christ? Collectively, as a church, we are committed to saying these things:
1. I don’t have it all figured out.
2. I need you, even if you are different than me. God meets us in, and transforms us through our differences.
This week we learned about the Hebrew word for love (hesed) in Micah 6:8. Love: Hesed is compassionate and loyal love. Listen here to learn more about how we can show hesed (love) in our own lives.
On this first Sunday of 2018, we begin a new sermon series based on Micah 6:8: He has shown you, o mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
But what does it mean to ‘act justly’? And what does that mean for us both individually and corporately? Listen here as we seek to answer those questions.
On this last Sunday of 2017, we revisited the word sankofa. We took some time to look back so that we can move forward, remembering God’s loyal love. If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to read Psalm 107 to be reminded of God’s loyal love, both to the Israelites so many years ago and to us. Reflect on 2017 and remember the times that you have seen God’s loyal love in your life, in the big things and the small.
Listen here for the brief Christmas Eve sermon, concluding our “God With Us” series.
We continue our Advent series this week with Joseph’s story. What was it like to be in Joseph’s shoes? What do we learn about God and about ourselves through this story. We invite you to explore these questions and more while listening to this podcast. There are times of silence in the podcast to allow for times of reflection or discussion.
We hope you join us for worship next Sunday at 9:30 am as we celebrate Christ’s birth during our Christmas Eve worship service.
This week, Brian Workman led us in the practice of Lectio Divina. Our BranchStudents group helped lead this practice by explaining how it works and reading the story for us. We invite you to spend some time with this story (Luke 1:26-56) and listen to what God might be telling you through it. Where does Mary’s story intersect with your own? There will be times of silence in the podcast for you to follow the 4 steps of Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina Steps:
God is with those who are heartbroken, feeling lost, those who are wondering if hope has run out.
This week’s sermon was more interactive than normal, so instead of listening to the noise of our individual conversations, we invite you to have your own conversations or reflections, using the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Read Luke 1:5-25 and then reflect on these questions:
God with us. God with you.
As we end our series, we look into the verse that ends the story of the prodigal sons. In verse 31, the Father says “You are always with me and everything I have is yours.”
As we start to wrap up this series, it’s our hope that many of you have been able to take a step towards home. The journey doesn’t end here, though. It’s a lifelong journey, not an overnight one. Listen here.
This week, we move from the lies of the False Self (we must earn our identity) to discovering our True Self (we can receive our identity). “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31
What mask are you wearing? This week, we dig into the hard work of uncovering the parts of ourselves that we like to keep hidden. Often, we don’t even know those parts exist. But our loving God wants more for us than the identity for which we are willing to settle.
We continue looking at the story of the prodigal sons (Luke 15) and see how much God loves us and invites us in.
We begin the journey home by looking at the story of the prodigal sons (Luke 15, esp. v. 17-20) and discovered that the journey home often begins with the journey inward.
One of the things that makes the Branch unique is the building where we gather. One building is the home to 3 churches: Comunidad Christiana de Grand Rapids (CCGR), Nepali-Speaking Community Church (NSCC) and the Branch. For the next 3 weeks, the pastors of those 3 churches will preach at one another’s worship service, talking about barriers to reconciliation. On October 15, we will all gather together at 4 pm to worship together.
This week, Yakuv Gurung (pastor of NSCC) continued the conversation, teaching about belonging and hospitality. Yakuv’s message begins at 4:50. Listen to the first 4 minutes to hear about our upcoming Learning Communities.
One of the things that makes the Branch unique is the building where we gather. One building is the home to 3 churches: Comunidad Christiana de Grand Rapids (CCGR), Nepali-Speaking Community Church (NSCC) and the Branch. For the next 3 weeks, the pastors of those 3 churches will preach at one another’s worship service, talking about barriers to reconciliation. On October 15, we will all gather together at 4 pm to worship together.
This week, Rodrigo Cano (pastor of CCGR) taught us that being uncomfortable, vulnerable and intentional are required for the work of reconciliation.
Our 3rd week in a series looking at the overall direction and mission of the Branch.
Our 2nd week in a series looking at the overall direction and mission of the Branch.
For notes on the sermon, click here: 9:17 Notes.
Reconciliation finds its roots in the Latin meaning to bring back together what has been separated; to make good again. The Scriptures tell us that reconciliation is exactly what God is up to in the world, and we are called to join in that work.
The Branch is a church committed to reconciliation that is both personal, relational and moves us towards greater justice in the world. Join us each week as we not only consider where we are headed as a church, but what God may be inviting each of us to do in the months ahead.
